Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
By:
Joseph P. Mahr
For:
CPSC 550
Operating Systems II
March 2005
Introduction to Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

Business needs … (tight competition)
 Increase efficiency
 Reduce operating expenses
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Process & Procedure - always candidates for improvement
Look to leverage technology
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Introducing Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
 “a real world distributed operating system”
 Max performance of Legacy Hardware & Software
 Integration made easy
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History of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Released - Summer 2004
 “Release Candidate” Free Download - 31 January 2005
 Beta testing by Community of Interest
• Sys Admin’s, Developers, Testers
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Purchased technology …
• Connectix Corporation on February 18, 2003.
• And - Virtual PC: Mac & OS2 to run Windows apps
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History of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Deep Past
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1968 - Virtual Machine technology
Effectively since 1988 – introduced by IBM
• Mainframe Op Sys to operate concurrent physical H/W
• That’s why it’s attractive
Today
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Not sole virtualization offering
VMware GSX Server was 1st in 2001
BUT, VS2K5 is primarily for ……………… Windows
AND, VMware GSX Server 3.1 for …….. Unix/Linux
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History of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Other common form of virtualization
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Java Virtual Machine
• Promotes portability
• Run apps in JVM, it rides on host O/S
BUT, a very different purpose.
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Goal of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Why go Virtual ?
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IT Pro’s deal with…
•
•
•
•
•
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Legacy
Integration
Testing
Deployment
Heterogeneous Environments
IBM - “Strategic virtualization technologies can:2”
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Reduce financial pressures
Improve security and operational resiliency
Protect sensitive data
Accelerate time to market
Deploy new capabilities
Reduce “islands of information”
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Goal of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Real cost savings
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Capacity
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Run up to 32 CPUs
Divide that into 64 instances
Limitation
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Host multiple virtual servers
on common existing hardware
System resources
Random Access Memory
Flexibility
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Multiple virtual OS’s can run on 1 CPU
Multiple CPUs can be run to support 1 OS
And, Many to Many configurations
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Goal of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Legacy application
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Do in parallel w/ new business apps
• Helps protect sensitive data as capital assest
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Server Consolidation
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System resource drive limitations on performance (RAM)
Resources can be dynamically allocated & added
Disparate Oss
• Windows & Non-Windows alike
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System Isolation
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Equitable sharing of resources
Development & testing
Reduces risk
Recreate system scenarios – easily
Provide courseware & Training scenarios
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Definition of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
Architecture
Emulates
where virtual server is on top of host OS
physical system
Guest
OS(s) on top of that
This provides isolation btwn Guest OSs
Component Object Model (COM) APIs.
Core
methodology of VS2K5
Windows Server 2003 is only supported host
“A server … that shares computer resources with other
virtual servers. In this context, the virtual part simply means
that it is not a dedicated server -- that is, the entire
computer is not dedicated to running the server software.” 5
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Features of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Flavors of VS2K5
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Standard Edition (supports up to four CPUs)
Enterprise Edition (supports up to 32 CPUs)
Runs only on Windows Server 2003
Other OSs will work…But, not documented
• Novell's NetWare or Unix variations
[plus other x86 operating systems]
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Requires Internet Information Server (IIS)
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Web based GUI – easy to use
Most tasks are wizard-based – easy to use
Internet Explorer works best, if not only (not other browsers)
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Features of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Create pseudo virtual networks
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Isolated from host
Create Virtual discs
On-demand and resize during sessions
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A primary benefit
Default is dynamic allocation of resources
• Add or subtract as needed … any given time.
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Robust disaster recovery
Back-up to virtual machines
Define fail-over using COM APIs
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Automate archiving business data
Thru COM APIs, scripting event controls
• choice of scripting langauges
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Structure of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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VS2K5 is middleware,
runs only on Windows
Server 2003
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Deeper is Intel’s IA-32
(being replaced by IA64)
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Features Level 3 (L3)
cache memory
Virtual hardware is
emulated above VS2K5

Max of 64 virtual
Guest processors
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Structure of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
“Virtual Server 2005 is a multithreaded application that runs
as a system service, with each virtual machine running in its
own thread of execution; I/O occurs in child threads. Virtual
Server derives two core functions from the host operating
system: The underlying host operating system kernel
schedules CPU resources, and the device drivers of the host
operating system provide access to system devices. The
Virtual Server VMM [Virtual Machine Monitor] provides the
software infrastructure to create virtual machines, manage
instances, and interact with guest operating systems.”8
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How to use Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Friendly Interface
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Create New VM option
Simple & Intuitive UI…
• To select virtual machine type
• And, amount of memory

VS2K5 recommends
memory, but, user
can override
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How to use Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

…but,
VS2K5 won’t handle
needs of a demanding
production
environment
ask MOM (Microsoft
Operations Manager)
for help. Ref
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Applications of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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4 Suggested Scenarios
1.
2.
3.
4.
Consolidate & Automate Software
Test & Development Environments
Migrate Legacy Applications
Consolidate Multiple Server Workloads
Simulate Distributed Server Applications on a
Single Physical Server
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Applications of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

