Microsoft announced that Hyper-V will be available via windows update as off yesterday (link). This link shows a screenshot.

I often get the question what’s the best way to make a template. And here is the answer: It depends.

On what? On what your making a template of… Let me explain. Sometimes you get an operating system (VM) installed and its already running in your organization. You then think it’s time to quickly make a template (it’s real easy to make new VM’s in the future). But you want to go on with implementing the VM as soon as the template is made. This time you’l have to clone to an image, because you want to go on with installing the server.

Converting to a template is more about planning. Using a template is very simple becaurse you can use an already clean install of the software ( you don’t have to do al the anoying steps for installing windows…) So you plan ahead, and make an template. With this senario the installed operating system has no purpose, so you can make it a template (convert it to). After converting it to a template you can’t go on as with cloning, but you’ll have to make a new VM to install the operating system.

 i thought it was the right time to jump into the vmware Server 2.0 RC1 version after running Vmware server 1.x for quiet some time now,. And i must say, it’s a real new product (if you’ve never worked with vmware esx), but it works really nice.

Here are some of the new features:

• Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS):  Properly backup the state of the Windows virtual machines when using the snapshot feature to maintain data integrity of the applications running inside the virtual machine.
• Virtual Machine Communication Interface (VMCI): Support for fast and efficient communication between a virtual machine and the host operating system and between two or more virtual machines on the same host.
• Support for SCSI pass-through (generic) devices: Allows for SCSI devices such as tape backup devices to be connected to virtual machines.
• Expand disk capacity on the fly: Allows for adding new SCSI hard disks and controllers to a running virtual machine.
• Firefox 3 as a supported browser for the management interface.
• Remote Client Devices: Access devices such as CD-ROMs that are not physically connected to the host via VMware Remote Console.

Link to the official overview and download site here.

 I am almost 4 years employed by Yacht, part of Randstad Holding nv, one of the world’s largest staffing solutions providers and listed on the Dutch Stock Exchange, focuses on secondment of highly educated people and offers staffing solutions to its customers.

My main focusses are VMWARE(busy with VCP), CITRIX (CCA) and Microsoft (MCSE). I am also an  CCNA, and got my ITIL Foundation V2.

I’m currently working at Utrecht University as As a Senior System Engineer. Working with Wndows NT 4.0 to Windows Server 2008, Exchange 5.5 and Exchange 2003, Vmware 2.5.2 and 2.5.5, citrix PS 4.

I’ll be trying to give some good information about this products.

My name is Arjan Timmerman. I live with my wife and currently 1 child (will be 2 soon) in the Netherlands. I’m currently working for Yacht. I hope i can provide you with usefull information about ICT issues.

Arjan Timmerman