sobrique: (Default)
sobrique ([personal profile] sobrique) wrote2004-10-13 04:05 pm

VMWare and VMotion

Just had one of those really geeky "That's SO COOL" moments.

Finally got as far as getting VMWare Virtual Centre (sorry Center) up and running.
Basically, it's a management tool for VMWare servers.

Which is fairly handy, since we now have 3, and around 70 virtual machines.

But the REALLY cool bit is 'VMotion'.
The idea is simple. Since VMWare can suspend and resume, why not synchronise the suspend file across two machines, and use the fact that the actual disk is on a SAN, to move the VM.

Sounds a bit dubious I know, but I've just spent the last half hour doing 'do I notice' tests. Pinging the server, streaming audio off it etc.

The answer is a resounding no. I've got one or two 400ms ping round trip times, but hell, I've played unreal tournament with a higher ping time.

And so I now have several of our virtual machines 'hardware independant'. I can move them around, to distribute load, and if necessary, just move them off the server, upgrade it, and move them back again.

This is VERY COOL.

Link

[identity profile] malal.livejournal.com 2004-10-13 09:55 am (UTC)(link)
Oh... Wow....

Yes, that is very, very cool indeed....

[identity profile] jorune.livejournal.com 2004-10-13 10:29 am (UTC)(link)
Most Impressive, young Jedi.