IBM Front cover Introducing Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 on IBM Eserver xSeries Servers Describes the major features of this new product Explains the architecture and best practices Introduces the management tools that are available Kenny Bain Martin Dippold David Watts ibm.com/redbooks Redpaper International Technical Support Organization Introducing Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 on IBM Eserver xSeries Servers November 2004 Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the information in “Notices” on page vii. First Edition (November 2004) This edition applies to Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 running on IBM Eserver xSeries servers. © Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2004. All rights reserved. Note to U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights -- Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. Contents Notices . vii Trademarks . viii Preface . ix The team that wrote this Redpaper . ix Become a published author . xi Comments welcome. xi Chapter 1. Product overview . 1 1.1 Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 architecture . 2 1.1.1 Physical system . 3 1.1.2 Host operating system . 3 1.1.3 Virtual machine environment. 4 1.1.4 Guest operating systems . 5 1.2 Virtual Server management . 6 1.2.1 Virtual Server Administration Web site . 6 1.2.2 Active Directory integration . 9 1.2.3 Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 Management Pack for Virtual Server . 9 1.2.4 IBM Director 4.2 with Virtual Machine Manager . 9 1.2.5 Virtual Server Migration Toolkit. 9 1.3 Resource management. 10 1.3.1 Processor resource allocation. 10 1.3.2 Memory resource allocation . 11 1.3.3 Virtual hard disks . 11 1.3.4 Virtual networking . 12 1.4 Sizing . 14 1.4.1 Calculating requirements . 15 1.5 Performance . 15 1.6 Best practices . 16 1.6.1 Ensure that the computer has adequate memory and disk space . 16 1.6.2 Enable large memory support where appropriate. 16 1.6.3 Disable Hyper-Threading . 17 1.6.4 Correctly configure physical network adapters . 17 1.6.5 Use NTFS file system on computers running the Administration Web site. 18 1.6.6 Keep virtual machine components in a single folder. 18 1.6.7 Install Virtual Machine Additions . 18 1.6.8 Disable Host time synchronization when operating in multiple domains. 18 1.6.9 Run Sysprep on your virtual hard disks . 19 1.6.10 Do not use the VMRC client over a Terminal Services connection. 19 1.6.11 Shut down virtual machines when making changes . 19 1.6.12 Ensure adequate storage space when using Undo Disks. 20 1.6.13 Write-protect the parent disk before using a differencing disk . 20 1.6.14 Use Relative Weight . 20 1.6.15 Ensure proper configuration for high disk-use scenarios . 20 1.6.16 The implications of using Virtual Server with Virtual PC 2004 . 21 1.6.17 Secure Virtual Server and its associated components . 21 1.6.18 Stop the Virtual Server service before host operating system shutdown . 22 1.6.19 Improve Virtual Server application performance. 22 1.6.20 Use appropriate high-availability techniques. 22 © Copyright IBM Corp. 2004. All rights reserved. iii 1.6.21 Use the event log when troubleshooting. 23 Chapter 2. Virtual Server architecture. 25 2.1 Virtual machine technology . 26 2.2 Virtual Server application structure . 26 2.2.1 Virtual Machine Monitor kernel . 27 2.2.2 VMM driver . 27 2.2.3 NDIS driver . 28 2.2.4 Virtual Server service . 28 2.3 Virtual networking . 28 2.4 Virtual hard disks. 29 2.4.1 VHD architecture. 29 2.4.2 Clustering support. 29 2.4.3 VHD types. 30 2.5 Virtual Server Additions. 31 2.6 Virtual machine security . 31 2.6.1 Virtual machine isolation and encapsulation. 32 2.6.2 User authentication . 32 2.6.3 Administrative Network connections . 33 Chapter 3. Customer scenarios . 35 3.1 Consolidating test and development environments . 36 3.2 Migrating legacy applications . 36 3.3 Consolidate multiple server workloads . 37 3.3.1 Disaster Recovery. 38 3.4 Simulate distributed applications on one physical server . 39 Chapter 4. Management and deployment . 41 4.1 IBM Director 4.2 . 42 4.2 Virtual Machine Manager 1.0 . 42 4.2.1 VMM integration with IBM Director . 43 4.2.2 Virtual Machine Manager tasks. 44 4.2.3 Scheduler tasks for use with VMM objects . 45 4.2.4 Power operations for all virtual machines on a host . 48 4.2.5 VMM event filters and actions..