Author: Jon Owings

Cisco, EMC and Citrix 5000 Users in 30 minutes – Cisco Validated Design

Cisco + EMC + VMware + Citrix goodness.If you are working on deploying XenDesktop on VMware (the best way to do XenDesktop). Check out this article and Cisco Validated Design.

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http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/unified_computing/ucs/UCS_CVDs/citrix_emc_ucs_scaleVDI.pdf
http://blogs.cisco.com/datacenter/zero-to-5000-citrix-vdi-users-logged-in-and-working-in-just-30-minutes/Give it a read and see how it all works.

If you are like me and looking for where they get “30 minutes” from goto page 11.
“We were able to ramp (log in and start workloads) up to steady state in 30 minutes without pegging the processor, exhausting memory or storage subsystems.”

Build IP Management Server with Ubuntu, GIT and Nmap

Have 25 Vlans in your lab and Storage, Servers, Switches and other equipment all over the place?

Build a good Ubuntu box

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If you need more help on this leave some comments. It is pretty straight forward.
Be sure to select openssh server as a role.
After you login:
Remember to
$sudo apt-get update
$sudo apt-get upgrade
#If you are adventurous
$sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Install VMware Tools (you ARE doing this in a VM right?)

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From your VI Client set the VMware tools install to start, this will insert the disk for VMware Tools, but unfortunately doesn’t automate the install.
$sudo -s
#apt-get install build-essential
#apt-get install
#apt-get install apache2
The last two steps might not be needed but I do them out of habit. They allow the VMware tools to build the Kernel modules needed for VMXNET drivers.#mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cd
#cp /mnt/cd/VMwareTools-8.6.0-425873.tar.gz
#tar xvzf /tmp/VMwareTools-8.6.0-425873.tar.gz
#cd vmware-tools-distrib
#./vmware-install.pl
Now Run through the install of VMware tools.#apt-get install nmap
#apt-get install gitweb
#exit
You want to do some of the next steps as your normal user not root.
$cd ~
$mkdir nmaps
$git init nmaps
$sudo vi /etc/gitweb.conf
Modify the project root var to match your path to you nmaps.
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Now restart apache.
$sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 force-reload
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Ok great, the webpage will be up at http://yourhost/gitweb
Now to add your network information:
$nmap -sP 10.10.10.0/25 -oG /pathtoyour/nmapsdirectory/file.map
<update> The above command is to scan a subnet with pings then dump the output to a file.</update>

Nmap – great network scanner, the -sP sets it to “Ping” mode, you don’t need to crawl ports or anything so ping is fine, it will resolve the DNS if that is working.
my example:
$nmap -sP 172.10.0.0/16 -oG /home/lab-admin/nmaps/vlan10.map

For what it is worth a /16 network takes forever. If you know the usable ip’s are a way smaller subset you can specify a range.
$nmap -sP 172.10.0.1-100 -oG /home/lab-admin/nmaps/vlan10.map

Next on the first time you must add the file to the git repository
$cd nmaps
$git add /home/lab-admin/nmaps/vlan10.map
$git commit -m “My Network Maps”

Now we have some content on the gitweb page.

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Click tree to see the files you have added.
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Click on blob to see your IP’s in use.

Let’s automate it with crontab

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As you can see it is fairly easy to get rolling. Before you finish, run the nmap command for each subnet and git add each file to the repository.Now we will tell cron to run the nmap scans on a regular interval and git commit the changes.
$vi ip-scanscript.sh
In this file put each ip scan on its own line. As seen above. Save the changes and exit.
$chmod +x ip-scanscript.sh
$./ip-scanscript.sh
This will create all the files you want in one swoop.
$cd nmaps
$git add *
This will add all the new files in the nmaps directory to the git repository.Edit the script one more time.
$vi ip-scanscript.sh
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By adding the git commit line to the script you can now set this up to automatically run with cron.
$crontab -e
[note]I was having issues with the range line in the screenshot above. Still testing.
[2nd note] change the git commit line to include a ‘-a’ example:
git commit -a -m “My IP Lists”
If you need help with crontab this is where I go when I can’t remember.
http://www.adminschoice.com/crontab-quick-reference
http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2011/07/cron-every-5-minutes/
I set mine to run every 4 hours.Hope this is helpful, not much reason to buy a fancy product when this can be up and running so quickly.