Consolidate & Automate Software
Test & Development Environments

Speeds up ‘time to market’
• derived by efficiency gains
• without sacrificing QA

Reduce Dynamic & Fixed costs

Virtualizing test networks reduces risk

Reduces Sys Admin tasks
• Example - ability to rapidly reset a testing
environment
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Applications of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Migrate Legacy Applications
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Legacy Apps have their place & must be maintained
• The problem - they outlive H/W & S/W base
• Sustain by re-hosting
• Takes pressure off a business to re-capitalize,
allows better budget planning
• Reduces retraining requirement
Notion about unsupported environments
• Windows NT is Microsoft’s
They decide when to declare EOL
BUT - Progress and change are important
AND - Should be embraced
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Applications of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Consolidate Multiple Server Workloads
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Less is m o r e
• Reduced capital investment required to operate
• VS2K5 runs instances of server bases
on consolidated physical H/W
Less H/W = Less maintenance & management time
Disaster recovery is enhanced
• Fail over capability performed thru COM APIs
• Automated archiving & data duplication
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Applications of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

Simulate Distributed Server Applications on a Single
Physical Server

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Reduced physical H/W needs
Reduced Time to set up physical H/W & network
components
Simulate Complex server based scenarios
• Time & Cost effective for Dev & Test
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Significant Points of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Virtualization IS
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Reduces risk in…
• Development
• Testing
• Product Deployment
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Significant Points of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Virtualization IS
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O/S Selection
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Business Driven Combinations of
• Legacy apps
• Contemporary apps (i.e. currently supported)
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Significant Points of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Virtualization IS
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Reduces H/W footprint
• Expands
• Contracts
• Resizes As Needed
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Significant Points of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Virtualization IS
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Unfortunately
• Only works on 1 host
• That sets physical H/W requirements
• Licensing is tricky
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Significant Points of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
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Virtualization IS

Sys Admin types may enjoy
• Script based operations
• Web-Based GUI
• COM API functionality
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Summary
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A strong resurging technology that has been around

This study makes the case for Virtual Server 2005
BUT - not w/o exception:
No documentation for Non-Microsoft guest OSes
THUS –
VMware GSX Server 3.1 is better for Unix/Linux
BOTTOM LINE – A great solution to the right problem,
…deciding that is up to business.
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Key References
1) Edstrom, Waggener Ed., “Microsoft Acquires Connectix Virtual Machine Technology, Move Eases Consolidation and Migration to New Operating
Systems for Customers” Press Pass – Information for Journalists, 19 February 2003, “n.pag” Microsoft, 2 March 2005.
<http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/Feb03/02-19PartitionPR.asp>
2) Dickson, Michael and Zander, Andrea M., “The zSeries platform continues its virtualization leadership and provides a foundation for the IBM
Virtualization Engine” Mainframe edition, Virtual Virtuosity September 2004, “n.pag” eServer Magazine, 28 February 2005.
<http://www.eservercomputing.com/mainframe/articles/index.asp?id=1044&dir=/mainframe/articles/>
3) Otey, Michael, “Compare the two titans of virtualization: Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 and VMware GSX Server” WindowsITPro, Virtual-Server FaceOff, InstantDoc #45253, March 2005, “n.pag” WindowsITPro, 4 March 2005 <http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/Print.cfm?ArticleID=45253>
4) MSDN Library, “COM: Component Object Model Technologies” 2005, “n.pag” Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) 2 March 2005.
<http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnanchor/html/componentobjectmodelanchor.asp>
5) Webopedia, “Virtual Server” August 05, 2002 , “n.pag” internet.com 28 February 2005. <http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/V/virtual_server.html>
6) Bekker, Scott, “Virtual Server 2005 Released to Manufacturing” ENT News August 5, 2004, “n.pag” 101Communications, 28 February 2005.
<http://www.entmag.com/news/article.asp?EditorialsID=6322>
7) Ohlhorst, Frank J., “Review: Microsoft Virtual Server 2005” CRN, Daily News Archive, 10:00 AM EDT Tue. Jun. 15, 2004, “n.pag” CMP Media LLC,
28 February 2005. <http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/dailyarchives.jhtml?articleId=21800334>
8) Hale, Mark Comp., “Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 Technical Overview” Niemann, Casey, Microsoft Education, Major Account Manager
29 September 2004, 12 pages, Microsoft, 28 February 2005. <http://cio.uiowa.edu/events/MS20040728/VS2005TechWP.doc>
9) Waldron, Ben, “Program Customized Testing Environments Without Trashing Your Machine” MSDN Virtual Server 2005, August 2004, “n.pag”
Microsoft 28 February 2005 <http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/04/08/VirtualServer2005/default.aspx>
10) Yager, Tom, “Virtual Server 2005 offers Windows upon Windows” IT PRODUCT GUIDE BETA Microsoft Virtual Server 2005, 5 November 2004, “n.pag”
InfoWorld 28 February 2005.<http://www.infoworld.com/Microsoft_Virtual_Server_2005/product_50685.html?view=1&curNodeId=40>
…The End
Joseph P. Mahr
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