1st Aid KitHolla,
I’ve been MIA for quite sometime now due to my busy schedule, anyway to keep in touch with you guys, here’s my latest findings
Competitive Advantages of Hyper-V over VMware vSphere
Your customers might throw you with something similar but is developed by VMware, please ask them to check the publication date =’)
Regards
K
Holla Guys,
Orchestrator is a workflow management solution for the data center. Orchestrator lets you automate the creation, monitoring, and deployment of resources in your environment
Key Values of SCO are:
*All items in RED are SP1 Features
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Categories |
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Run system commands. |
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Perform schedule-based activities. |
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Monitor processes or system-level events. |
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Manage file interactions such as copying and moving files. |
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Send e-mail notifications. |
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Support other notification types. |
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Search for or modify data within a workflow. |
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Manipulate text files. |
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Manage workflows. |
Management
Integration
As usual, the whole SC2012 compilation can be found here in this link below
2013 – System Center 2012 Features.docx
Signing Off
K
Holla Guys!
Service Manager provides an integrated platform for automating and adapting your organization’s IT service management best practices, such as those found in Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). It provides built-in processes for incident and problem resolution, change control, and asset lifecycle management.
The beauty of SCSM truly lies in the tight integration with Microsoft System Center Product which leverages on what has been discovered, managed & link up all these resources belonging to the same Entity. The tight integration allows real-time resources without the need of manual labor from IT administrator.
* Features listed in RED is part of SP1 features
IT Service Management
IT-as-a-Service
Integration
Business Intelligence (Reporting)
Common Scenarios for System Center Service Manager 2012
As usual, the whole SC2012 compilation can be found here in this link below
2013 – System Center 2012 Features.docx
Signing Off
K
Holla Guys,
I’m back with SCVMM 2012 3rd part of my mini project!
As Virtualization/Cloud becomes a household name, Administrators will need a single superior tool to manage their resources in a more efficient and yet cost effective at the same time.
In a true cloud datacenter, Microsoft recognize that management of multiple Hypervisors is unavoidable hence, we are the pioneer in providing a single VM Management Tool that manages different Hypervisors in the market today.
SCVMM provides administrators to manage not only Microsoft Hyper-V Host Servers but also VMware ESX Host servers and Citrix XenServers.
SCVMM also provides administrators to configure & deploy from servers with different processors, OEM Hardwares, Network, Fibre Channel, iSCSI and many more. The idea for SCVMM is to assign dedicated and shared resources whether if it’s utilized for development or for production environment.
SCVMM does not stop there but also provide a delegated capacity control and deploys standardized services via templates and do away with disruptive unstandardized service model.
*Features in RED is found in SP1
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Library Resource |
File Name Extension |
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Virtual hard disks |
.vhd (Hyper-V and Citrix XenServer), .vhdx (Hyper-V), .vmdk (VMware) |
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ISO image files |
.iso |
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PowerShell scripts |
.ps1 |
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SQL Server scripts |
.sql |
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Web Deploy (MSDeploy) packages |
.zip |
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SQL Server data-tier applications (DACs) |
.dacpac |
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Server App-V packages |
.osd |
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Driver files |
.inf |
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Answer files |
.inf, .xml |
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Custom resources |
Folders with .CR extension |
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Virtual floppy disks |
.vfd (Hyper-V), .flp (VMware) |
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Networking item in VMM |
Uses and settings |
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A native port profile for uplinks (also called an uplink port profile) specifies which logical networks can connect through a particular physical network adapter. To enable teaming of multiple network adapters, you can apply the same logical switch and uplink port profile to those network |
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The following list provides details about these capabilities: · Enable virtual machine queue (offload setting) · Enable IPsec task offloading (offload setting) · Enable Single-root I/O virtualization (offload setting) · Allow MAC spoofing (security setting) · Enable DHCP guard (security setting) · Allow router guard (security setting) · Allow guest teaming (security setting) · Allow IEEE priority tagging (security setting) · Bandwidth settings |
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A port classification provides a global name for identifying different types of virtual network adapter port profiles. |
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A logical switch brings port profiles, port classifications, and switch extensions together so that you can apply them to multiple network adapters. Switch extensions: · Monitoring extensions can be used to monitor and report on network traffic, but they cannot modify packets. · Capturing extensions can be used to inspect and sample traffic, but they cannot modify packets. · Filtering extensions can be used to block, modify, or defragment packets. They can also block ports. · Forwarding extensions can be used to direct traffic by defining destinations, and they can capture and filter traffic. To avoid conflicts, only one forwarding extension can be active on a logical switch. |
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A virtual switch extension manager makes it possible for you to use a vendor network-management console and the VMM management server together. |
As usual, the whole SC2012 compilation can be found here in this link below
2013 – System Center 2012 Features.docx
Signing Off
K
Holla Guys,
I’m back with the second product in SC2012. SCOM puts large focus not only on the Datacenter Admin but Application Owner as well. Enabling monitoring from Datacenter – Network – Servers – Operating Systems – Applications – Code Level (.Net) as well as Client-Side Monitoring!
