Author: Mike Brown

SRM, VMware

Script to use with SRM to clone a Domain Controller

Every time I go into a Site Recovery Manager engagement and we start talking about how the test functionality works I always get the question of how to make a domain controller available to the test network. I always say I have a script for that, so I thought I’d share it with anyone who might need it. The script…Read MoreScript to use with SRM to clone a Domain Controller

VMware, vSphere 5.0

vCenter 4.1 to 5.0 Update 2 database upgrade failure

I’ve been working with a pretty big client the last couple weeks planning and upgrading around 20 vCenter 4.1 servers to 5.0 Update 2. This client runs all their databases on Oracle, currently version 10.2.0.4. I checked out the Interoperability Matrixes and found that 10.2.0.4 is supported for vCenter 5.0 Update 2. This client also uses the Oracle 11g client.…Read MorevCenter 4.1 to 5.0 Update 2 database upgrade failure

VMware, vSphere 5.1

vCenter 5.1, Multisite SSO, Linked Mode, Custom SSL certificates, protected by vCenter HeartBeat. Part 2

In my previous post I talked about the requirements this customer had and the high level architecture and products used to fulfill their requirements. In this post I’ll walk through the installation of each component and protecting it with vCenter Heartbeat. In each site we’ll need a total of 15 public IP’s and 10 channel IP’s, by public IP I’m…Read MorevCenter 5.1, Multisite SSO, Linked Mode, Custom SSL certificates, protected by vCenter HeartBeat. Part 2

VMware, vSphere 5.1

vCenter 5.1, Multisite SSO, Linked Mode, Custom SSL certificates, protected by vCenter HeartBeat. Part 1

Over the past couple of weeks I got to work with a client who generally would have not used PSO for a vCenter upgrade but because of the new features, such as SSO, introduced in 5.1 they brought me in. The customer, like many, didn’t really understand SSO and the different options to deploy it. Many customers I talk to…Read MorevCenter 5.1, Multisite SSO, Linked Mode, Custom SSL certificates, protected by vCenter HeartBeat. Part 1

VMware, vSphere 5.0, vSphere 5.1

Windows 2008 R2 Templates / Customization Specification / Local Administrator Password

I haven’t done much with templates in quite a while. Last week a client requested I assist with creating a Windows 2008 R2 template. We installed the base OS, did some minor configuration such as installing VMware Tools, enabling RDP and disabling the firewall using netsh, since this template would be used for various server types and we had no…Read MoreWindows 2008 R2 Templates / Customization Specification / Local Administrator Password

VMware, vSphere 5.1

Issue with SSO and SQL Express

This past week I was working with a large Telco on their first vSphere deployment. This particular deployment was with vSphere 5.1 and was a lot of fun getting to use some new features in the real world such as Auto Deploy Statefull Install, enhancements in the distributed switch, among others. That’s not to say we didn’t have any issues…Read MoreIssue with SSO and SQL Express

SRM, VMware

SRM with Hitachi Storage

I’m currently at a client who is moving their SRM protected VM’s onto Hitachi VSP arrays. It’s been close to 6 years since I’ve done any work with Hitachi and replication so I assumed it would have gotten better since then, unfortunately it hasn’t, it’s exactly the same as it was. The storage admin, thankfully, is pretty sharp and had…Read MoreSRM with Hitachi Storage

SRM, VMware

Issue with Host Based Replication can cause hostd to panic

I’m currently working on a SRM 5.0 project. This is the end of week 5 and up until yesterday everything was going perfectly. A little background. This environment is running vSphere 5.0 Update 1b, vSphere 5.1 isn’t an option because of lack of support from Symantec on NetBackup. The client wants to use vSphere Replication, AKA Host Based Replication. Yesterday…Read MoreIssue with Host Based Replication can cause hostd to panic