Physical to virtual cluster

Hi,
We have windows server 2008 two node cluster active/passive. We have few named instances of sql server 2008 and r2. Our management is planning to virtualize almost everything to save money. Their plan is to virtualize cluser. So our plan is:
1. Create two virtual nodes on existing cluster.
2. Failover one physical node to virtual and then remove physical node.
3. Failover second physical node to second virtual node and remove second physical node.
4. This is production server and applications are connected to different instances.
My question is based on your experience whether it is possible. If possible any impact on application.
Thanks

As what Mark already mentioned, this is possible. But before looking at the implementation details, you need to answer a few questions to determine whether or not this is the right way to go.
Why did you implement a SQL Server Failover Cluster? Is it for high availability?
What is your mean time to recovery (MTTR) goal?
Have you measured your database performance - CPU, memory, IO, etc. - on the physical machines running on a cluster? This is very important if you are considering moving to virtual machines.
If you move to virtual machines and your goal for having a cluster is still for high availability, how do you intend to protect the physical machine running the virtual machine? Have you considered implementing a highly available virtualization platform
such as Microsoft Hyper-V with Failover Clustering or VMWare vSphere? There are numerous combinations of solutions to achieve what you want but if your goal is high availability, it always comes at a price. Make sure that you are not cutting costs just for
the sake of it. Let your availability goals dictate your solution.
Edwin Sarmiento SQL Server MVP
Blog |
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Physical to Virtual Cluster using SAS - is it possible?

We're prepping to dramatically increase our IT infrastructure here, and I need a little advice. We're changing our practice management software from something running on a relatively lightweight database to MS SQL Server. With that we're planning a big upgrade
in computing and storage, plus we'd like to add failover clustering to help guarantee a certain level of service.
The current plan calls for 3 physical servers running WS2012R2 connected directly to a SAS array on an IBM DS3524. Physical server A will host the primary SQL Server database, plus a few light-usage VMs for testing and dev stuff. Physical server B will host
images and files, no SQL Server, plus a bunch of RDP VMs. Physical server C will host a nightly copy of the primary database used for heavy reports, plus another couple of VMs for various network functions.
Ideally we would like to cluster the physical server A to a VM on physical server B. I'm unsure, though, if that can be done using the direct attach SAS drives. We do not want to set up an iSCSI SAN.
Two questions, then:
Is this type of failover setup even possible? If so, how would we set up a shared storage between a physical server and a VM on a second physical server using direct attached SAS?
If this isn't possible, would we be better off virtualizing the primary database and clustering the two VMs (best practices from our software vendor recommend virtualizing everything *except* the primary DB server), or setting up a physical failover from Server
A to Server C? In the event of a failure, server C would then find itself hosting 2 databases, though we could restrict reporting during a failure to lighten load.
Thanks -
Mike

We're prepping to dramatically increase our IT infrastructure here, and I need a little advice. We're changing our practice management software from something running on a relatively lightweight database to MS SQL Server. With that we're planning a big upgrade
in computing and storage, plus we'd like to add failover clustering to help guarantee a certain level of service.
The current plan calls for 3 physical servers running WS2012R2 connected directly to a SAS array on an IBM DS3524. Physical server A will host the primary SQL Server database, plus a few light-usage VMs for testing and dev stuff. Physical server B will host
images and files, no SQL Server, plus a bunch of RDP VMs. Physical server C will host a nightly copy of the primary database used for heavy reports, plus another couple of VMs for various network functions.
Ideally we would like to cluster the physical server A to a VM on physical server B. I'm unsure, though, if that can be done using the direct attach SAS drives. We do not want to set up an iSCSI SAN.
Two questions, then:
Is this type of failover setup even possible? If so, how would we set up a shared storage between a physical server and a VM on a second physical server using direct attached SAS?
If this isn't possible, would we be better off virtualizing the primary database and clustering the two VMs (best practices from our software vendor recommend virtualizing everything *except* the primary DB server), or setting up a physical failover from Server
A to Server C? In the event of a failure, server C would then find itself hosting 2 databases, though we could restrict reporting during a failure to lighten load.
Thanks -
Mike
Discussed with more details on SpiceWorks here:
SpiceWorks Discussion
http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/462437-failover-cluster-2012r2-physical-to-virtual-sas
Making long story short: use shared VHDX. Quote:
You need to have 100% virtualized workload and then you can use shared VHDX placed on CSV placed on top of your clustered storage (SAS + Clustered Storage Spaces). That would do the trick. See:
Shared
VHDX
http://blogs.technet.com/b/storageserver/archive/2013/11/25/shared-vhdx-files-my-favorite-new-featur...
Shared VHDX in Failover Cluster
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn265980.aspx
Clustered Storage Spaces
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj822937.aspx
Another option you've mentioned is to run clustered MSFT target on top of a SAS-back ended cluster. But that's both slow and ugly. Another option would be using clustered out-of-box iSCSI stack but that's not free and makes less sense as you have IBM SAS already.
StarWind VSAN [Virtual SAN] clusters Hyper-V without SAS, Fibre Channel, SMB 3.0 or iSCSI, uses Ethernet to mirror internally mounted SATA disks between hosts.