More References:
http://gitref.org/basic/

If you changed your IP in Puppet Razor

If you happen to build your puppet server using VMware Workstation then export the OVF so you can import it into an vSphere environment later. I had a bit of weirdness after the IP address changed. After setting my static IP I had to restart puppet. It seemed like it was going to work BUT the microkernel image was downloading from the old IP from my Workstation.

To Fix:

#vi /opt/razor/conf/razor_server.conf

Change the line:

image_svc_host: <old IP>

And

mk_uri: http://<old-ip>:8026

To have your new static IP.

Then run

#/opt/razor/bin/razor_daemon.rb restart

Everything should work better now.

You down with VDP? Yeah you know me!

I had to be the first one to make a really bad joke.

Everyone will admit, how to efficiently back up your VM’s is a hot topic. Remember VDP is VMware’s product, but a lot of EMC technical people should be able to let you know right away how it works. VDP will be an excellent fit for a lot of customers with environments where they can’t spend extra on “virtual” backups.

Here are some of my favorite things in the new VDP.

  1. First it is built right into the new vSphere Web Client
  1. A simple wizard guides you through making the jobs.
  2. VDP uses Change block tracking to accelerate full restores.
  3. Integrated Self-service File level restore. What is better than file level restore? No one opening a ticket to ask you to do it!

The other stuff

Someone will eventually ask what is the difference between VDP and Avamar?

VDP

  • Max # VMs: 100
  • Storage Pool: up to 2TB
  • Replication (DR): None
  • Image-Level backup only

Avamar

  • Max # VMs: Unlimited
  • Storage Pool: up to 124TB *
  • Replication (DR): Included
  • Image-Level backup
  • Guest-Level backup
  • Extensive application support
  • Physical & Virtual backup
  • NAS/NDMP support
  • Desktop/Laptop backup
  • Extended retention to VTL/tape
  • Enterprise management
  • Purpose-Built Backup Appliances
    • Avamar Data Store
    • Data Domain integration *

In-n-Out trip VMworld 2012

Time for the 4th annual trip to In-n-out at VMworld. This year we are in San Francisco. The calendar during dinner tim is getting packed with all kinds of things. SO as an attempt to get more people. The in-n-out trip will be a post EMC party deal level out any adult beverages trip. On Tuesday the 28th post 10pm give or take 15 minutes I will try to caravan to the In-n-out. They are open until 1am.
See you there!

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Get Ready for the vHunt at VMworld with some bonus prizes

I am very excited this year for VMworld. As is tradition there will be an In-n-Out run. More details on this as my calendar is more packed in previous years. It might need to be a late night run.

One other thing I am excited about is this years vHunt twitter game. In addition to all of the fun prizes EMC will be providing (a new iPad for one). I will be carrying out at the show some very special prizes thanks to VMware Press.

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  • Automating vSphere with VMware vCenter Orchestrator by Cody Bunch
  • The Official VCP 5 Certification Guide by Bill Ferguson
  • VMware vSphere 5 Building a Virtual Datacenter by Eric Maille and Rene-Francois Mennecier
  • Managing and Optimizing VMware vSphere Deployment by Sean Crookston and Harley Stagner
  • Administering VMware Site Recovery Manager 5.0 by Mike Laverick

    • While supplies last and if you find will need to find me OUTSIDE of the EMC Booth to get the prize. Once you find me tweet a picture with me and your new book with the #vHunt hastag and copy @VMwarepress.

    Cisco – EMC Webcast: … An Optimized End User Experience

     

    No matter what you do to accelerate, optimize and transform your desktop environment (physical or virtual) if the presentation is sub-par, no one cares. The common message from any vSpecialist when it comes to EUC (End User Computing, VDI is so 2011) is focus on the end user experience. Make it easy to access my data and applications from anywhere at any time and I am a happy user.

    This is something I really believe in. Having delivered VDI (or TS) solutions in the past, starting as a Citrix Metaframe XP administrator. So when I noticed this webcast I wanted to be sure share it with everyone. EMC is a huge place and there is ALWAYS something going on, but I wanted to take special notice when Cisco, EMC, VCE and VMware team up with a focus on getting the end user experience done right.

    Save the date and sign up! August 22, 2012 11:00 AM EDT / 8:00 AM PDT.

    So sign up now here: http://bit.ly/vdia22

    What to expect?

    When it comes to EUC there are so many “best” practices out there many times you just need someone to tell you what works. I will take a few seconds to detail the high level bullets I always share with customers when speaking about EUC.

