Section 10.6. Solutions Fast Track

10.6. Solutions Fast Track

10.6.1.

10.6.1.1. Best Practices

Buy your supported ESX Server hardware from a major vendor such as Dell, HP, or IBM. Ensure you spec out your hardware according to recommendations from both the ESX Installation Guide and the Systems Compatibility Guide .

Practice installing, configuring, breaking, and rebuilding your ESX software. You want a solid ESX Server when it's deployed into production. The way to get this type of solid build is to practice, practice, practice. Once you've got it down, document it.

Use clones of your template virtual machines as often as you can. Your templates should have all the unnecessary services turned off which provides greater scalability for your ESX Server.

10.6.1.2. Gotchas

Learning to think virtually takes time, practice, and education.

Know and follow support issues surrounding Microsoft and follow the issue as it evolves, as we're sure it will.

10.6.1.3. Common Problems

Follow the procedures from the manufacturer of the tool you use to create bootable ISOs. Don't forget, ESX Server is Linux, by placing a CD-ROM into the drive and then from the Service Console typing cat /dev/ cdrom > cdname.iso .

To remedy a sluggish Windows VM, always ensure you set the Hardware Acceleration slider to Full.

Don't forget to restart your virtual machines after each reboot of your ESX Server. You can specify this to happen automatically and in any order you prefer.

10.7. Frequently Asked Questions

The following Frequently Asked Questions, answered by the authors of this book, are designed to both measure your understanding of the concepts presented in this chapter and to assist you with real-life implementation of these concepts. To have your questions about this chapter answered by the author, browse to www.syngress.com/solutions and click on the " Ask the Author " form. You will also gain access to thousands of other FAQs at ITFAQnet.com.

Q : What is the most important aspect of deploying ESX Server and virtual machines?

A : The ability to provide service at least as good as that which you had with physical servers. With adherence to best practices, you should easily be able to provide this and exceed it by a phenomenal degree.

Q : ISOs have been mentioned in several of the chapters. Why are they so important?

A : Good administrators strive to never leave their chairs, cubes, or offices. If they do, they may just run into a user (we're kidding, of course). Having a library of ISOs can help you in this endeavor. In addition, they run a lot faster than regular CDs.

Q : What will happen if I deploy systems management software on the ESX Server itself?

A : If you're going to do this, make sure you allocate enough memory so that the application doesn't impact the performance of your ESX Server and thus your virtual machines. Also, use a system management package that is supported and test your installation on your ESX Server thoroughly. If you notice a degradation of performance, contact the systems management software vendor. The major vendors have instructions and best practices for deploying their products onto ESX Server.

Q : What is the most important best practice to follow?

A : The one that ensures your smooth evolution into a virtual infrastructureeducation. Learn every aspect of a virtual environment to the best of your ability. Be passionate about it and you'll reap the rewards. See the recommended reading list, troll the VMware Web site regularly, as well as other Web sites dedicated to virtualization such as p2v.net, vmguru.com, and virtual-strategy.com.

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Muller A., Wilson S., Happe D.

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