How to find SQLServer Virtual Cluster name for multiple servers?

Hi Team,
I have a huge clustered environment and have a document that shows all the Physical Node Names in the clusters. But unfortunately we do not have the Virtual Server Names. I know, we can only connect to SQL through Virtual Name so I would like to know if there
is an automated way to find the Virtual Cluster Names (or SQL Server Name). Like using PowerShell or other programming languages. I have tried looking at several forums but did that did not help.
Some points to think:
1) I know we can look it up by opening Failover Cluster Manager (FCM) but I have hundreds of servers. So that doesn't really help :(
2) I have tried Get-ClusterResource cmdlet in Powershell, it gives all the resources that are running but not the name. Like it gives "SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)" and not the name.
3) Also I know we can find out using tsql command, SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('SERVERNAME') but again I cannot connect to SQL without the Virtual Name :)
I am pretty sure there should me a way to find it out using scrips since we are able to know it using GUI (FCM).
Really appreciate your help !!

Hi,
In addition, you can find the names of the Cluster , Individual Node Names and SQL Virtual Server Names in the registry. Use the PowerShell command to retrieve registry key values.
The following keys can be used to get the information:
Virtual Server Name
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\CLUSTER\ClusterName
Node Names
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\CLUSTER\NODES\1\NodeName
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\CLUSTER\NODES\2\NodeName
SQL Virtual Server Name:
HEKY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\MSSQLSERVER\CLUSTER\ClusterName
Additional information:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/heyscriptingguy/archive/2012/05/11/use-powershell-to-enumerate-registry-property-values.aspx
Thanks.
Tracy Cai
TechNet Community Support

How to Install Physical and Virtual Host

I am getting licensing issues after I installed Essentials 2012R2 on a physical machine and then used the same license to virtualize it. It's saying my physical machine needs to hold all the FSMO roles in which my virtual machine is hosting those roles.
I read that Microsoft allows you to use the Essentials license for the physical and virtual server. Is that correct?
Is there a specific service I need to remove on the physical machine in order for these errors to stop? I still have the Windows Server Essentials Experience service installed. Is that what needs to be removed?
Thanks,
Doug

Hi Doug,
There is an article that provide details of licensing for Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials. Please refer to and check if can help us to understand licensing for Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials better.
Understanding Licensing for Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials and the Windows
Server Essentials Experience role
Please also refer to following article and check if can help you.
Customize Deployment - Windows Server Essentials
If any update, please feel free to let me know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected]

Physical to virtual ends with errors, other methods export but launch with windows repair 2008 r2

New to hyperV here, plan to implement it in a few months. So I am practicing with it now.
I am trying to convert a working 2008 r2 physical to virtual using Microsoft virtual machine converter. in the settings I was point it to my hyperv- server and I was getting errors, this was due to permissions. No matter what I did I can't get it to
work, not sure whats wrong. SO I installed hyper V under my win8.1 pro machine shared the folders and the export started.
Upon the end of the export where it goes into "Fixing disk' I get an instant error no matter how may times I do this or how which server I try to export I get an error here.
It still created files and when I then copy those over to my test hyper V the win2008 R2 export goes into repair mode, I'm sure it's a driver issue but I would have expected that MS would have stripped the drivers our before export.
I then tried Acronis backup server and was able to export to MS virtual machine but this export also goes into windows repair more.
In the past I've used acronis and restored a physical server , this would also go into repair mode unless I use the "intelligent restore" which strips the drivers.
I don't want to tinker with the live server to get this to work since It's still in production, but I would like to get this to work , would any one have a tip, what can I do to provide more information on the root of the problem?
nambi

Hi Sir,
>>I am trying to convert a working 2008 r2 physical to virtual using
Microsoft virtual machine converter.
Generally, I would suggest you to use
Disk2Vhd to convert a physical computer to Virtual Machine (virtual hard disk) then create a VM and attach that VHD .
Please refer to this
article .
Any further information please feel free to let us know .
Best Regards,
Elton Ji
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected] .

