Application Virtualization

[paulbeynon]

Hi All,

 

I am about to embark on a project to test Virtual applications in our environment. We have just put an order in for a spangly new HP DL380 Server with 2Tb of storage running 2008 R2 with 5 TS CALS.

 

When I recieve the server I would like, as most techie's do, to set it up the instant it arrives - now I would really like to know the best way of doing this, so hopefully this is where you guys come in.

 

The idea is to virtualise all in house apps develped in delphi, and all Office Apps used in house (to start with anyway!)

 

We will have 5 test PC's varying between Windows XP and Windows 7, although the aim ultimately is to W7 all of our PC's

 

Can you give me a best setup for this situation, we are currently a 2003 AD single domain environment, soon to be a single doain 2008 AD environment!

 

I'd like to know how to configure my drives, where to put what, and what roles / apps / etc... I need to install or set up and how best to do it!

 

Any help would be great.

 

Thanks

 

Paul Beynon

[ICTCity]

Hi,

 

My suggestion is to use XenServer, you can virtualize up to 5 VM for free!

 

Now, depending on how many disks you have (not how much TB you have), you may want to let Xen do everything by creating partitions for each VMs.

 

You may have to determine WHICH apps are running :), for example Exchange consumes disks resources, so usually you give it more spindles.

 

If you have more questions feel free to ask.

[paulbeynon]

Hi ICTCity, again you come to my rescue!! However I may have informed you how we are going to set things up.

 

We are going to be installing Windows Server 2008 R2 on the server, we are basically running it with the revamped TerminalServer (is it remote desktop integration or something these days!!) So the apps will be installed on to the W2k8 box and run remotely from a desktop shortcut. What I am after is whether we need a partition for OS, a partition for Apps, a partition for AN Other?

 

Storage wise we have ordered 8 x 300Gb drives, so advise away!!

 

Many thanks

 

Paul Beynon

[ICTCity]

Hi,

 

Usually you set up a partition for OS and another partition for files / apps, BUT:

 

Some application MUST be installed on C:\... and not on D:\... or else. I must say that all the new apps can be installed on D:\ or what you want, but... test it... just to be sure :)

 

Actually I think that your HDs are not really stressed, but I don't know:

How many users will access this server.

What the applications do.

 

So, it's hard to say "how set things up".

 

Which RAID are you planning to set up?

You have said that you want a virtual environment, so, one server will be "app server" and the others?

[paulbeynon]

Hello,

 

Currently it's a test system, one server in our current domain - they will all be physical servers!

 

Drives then, I think I will configure them as follows:

 

C - 2 x 300Gb RAID 1 - OS

D - 2 x 300Gb RAID 1 - Apps

E - 4 x 300Gb RAID 5 - Additional Storage / Other bits and bobs that take our fancy!

 

I think 300Gb for OS and 300Gb for Apps is enough, I have a cracking music collection storage then :whistling:

 

At the moment it is all just a test "to see how it works" so we are running on 1 system, however should we go "this is nice" we will look at another server to spread the load and have DR.

 

The applications we are going to run to start with are Office 2010 and in house apps built in Delphi - these load a lot of data into memory per user so I may use that nice 900Gb E drive for Page File! Damn another solution needed for my Steps collection :verymad:

 

We have only got 5 TS licenses at the moment so we can only test it with 5 users, if it works with those five users well, we will get more TS licenses to further test it.

 

As for virtualising the whole environment, I'd like to, but I think it would scare the boses too much, they are of an age that doesn't understand the concept of virtualisation!

 

Thanks for your help and advise.

 

Paul

[ICTCity]

Hello,

 

Currently it's a test system, one server in our current domain - they will all be physical servers!

 

Ahhhh ok, that was unclear for me!

 

Drives then, I think I will configure them as follows:

 

C - 2 x 300Gb RAID 1 - OS

D - 2 x 300Gb RAID 1 - Apps

E - 4 x 300Gb RAID 5 - Additional Storage / Other bits and bobs that take our fancy!

 

I think 300Gb for OS and 300Gb for Apps is enough, I have a cracking music collection storage then :whistling:

 

Are you sure do you want to put 900GB on your server WITH A RAID 5? I mean... RAID 5 should be for sensitive data... and I think that 2 disks of 500 (maybe SATA) could be fine too. You should not need too many perfomances...

 

The applications we are going to run to start with are Office 2010 and in house apps built in Delphi - these load a lot of data into memory per user so I may use that nice 900Gb E drive for Page File! Damn another solution needed for my Steps collection :verymad:

 

Please, don't "confuse" pagefile with memory. Add as much ram as you can and DO NOT rely on page file. It slows down the ENTIRE system, trust me. You can of course move your pagefile on another disk, no problem, but don't rely on it to supply RAM.

 

 

You have a PM :)