*Do note that the items in RED is SP1 Features
SCOM puts large focus not only on the Datacenter Admin but Application Owner as well. Enabling monitoring from Datacenter – Network – Servers – Operating Systems – Applications – Code Level (.Net) as well as Client Monitoring!
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Key application metric or action |
Type of monitoring used |
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Availability |
Web Application Availability Monitoring and Global Service Monitor |
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Reliability |
.NET Application Performance Monitoring |
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Performance |
.NET Application Performance Monitoring and Global Service Monitor |
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Diagnostics |
.NET Application Performance Monitoring |
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Resolution |
The Team Foundation Server (TFS) Connector management pack takes an alert, assigns it to development in TFS with all appropriate detail. |
Let me know if I misses out on anything. The aim for this documentation is to showcase Out of The Box SCOM2012 with Free Management Packs.
For a full listing of SCCM 2012 & SCOM 2012, Please download it from here
2013 – System Center 2012 Features
Signing Off
K
Holla Guys,
I’ve got a mini project going on! I’m compiling a list of features/capabilities in System Center 2012 Products so that at a glance, you will know what each of SC2012 components can or cannot do.
This list is still a Work In Progress(WIP) hence I would appreciate if you guys have any information to update or enhance this list further, it would be much appreciated.
* All in red are SP1 Features
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Light Management:
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Basic Management for all Exchange ActiveSync Connected Devices:
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Full Management:
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Integration of System Center Mobile Device Manager & Configuration Manager features:
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SCCM 2012 examines the following:
It then determines which of the following ways to deliver the application to the users:
Alright, that’s all for now, hope you guys find it useful! Please do share if I’ve missed any out, if you would like a Microsoft Word copy, please feel free to download it here. http://sdrv.ms/UQQKft
Signing Off
K
Holla,
I’m so inspired with SCOM’s capability. SCOM can monitor your Datacenter from Temperature, Rack Doors, Humidity up to code-level monitoring.
Imagine with me a traditional scenario where you have a Server Operator, Network Operator and Developer. When an application fails, traditionally the 3 stooges above will blame one another because no one actually knows the root cause of the failure.
Now with SCOM, you will be able to pinpoint the exact root cause and remediate it without long downtime and countless blame assigning meetings.
In 2010, Microsoft made a purchase on a product that does code-level monitoring on .Net Application (AVIcode). Today, AVIcode is integrated natively in SCOM 2012 and is able to provide you with code-level diagnostic with great reporting tools via Out of the Box App Advisor.
App Advisor provides different reports from Client-Side Reporting to Server Analysis Reporting. You can view a short video of AppAdvisor in action here or you can download for a clearer view here http://sdrv.ms/U60rnc
So, it looks great with .Net through AVIcode. What about Java Application Servers?