Leopard - QMaster and Virtual Cluster problem

Hi guys,
Up until yesterday I had my MacPro Octo running under 10.4 where I did succesfully set up a Virtual Cluster using 4 instances for Compressor. It worked as a charm and my MacPro was doing it's job perfectly.
Today, I made a bootable backup of my 10.4 install and installed 10.5 using the erase and install options ( clean install ). I installed all my software again and tryed setting up my Virtual Cluster again, using the same settings I had under 10.4. Sadly I can't seem to get it working.
In the QMaster Preferences pane, I have the QuickCluster with Services option checked. For the compressor entry in the Services I have the Share Option checked and used 4 isntances for the selected service. The Quickcluster received a descent name and the option to include unmanaged services from other computers is checked.
I have the default options set in the Advanced tab, ( nothing checked except log service activity to log file and Show QMaster service status in the Menu Bar). I then started the Cluster using the Start Sharing button.
Now I open u Compressor and add a file to process ( QT encode to iPod ), but when I hit the Submit button, my Virtual Cluster doesn't show up in the Cluster Dropdown. If I now leave the Compressor GUI open for 5 minutes, it will eventually show up in the list, and I can pick it. Sadly, picking it from the list at this point and hitting the Submit button makes Compressor Hang.
I checked my logs, but the only thing concerning Compressor I could find is this :
4/12/07 20:12:35 Compressor[242] Could not find image named 'MPEG1-Output'.
4/12/07 20:12:35 Compressor[242] Could not find image named 'MPEG1-Output'.
4/12/07 20:12:35 Compressor[242] Could not find image named 'MPEG1-Output'.
4/12/07 20:12:41 Batch Monitor[190] * CDOClient::connect2: CException [NSException raised by 'NSPortTimeoutException', reason = '[NSPortCoder sendBeforeTime:sendReplyPort:] timed out (218488391.647220 218488361.647369) 1'], server [tcp://10.0.1.199:49167]
4/12/07 20:12:41 Batch Monitor[190] exception caught in -[ClusterStatus getNewStatusFromController:withOptions:withQueryList:]: NSException raised by 'NSPortTimeoutException', reason = '[NSPortCoder sendBeforeTime:sendReplyPort:] timed out (218488391.647220 218488361.647369) 1'
4/12/07 20:17:55 Batch Monitor[190] * CDOClient::connect2: CException [NSException raised by 'NSPortTimeoutException', reason = '[NSPortCoder sendBeforeTime:sendReplyPort:] timed out (218488705.075513 218488675.075652) 1'], server [tcp://10.0.1.199:49167]
I tried Stopping and then Restart Sharing and I noticed the follwoing entries in my log :
4/12/07 20:23:26 compressord[210] can't refresh cache from file "/Library/Application Support/Apple Qmaster/qmasterservices.plist"
4/12/07 20:23:26 compressord[211] can't refresh cache from file "/Library/Application Support/Apple Qmaster/qmasterservices.plist"
4/12/07 20:23:26 compressord[213] can't refresh cache from file "/Library/Application Support/Apple Qmaster/qmasterservices.plist"
4/12/07 20:23:26 qmasterca[269] can't refresh cache from file "/Library/Application Support/Apple Qmaster/qmasterservices.plist"
4/12/07 20:23:26 qmasterqd[199] can't refresh cache from file "/Library/Application Support/Apple Qmaster/qmasterservices.plist"
4/12/07 20:23:27 QmasterStatusMenu[178] * CDOClient::connect2: CException [NSException raised by 'NSPortTimeoutException', reason = '[NSPortCoder sendBeforeTime:sendReplyPort:] timed out (218489009.603992 218489007.604126) 1'], server [tcp://10.0.1.199:49407]
4/12/07 20:23:27 Batch Monitor[190] * CDOClient::connect2: CException [NSException raised by 'NSPortTimeoutException', reason = '[NSPortCoder sendBeforeTime:sendReplyPort:] timed out (218489037.738080 218489007.738169) 1'], server [tcp://10.0.1.199:49407]
4/12/07 20:23:27 Batch Monitor[190] exception caught in -[ClusterStatus getNewStatusFromController:withOptions:withQueryList:]: NSException raised by 'NSPortTimeoutException', reason = '[NSPortCoder sendBeforeTime:sendReplyPort:] timed out (218489037.738080 218489007.738169) 1'
Batch Monitor immediately detects the cluster being active again, but Compressor doesnt, leaving me only This Computer available in the Cluster drop down when submitting a batch.
In my Activity Monitor, I notice that CompressorTranscoder is not responing ( the 4 CompressorTranscoderX processes are fine ) and the ContentAgent proces isn't responding neither.
Does anyone have any clue on what I could check next or how I could fix my problems ?
Thanks a lot in advance,
Stefaan

