Server Virtualization Platform Choices
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@Drew said:
What sort of backup tools do you see people using in XEN environments? Is there a Veeam \ Unitrends \ VDP equivalent?
Two big ones, that I see. For low cost environments people tend to use free tools that are more limited like NAUBackup. Or for those going into the space where they would be paying for backup tools, Unitrends is available (just not the free version.) So for most businesses, Unitrends is the big product of choice.
Of course that is only at the Xen layer. If you want traditional filesystem backups all of the usual tools like Shadow Protect will work just fine.
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@scottalanmiller said:
KVM is rarely seen used on its own and would be an odd choice for most businesses to deploy on its own. KVM's main places for use are as a research platform for new
I thought tools like ShadowProtect could restore images from "bare metal" back to production? If that is the case, what reasons would you have for using Both?
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@dafyre said:
@scottalanmiller said:
KVM is rarely seen used on its own and would be an odd choice for most businesses to deploy on its own. KVM's main places for use are as a research platform for new
I thought tools like ShadowProtect could restore images from "bare metal" back to production? If that is the case, what reasons would you have for using Both?
They can't even take images so....
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@scottalanmiller Ha ha ha. This is good to know!
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@Drew said:
What sort of backup tools do you see people using in XEN environments? Is there a Veeam \ Unitrends \ VDP equivalent?
I have a bash script that takes snapshots and exports them, then deletes the snapshot. It's based on custom fields for the VM. Here's a link: https://github.com/markround/XenServer-snapshot-backup
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We use NAUBackup and schedule it within Crontab for our XenServer.
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@scottalanmiller What do you think of using KVM as a replacement for VirtualBox? Do you gain anything by using VirtualBox on a Linux desktop other than it's possibly easier to configure? I would assume you get better performance from using KVM?
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@johnhooks said:
@scottalanmiller What do you think of using KVM as a replacement for VirtualBox? Do you gain anything by using VirtualBox on a Linux desktop other than it's possibly easier to configure? I would assume you get better performance from using KVM?
Why pick KVM? All of the examples Scott gives are type 1 hypervisors, including KVM. Assuming you're looking to move from a type 2 hypervisor (VirtualBox) to a type 1, from the original post it seems pretty clear that KVM seemed the least likely option that Scott would recommend.
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@johnhooks said:
@scottalanmiller What do you think of using KVM as a replacement for VirtualBox? Do you gain anything by using VirtualBox on a Linux desktop other than it's possibly easier to configure? I would assume you get better performance from using KVM?
VirtualBox is a type 2 hypervisor so you would "never" use it for server virtualization. It's for running things with consoles on a desktop or laptop. KVM is type 1 virtualization and the two would never come up in the same scenarios.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@johnhooks said:
@scottalanmiller What do you think of using KVM as a replacement for VirtualBox? Do you gain anything by using VirtualBox on a Linux desktop other than it's possibly easier to configure? I would assume you get better performance from using KVM?
VirtualBox is a type 2 hypervisor so you would "never" use it for server virtualization. It's for running things with consoles on a desktop or laptop. KVM is type 1 virtualization and the two would never come up in the same scenarios.
The reason I ask is because you can run say an Ubuntu desktop and install KVM. Then it's possible to run virtual machines and use the VirtManager console. You would have the performance of a type 1 and still have it on the same machine.
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Does that really matter on a workstation? And if this is on a server, do you need a gui console on the server?
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@Dashrender said:
Does that really matter on a workstation? And if this is on a server, do you need a gui console on the server?
Just workstation. What's the advantage to a type 2 if you can use a type 1?
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@johnhooks said:
@Dashrender said:
Does that really matter on a workstation? And if this is on a server, do you need a gui console on the server?
Just workstation. What's the advantage to a type 2 if you can use a type 1?
Dedicated resources to the OS and the ability to completely disable the VMs.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@johnhooks said:
@Dashrender said:
Does that really matter on a workstation? And if this is on a server, do you need a gui console on the server?
Just workstation. What's the advantage to a type 2 if you can use a type 1?
Dedicated resources to the OS and the ability to completely disable the VMs.
Good point.
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What do you hope to gain when using virtualization on a workstation by using a type 1 hypervisor?
Other than HyperV, do any of them allow you access to a GUI from the console? If not, your stuck using a second machine as a workspace machine. Using a type 2 on a workstation allows you to have your local machine GUI, etc and windowed or full screen VMs.
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If KVM gives you the local console features, I can see that being slightly beneficial. Definitely better performance of the VMs. The focus of the product is different, not sure it is worth the effort.
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Ya you can have a full desktop gui on the workstation and have KVM running. Then just use VirtManager to access the console for each virtual machine.
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@johnhooks said:
Ya you can have a full desktop gui on the workstation and have KVM running. Then just use VirtManager to access the console for each virtual machine.
Sounds like it works nearly the same as HyperV.
But I'm with Scott, not sure it's worth the effort for a hypervisor that has so little play.
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I think that KVM might be a little lighter. Although VirtualBox is tuned for use with local graphics and KVM is not. One would be used "as designed" and the other more or less "making do." Not sure that the KVM experience would be better, likely worse. So if you were virtualizing servers and wanted them to process as quickly as possible KVM might be the better answer. If you want a good desktop experience, I would think that VirtualBox would be the answer.
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@Dashrender said:
@johnhooks said:
Ya you can have a full desktop gui on the workstation and have KVM running. Then just use VirtManager to access the console for each virtual machine.
Sounds like it works nearly the same as HyperV.
But I'm with Scott, not sure it's worth the effort for a hypervisor that has so little play.
I just learned this the other day. Apparently this is how Gnome Boxes works. It sets up KVM machines in the user space. So each user has their own KVM VMs. So you can manage them with either Boxes or Virt-Manager.
