Virtualization Redemption?
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I've made a bit of a mess.....Hoping you guys can help me out.
Clent wanted their EMR vendor to spec out their server builds and it's backed me into a tight spot as they misled us to their DR capability. ESXI free.... dumb i know Server 2008 R2
Currently i have 3 identical r620's.
2.18 TB (raid 10)
64 GB of ram
and 24 logical processorsThey wanted Host 1 to contain DC and SQL and we've got 970 GB free on this host
Host 2 Contains ERX and SRS and has 1.2 tb free
Host 3 has a secondary dc and what was supposed to be their cache/emergency access server that would contain the previous days data in case of total failure at primary site.
Host 3 really has no true use after going through the install.
My ultimate goal is to move host 3 to a datacenter and i need to replicate SQL, SRS, and ERX to that server, i'll also have a tiny DC running on the host. Anyway, what would you guys do in this spot?
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I have to ask, where is the tight spot? Are the servers not capable of failing over because they don't have enough power, is licensing an issue?
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Other then using ESXi free when there are much better options available I'm not sure where the issue lies. It sounds like you are doing what you need to do.
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Does ESXi Free do the Replication?
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@dafyre said:
Does ESXi Free do the Replication?
No it doesn't. At least not with HA. Essentials Plus is the only "cheap" option from VMWare for HA.
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It sounds to me like the Replication bits are the only thing he's missing, then.
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@dafyre said:
It sounds to me like the Replication bits are the only thing he's missing, then.
Although not really... especailly if he is able to setup SQL and AD replication to this third party site. Replication at the application level is generally better for this.
Sorry for my ignorance what does SRS and ERX stand for?
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Since Host 3 is free install Hyper V on it, and move stuff over 1 server at a time.
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He's already using one of the most popular hypervisors. There is no reason to switch to Hyper-V and then convert all of his VM's.
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Can you replica with replicate with ESXi Free? No.
Can you do a live migration with ESXi Free? No.
http://vinfrastructure.it/2013/09/hyper-v-2012r2-vs-vsphere-5-5/
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@anonymous said:
Can you replica with replicate with ESXi Free? No.
Can you do a live migration with ESXi Free? No.
While this is true, he may not have to do either of those things depending on how his applications are setup.
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@anonymous said:
Can you replica with replicate with ESXi Free? No.
Can you do a live migration with ESXi Free? No.
Maybe, but it'll be a difficult fight to sell to the client that "OH hey we need to change your backbone out for a different one" It doesn't address his issue.
He needs to setup HA fail over between the three host using what he has.
Additionally, why use the youngest Hypervisor of all, why not use Xen? Anyways rather than side tracking the conversation, changing the Hypervisor doesn't correct the issue quickly and appropriately.
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@coliver said:
While this is true, he may not have to do either of those things depending on how his applications are setup.
What about backups?
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He's looking for a DR solution. If either of the two servers at his main site die, those servers need to be running at the remote DC in as little time as possible.
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Backups only will only work with the system he has. He still needs a way to have the 3rd host take over and turn those backup's on.
Assuming that they are in fact "good" backups and have nothing wrong with them.
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@anonymous said:
@coliver said:
While this is true, he may not have to do either of those things depending on how his applications are setup.
What about backups?
You could easily backup the virtual machines on ESXi Free... you just couldn't do it at the host level. Does this deminish some of the value of virtualization? Yes but it is valid none-the-less.
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He needs to setup HA fail over between the three host using what he has.
That is going to cost him at least 5K with VMware.....
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@Dashrender said:
He's looking for a DR solution. If either of the two servers at his main site die, those servers need to be running at the remote DC in as little time as possible.
He is using AD and SQL two applications that have built in replication, he could setup a VPN connection and replicate over that. My biggest question is can the ERX and SRS applications be run in the configuration as well. Or do they pull from AD and SQL if it is the latter then that just makes this much easier.
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One year of VMware vSphere Essentials Plus Kit is $5,439.00
Hyper V is free, and doesn't require shared storage.
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My thought is to use something like Appassure or any backup product that will not only backup the VMs but also push the VM in a ready to start state to another VM host, i.e. his host at the remote DC.
Sure he'd lose whatever new data was made since the last backup, but the amount of downtime would be minimal. The old server dies, he simply starts up the VM on the remote VM Host.