Bah, this is crazy, today it doesn't work anymore. Yesterday my cluster was showing up in the Dropdown window, and I could submit a batch to it, and it got processed over my virtual cluster.
Today, after finishing the second part of my movie, I tried it again. I didn't change anything to my settings, my machine hasn't even rebooted (just recovered from sleep mode) and my cluster isn't showing up at all anymore. Even the Qmaster menu doesn't show it
Guess, I'll have to wait out until it appears again, or try a few things out

Compressor outputs pixelated H.264 video when using a virtual cluster

Hey all,
So for some reason, when I use compressor to convert my HDV .mov file to H.264, if I am using a virtual cluster (8 core Mac Pro5,1)the end product comes out pixelated. However, I just tried again without the virtual cluster, and it came out normal as usual. Anyone know what I am missing? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Whoops, I'm clearly not paying attention. The images are a little small so it's hard to see, but the first image is without the quick cluster, and the second is with the quick cluster

SCCM report query that displays count of cpus per host and if host is physical or virtual

Hello,
I have this query that displays the count of CPUs per host. How can I add a column to show if the host a physical or virtual?
SELECT
DISTINCT(CPU.SystemName0) AS [System Name],
CPU.Manufacturer0 AS Manufacturer,
CPU.Name0 AS Name,
COUNT(CPU.ResourceID) AS [Number of CPUs],
CPU.NumberOfCores0 AS [Number of Cores per CPU],
CPU.NumberOfLogicalProcessors0 AS [Logical CPU Count]
FROM [dbo].[v_GS_PROCESSOR] CPU
GROUP BY
CPU.SystemName0,
CPU.Manufacturer0,
CPU.Name0,
CPU.NumberOfCores0,
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I see that you have posted this exact question in another forum for CM12, however this is an CM07 forum.
Are you CM07 or CM12?
If you are CM12, use my answer here.
http://www.systemcentercentral.com/forums-archive/topic/sccm-report-query-for-cpu-cores/
If you are CM07, this is NOT a simple how exactly do you detect that a computer is a VM? You can guess by looking at the manufacturer name but it is only a guess.
Garth Jones | My blogs: Enhansoft and
Old Blog site | Twitter:
@GarthMJ

Best Practice for Operations Masters physical vs. virtual.

I understand that the schema master and the domain naming master should be co-located. As well as the RID master PDC emulator should be co-located. But I
cannot find any "best practices" documents for mixed server environments.
When you have both physical and virtual environments. Are there any “best practices” documents on mixing the two sets of roles between the two environments?

Hello,
see here about, especially "Load and criticality may dictate that some roles be deployed on physical hardware":
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888794
Best regards Meinolf Weber Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

Virtual Cluster Does Not Show Up In Compressor

I have a clean install of Leopard and FCS2. All the updates completed and everything is running beautifully except that the Virtual Cluster I setup in Qmaster does not show up in Compressor as an option when submitting. The virtual cluster with 4 instances establishes itself and indicates that all services as 'Idle". The QuickCluster has the same name as the computer under "sharing" even though sharing is turned off. Services are seet as "Shared" not "Managed". Unfortunately, in Compressor the only option available is to render with "This computer". Any suggestions? Thanks, Jim

HI James, just quick suggestion from the airport lounge in Changi Singapore....
step1: using the usual procedure of RESETTING everything (compressor back ground tasks and system prefs/qmaster, option+click start (reset) and then *purging stuff for /var/spool/qmaste*r.... via the finder or trusty rm command.
*step 2:* that you use use QMASTER ADMINISTRATOR to create a cluster of controller and service node on your mac (*not a quick cluste*r).
Check that it is correctly established and 'APPLY' is.
TRy adding a batch to copressor and see if the new cluster appears and that you have the number of instances utilising the cores you specified.
lots of stuff on this forum on this.. just search
hth
w

Conversion from physical to virtual server

Our server technology group wants to convert our physical
server that contains the RoboEngine to a virtual server (using ESX
VMware). We are using RoboHelp 5 to publish WebHelp to the
RoboEngine. Has anyone else converted from a physical to a virtual
server? If so, could you tell me about any problems you
encountered?
Thanks,
Liz

Hello Nelson,
There are quite lot of things in TMG which are dependent on Hardware.
If you want to migrate from physical to virtual server, you can follow the steps here which are recommended/supported way of doing it.
Though this article is for ISA to TMG migration, still you can follow the same steps for Physcial to Virtual migration.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd440994.aspx
Please let us know, how it goes!