Well for that, we do have excellent MP as well. The table below summarizes what SCOM can monitor on which OS Layer. * The table below is extracted from http://blogs.technet.com/b/random_happy_dev_thoughts/archive/2012/04/18/system-center-operations-manager-scom-2012-released.aspx
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Version |
RHEL |
SLES |
Solaris |
AIX |
Windows |
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IBM WebSphere |
6.1, 7.0 |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
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Oracle WebLogic |
10gRel3, 11gRel1 |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
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Redhat JBoss |
4.2, 5.1, 6.0 |
yes |
yes |
yes |
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Apache Tomcat |
5.5, 6.0, 7.0 |
yes |
yes |
yes |
Here’s a video that explains Application Monitoring very well with demo as well http://aka.ms/qxnj12 In short, this video will share about how SCOM 2012 can monitor from network and deep line-of-business application such as .Net and Java
Beside the video link above, I would like to share with you 2 other PowerPoint Slides for your consumption.
If you would like to have further resources about JBOSS, Tomcat, WebLogic and WebSphere, please feel free to visit
Signing Off
K
Holla,
Microsoft SCOM is a very powerful piece of Cross-Platform monitoring software and is able to monitor just about anything!
From a simple out of the box monitoring capabilities to extending it to monitor applications with the existing 300 over Management Packs, or if you are a kickass administrator cum developer the possibilities is near limitless.
Out of the box:
The Vanilla flavour of SCOM provide great ways to monitor your applications by first discovering the objects via the following methods:
Followed on with Different Monitors you can use such as below:
Management Packs (MP):
Management Packs typically contain Monitoring Settings for applications or services which extends the basic out of the box functionality of SCOM.
You can opt for an easier way to monitor your applications through a range of Management Packs that is available free from Microsoft or Paid from 3rd Party Products.
You can find these MP here http://systemcenter.pinpoint.microsoft.com/en-US/applications/search/operations-manager-d11?q=
Introducing too many MP can prove to be useless, therefore you should know what you need and enable them.
Management Packs at the very least should contain 1 or more from the following:
For more information on each of the parts, please feel free to read it at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh212794.aspx
**Read Only if you are a Kickass Administrator cum Developer!:
Alternatively, if you are a kickass administrators and has a developer background, SCOM’s capabilities is near limitless.
Apart from the fact that you can monitor anything, you can also make additional $$$ by selling each Management Packs you created.
Following the guide below will teach you how to make your first million and also being able to maintain your IT Infrastructure.
Guide: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb437626.aspx
MP Element: http://mpdb.azurewebsites.net/
So, if today, someone walks up to you and ask you, what can SCOM monitor, you can just in short tell them… SCOM can monitor just about anything.
Signing Off
K
Holla,
I feel MAP Toolkit is a great product but is often a black sheep. Why do I say that? Simple, It’s because MAP did not get the lime light it is supposed to get!
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Determine your Windows Server 2012 readiness MAP 8.0 assesses the readiness of your IT infrastructure for a Windows Server 2012 deployment. This feature includes detailed and actionable recommendations indicating which machines meet Windows Server 2012 system requirements and which may need hardware updates. A comprehensive inventory of servers, operating systems, workloads, devices, and server roles is included to help in your planning efforts. Determine your Windows 8 readiness MAP 8.0 assesses the readiness of your IT environment for a Windows 8 deployment. This feature evaluates your existing hardware against the recommended system requirements for Windows 8. It provides recommendations detailing which machines meet the requirements and which may need hardware upgrades. Key benefits include: · Assessment report and summary proposal to help you understand the scope and benefits of a Windows 8 deployment · Inventory of desktop computers, deployed operating systems, and applications Assess your environment for Office 2013 and Office 365 MAP 8.0 assesses readiness for Office 2013 and Office 365 and provides an in-depth assessment of client desktops for upgrading or migration. This feature also offers support for Office 365 features such as web apps, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, or full Office 365 client support. Migrate to Windows Azure Virtual Machines MAP 8.0 performs a comprehensive assessment of Windows Server and Linux machines to determine feasibility of a migration to Windows Azure Virtual Machines. MAP then provides suggested changes to prepare targeted machines for migration. This feature helps you reduce the operating costs of hosting on-premise servers, as well as estimating the required size and monthly network and storage usage required to migrate on-premise Windows and Linux servers to Windows Azure Virtual Machines using actual data from the targeted environment. |
Here’s my take on MAP. MAP is an awesome tool if you want to do the following:
Not enough? GO over to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb977556.aspx and check it out yourself!