    • From the EMC perspective it often relates to putting the right data in the right place. When using Flash drives to lower cost and footprint knowing how VDI I/O works is very important.

     

    • Also from the EMC realm is the amazing impact FAST Cache can have on these deployments vs. trying to account for all unexpected I/O with spinning media. This additionally lowers your cost and spindle count. That is right, someone at EMC saying buy less drives.
    • Use the money you save to put more RAM in your Cisco UCS B – series blades. Memory being the second bottle neck after storage when it comes to your VDI role out.
    • Speaking of memory make sure you use the best hypervisor for consolidation and memory management. vSphere 5 is still years ahead of even the promised products from the other guys. The TCO picture for hardware is ONLY part of the story, so make sure you get every last drop out of those Cisco UCS blades.
    • Lastly, if you want to deliver this in a tested and proven manner AND you realize your time to market is critical, EMC VSPEX and VCE Vblock take the world’s best components and software and make it work for you. No more testing for 9 months before pushing the go button.

    Get to the WEBCAST Already

    Once again, if you are exploring, testing, POC’ing, or running in production VDI in any way shape or form. Join the webcast on August 22 and see when EMC and Cisco have in store.

    Save the date and sign up! August 22, 2012.

    So sign up now here: http://bit.ly/vdia22

    More on VSPEX

    More on VCE and End User Compute and FASTPATH

    EMC Reference Architecture -one of many…

    From the Cisco Site <-Cisco UCS / EMC VNX RA

     

    Book Review: Automating vSphere with VMware vCenter Orchestrator

    So to be 100% honest I have had this book on my desk for several months. Just staring at me. Calling my name. VMware press provided this copy to me along with Mike Laverick’s SRM book and so I am finally going to review the first one.

    Cody Bunch does an amazing job of breaking down one of the most mystifying yet powerful products hidden in the VMware portfolio. VMware vCenter Orchestrator is almost mythical in the promises of automation of typical tasks of a vSphere administrator. While you can bang your head against the wall for weeks trying to figure out how to properly setup the vOrchestrator server and client I was able to use Cody’s guidance to have to operational and running test workflows in just a few hours (I am a slow reader).

    I can’t stress enough the need for automation and orchestration in today’s virtual machine environment. The business is demanding more and more from the Virtualization team and in order to deliver vCenter Orchestrator is a good start since you probably already OWN it.

    Hopefully soon there will be an update with information on the vApp version of Orchestrator. Check it out here on Amazon or your favorite book reseller.

    Thanks again

    Leadership in the Cloud (And everywhere else)

    This is really a post about leadership in general, but I like to apply it to our industry. I am totally cool if you take these concepts and apply them elsewhere.

    In any work environment there is constant posturing, politicing, conflicting, that has nothing to do with the actual cause of the workplace. I am going to offer a few leadership tips for everyone, not just for managers, vp’s and directors. Tips that we can all put to use.

    1. It is not all about you. We all know that “guy” (or girl). Using every oppurtunity to push others down and himself up. Using others backs to climb on never lasts. Being the MVP of a losing team is never my goal, make everyone around you better. The skills involved in doing that will take you further than your daily task knowledge. No one ever says, “Wow, Jon sure can deploy a sweet VM.” If you are known for adding value, contributing and making everyone better that is how what you do will last. Valuing your team as something more than tools to make you look good is a good start.

    2. Have a Purpose/Mission. I am here to change the world. Personally and Professionally. I have done jobs and have volunteered with people and organizations where no one knows why they do what they do. If you are making Pizza, make life changing pizza. If you are building next-gen datacenters, do it in a way that will alter life for someone.

    3. Lead, Even if you aren’t supposed to. Don’t sit around and wait to be asked to do something leadershippy.

    4. Have a Strategy. If you don’t know why you do what you do get that first. Then decide how the world will look when you are done. Impact (well good impact) on people will not happen on accident.

    5. If you see a problem be part of the Solution. Stop complaining. There is only so much time in the day. Personally, it is natural for me to complain. I am very good at pointing out faults in everything. I have to consciously make the decision to work on the solutions for things I can change and shut up about the other stuff (for now). Some things just need the proper timing.

    6. Community. Jump into the deep end of the pool of community. Make this a core tenant of everything you participate in. You can not do it all by yourself. Community substitues like Twitter and Facebook are a start but go meet in person with some real people. Just an idea.

    The most cynical of my readers never started reading this. If you got this far, I hope in your mind you see how this applies to you. Of course any comments are welcome.