Sap Server movement from physical to virtual(p2v)

Hi all,
We currently have two older versions of R/3 running 4.6c and 4.7ee, both IDES versions.
These versions have been out of support for some time.
We have these instances running for reference purposes. We have new versions of R/3 ECC 5.0, 6.0
also running in our company. All these versions of R/3 are IDES.
Our Windows administrators are of the opinion that servers on which the instances 4.6c and 4.7ee are running are very old,
and spares are hard to find. So they want to move these instances from a physical environment to a virtual environment.
I have read through the Note: 1409608.
It says,
SAP does not support SAP systems that are installed on Windows 32-bit
in a virtualized environment. If you plan to migrate your SAP system that is running
on native hardware on Windows 32-bit to a virtualized environment
on Windows 64-bit, it might be necessary to upgrade the SAP system to a higher release.
For these configurations, SAP recommends to migrate the SAP system to Windows x64 first
and then upgrade the SAP system.
Now, I don't think is it quite possible to upgrade 4.6c and 4.7ee to 64 bit.
License keys on windows are based on SID, Hostname, MAC address of the network card.
If we make sure that the MAC address is the same and
that its at the same place as before(sequence of multiple network cards is the same),
we can still Use the old license.
Our Windows guys say its very hard to retain the MAC address, they can try it.
So with these old versions of R/3, how can we keep them running, if they have to be moved from Physical to virtual,
as license keys and installation software is hard to get.
Regards,
Vishnu.

Hi Markus,
Thanks for your reply. Would open an OSS call.
I have looked at the note mentioned by you, and since our OS is windows, I thought the below statement
holds good in my case. From the note I have also deduced that for Windows, licenses are based only on the Hardware Key.
Am I wrong in assuming this?
Only Windows uses a hardware key that does NOT depend on the hardware.
A new installation of Windows definitely causes the hardware key to change.
I have also looked at note 793649, which says Hardware key changes only when,
1. Formatting the machine and reinstalling Windows.
2. When changing the computer name.
3. When changing the domain (it will not change back when returning to the previous domain).
Regards,
Vishnu.

Missing Virtual Cluster

I recently installed Snow Leopard and FCS 3 on my Dual Quad and I can't seem to get the previously working Virtual Cluster to show up any longer. I've restarted it and tried resetting it... It just never shows up as an option to submit a batch to from Compressor.
Anyone else having this problem or know what I can do to fix it?

Compressor 3.5 is much easier. My blog (www.bbalser.com/blog.html) shows how easy it is now.

Settin up a Virtual Cluster

I'm working on a 2.66Mhz Quad Core and would like to do a couple of things:
First I'd like to be able to monitor the CPUs to see how much and how many processors Compressor is using.
Secondly, if its not using all of the core's how do I create a Virtual Cluster and get Compressor to use all of the cores?
If I accomplished this would it significantly increase the encoding performance? I guess if it does I might upgrade to an 8-core, if it doesn't I'll stay were I'm at.
As always, any suggestions or insight is greatly appreciated.

1. Activity Monitor. Found in Applications/Utilities.
2. Instructions here: http://www.digitalrebellion.com/blog/posts/usingcompressor_with_multiplecores.html
Yes it will speed you up considerably.

SCCM 2012 hierarchy from Physical to Virtual

I have an existing standalone SCCM 2012 hierarchy on a physical server with ~ 50K clients reporting with additional servers hosting various site system roles. Now the requirement is to migrate this hierarchy on a virtual environment. Client doesn't want
to do P2V migration and wanted to have the migration done on new infra.
In current hierarchy we have client health compliance at ~90% and we have to maintain the same post migration additionally there are lot of collections, packages and deployments those needs to be successfully migrated.
Please suggest a feasible and most efficient solution for this

Client doesn't want to do P2V migration
Assuming that you have done your homework and are OK that Virtual is the way to go, the easiest way to migrate from Physical to Virtual is to carry out a P2V migration. I don't quite understand this.
Gerry Hampson | Blog:
www.gerryhampsoncm.blogspot.ie | LinkedIn:
Gerry Hampson | Twitter:
@gerryhampson

Physical to virtual cluster

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