The document discusses setting up a Microsoft Virtual Server host cluster using two Dell PowerEdge 6650 servers with shared SCSI storage to improve hardware utilization and test high availability options. It describes configuring the RAID controllers and shared storage layout, building the cluster, and testing failover capabilities along with potential issues and future development options using the COM API and clustering with SAN storage.

1. Microsoft Virtual Server
Host Clustering
Sean Riordan (Stanford University)

2. Project Drivers
 Currently running MS Virtual Server 2005
 Reduce threat vectors on host servers
 Test HA options for Production VM
 Lots of physical servers using < 30% resources
 Data Center running out of power
 Hardware growing faster then our user base

3. Usage/Hardware Growth
Small Department Computer Usage Over 2 Years
2
70% >
1.8
Comp Power
1.6
Today
1.4
1.2
1 7%
User Growth
0.8
2005-Q1 2005-Q2 2005-Q3 2005-Q4 2006-Q1 2006-Q2 2006-Q3 2006-Q4
Server Performance Users

4. Stand Alone Virtual Server?
Virtual Virtual Virtual
Machine Machine Machine
IIS
Virtual Server Application
Operating System
Hardware

5. Objectives
 Remove IIS from all the Host Servers
 Test the remote admin web site
 Test the cluster and failover

6. VS Admin Web Site
IIS
VM VM VM
Windows Server
VM VM VM
Hardware Virtual Server App
Windows Server Server App
Virtual
Windows Server
Hardware
Hardware

7. Pros/Cons of Admin Web Site
Pros
■ Allows for one URL and IIS server to manage N
number of virtual host severs
■ Installation and usage were very easy to use
Cons
 If the admin web server is offline there is no
management of the guests
 Can only see one host server at a time

8. Demo

9. The Cluster Hardware
Admin Web PowerEdge
1650
Server
Host1 text
Public
(Node1) PowerEdge
Net
6650
Private
Net
Host2 text
(Node2) PowerEdge
6650
SCSI
SCSI
Shared Storage
(SCSI)

10. Shared Storage Layout
18 18 18 GB
GB GB Q:
Raid-1
72 72 66 GB 72 72 66 GB
E: GB GB G:
GB GB
Raid-1 Raid-1
72 72 66 GB 72 72 66 GB
GB GB F: GB GB H:
Raid-1 Raid-1

11. The Cluster Build Out
 Challenges to Over Come
 Each 6650 only had 1 RAID Controller
 Had to figure out how to configure the RAID controller
for shared storage
 Needed to set each RAID controller to a separate
SCSI ID (default is 7)
 MS Cluster can only manage LUNs not partitions on
LUNs
 Layout of the disks

12. Pros/Cons of Host Cluster
Pros
 Very easy to setup
 Documentation is clear
Cons
 Havm.vbs will Only start, stop VM node it is set
to watch
 There is no failover management from the admin
web console, need to use cluster admin

13. Demo

14. Development Options
 COM API
 Managed Code or VBScript
 Automation Options
 Customized the Havm.vbs to support more then
one guest
 Save state on all VMs
 Start up VMs in a specific order
 List all VMs on all Guests
 Get Network usage on VMs

15. Future
 Cluster with SAN and iSCSI Storage
 Add second NIC to each Node to separate
the Guest and Host traffic
 Testing the new System Center Virtual
Machine Manager
 Test Intel VT technology

16. Where is this Usable?
 Development/Testing
 Training
 Production (Standalone)

17. Questions &
Answers

18. URLs
 http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversyste
m/systemcenter/scvmm/default.mspx
 http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/default.
aspx
 http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/
virtualserver/deploy/cvs2005.mspx
 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.a
spx?FamilyID=09cc042b-154f-4eba-a548-
89282d6eb1b3&displaylang=en