Signing Off
K
Holla,
I’m currently attending Malaysia’s 2nd System Center Boot Camp 2012! So I got myself some hardware to play around and this post is a lil long, but I’ll be sharing some steps + screenshots on how you can configure a HAVMM(Highly Available Virtual Machine Manager). The guide here is purely for testing purposes and is not meant for Production!
For this environment we have the following Config:
Fire Up SQL Setup & Select Installation
Select “New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation”
Allow the Setup Support Rules to finish its course and click OK
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| You can skip the scanning for Product Updates if you chooses, but if you have Internet Connection, you should allow it to run. | Click on Install & allow it to run its course. |
After the previous screen, the Setup Support Rules will run again, click next when it completes
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| Warning shows that the server cannot access internet hence there will be delay in starting .Net App. We can ignore this. | Warning shows that we should allow appropriate Ports Open (This is important) |
Read through & Accept the license terms & click Next
After you’ve agreed to the license term & clicked next, you should select “SQL Server Feature Installation” & Click Next
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| Select Database Engine Services | Select Management Tools – Basic & Complete |
Once you’ve click Next after your roles selections, It will run another check. Click Next once it’s completed
I’d leave it default to make things easier for me, Click Next Twice
I’d leave it as default as well & Click Next
Click on “Add Current User” & Click on “Add” your “SCVMMADMIN” user
Point to note, SCVMMADMIN is also a member of Domain Admin
On Error Reporting Page Click Next and allow the Installation Configuration Rules to complete its check and click Next
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| Click Install! | Click Close & WahLah, you’re done, Only for SQL portion =’) |
Click on VMM01 and Add Roles & Features
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| Select Role-Based or Feature-Based Installation & Click Next | Select your preferred Server & Click Next |
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| Click Next to get to Features | Select Failover Clustering |
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| Add all additional Features | Click Install |
Click Close & Repeat the process but This time around, Install it on VMM02
Once both servers has complete it’s Feature Installation, Fire up the FailOver Cluster Manager & Click on “Create Cluster”
Click on Browse
Select Both of your VMM Servers! In this case it should be VMM01 & VMM02
Once you click Next after the server validation, you will be prompted to run a Cluster Configuration Validation. Select “Yes” & Click Next
Select Run all test & Click Next. Follow the wizard and finish the Cluster Configuration!
Fire up the SCVMM Setup file & Click on “Install”
Setup detects that the Server you are installing is a HAVMM, click Yes & Proceed
Select “VMM Management Server“ & the VMM Console will be automatically selected. Click Next
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| Key in something meaningful for you & leave the product key blank | Accept the Term & Click Next |
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| Click Yes @ the CEIP Screen | Select On to Use Microsoft Update & Click Next |
For this particular installation, I’ve hit an interesting Error Message.
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| VMM requires Deployment Tools & WinPE Features | Fire up ADK Setup & Select “Deployment Tools” “Windows PE” |
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| Re-Run the Prerequisite Checks again & Click Next | Provide the Server Name & Proper Credentials (SCVMMADMIN) & Click Next |
Here’ I stumbled again to another problem. I’m using SQL Server 2012 btw.
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| Warning says that it cannot find my SQL Server!!!! | Looks like I’ll need to install 2 other add-ons! |
Fire Up “SQL Native Client” & “SQL Server 2012 Command Line Utilities” and follow the wizard.
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| Well, I click next & I Hit the same error message again. This time around… It’s the Firewall in SQL Server | Head over to SQL server & Turn Off all Windows Firewall *This is not for Production* Head back & Click Next |
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| Provide a meaningful name “HAVMM” & Provide a IP Address “10.0.0.35” | Provide the proper Username & Password with a proper Distributed Key Management |
Click Next for the next 3 Screens & Complete the Installation by Clicking on Install Button
Click Close & Repeat the installation process to VMM02 & remember about the Prerequisites so that you don’t hit the same problem
Fire up SCVMM on both VMM Servers and you will get an error message.
Turn Off the VMM Server which DO NOT have the Error Message.
That’s it, After this, you can install the VMM Console on any machine & you will be able to experience HAVMM =’)
Signing Off
K
1st Aid Kit 