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302 Views 8 Replies Last post: Apr 23, 2010 6:51 AM by mittim12

elijah1

74 posts since
Feb 25, 2010

Currently Being Moderated

Apr 20, 2010 1:26 PM

vCenter

Sorry for bombarding you with questions.

I'm trying to evaluate the impact of vCenter server being crashed and not connected for the network. Let's assume that sql database that vCenter is using is located on the same box and then vcenter crashes

Will any of the operations of ESX cluster (that has vMotion and DRS enabled) be affected?

Troy Clavell

14,082 posts since
Oct 12, 2007

Currently Being Moderated

1. Apr 20, 2010 1:30 PM

in response to: elijah1

Re: vCenter

the only thing that is impacted if your vCenter Server goes down is DRS and vmotion. These two functions are dependent on your vCenter Server being online. HA will continue to function as normal as it not dependent on vCenter beyond the initial configuration. Your guest will continue to function as normal as well.

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elijah1

74 posts since
Feb 25, 2010

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2. Apr 20, 2010 1:41 PM

in response to: Troy Clavell

Re: vCenter

"the only thing that is impacted if your vCenter Server goes down is DRS and vmotion"

What exactly will happen? I won't be able to use vMotion at all? DRS won't function (meaning it won't track resources?)

let' say if vMotion+DRS was configured previously to vcenter failure - will it sill work?

Do I need to restore SQL db when reinstalling vCenter?

Thanks.

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Troy Clavell

14,082 posts since
Oct 12, 2007

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3. Apr 20, 2010 1:53 PM

in response to: elijah1

Re: vCenter

elijah1 wrote:
"the only thing that is impacted if your vCenter Server goes down is DRS and vmotion"
---- What exactly will happen? I won't be able to use vMotion at all? DRS won't function (meaning it won't track resources?)

you will have NO vmotion and DRS as it is 100% dependant on having vCenter online

---- let' say if vMotion+DRS was configured previously to vcenter failure - will it sill work?

not if vCenter is down

---- Do I need to restore SQL db when reinstalling vCenter?

depends on how hard of a crash. IF windows gets all "mucked" up and the DB is still fine, you would bring up another windows box install vCenter and "use existing DB". If your DB crashes you would have to restore from backup and basically just restart your vCenter Server again and it will connect back.

It is crucial to take care of your DB, as it is the most important part of vCenter. My advise would be to get yourself a MSCS for your SQL DB server.

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elijah1

74 posts since
Feb 25, 2010

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4. Apr 20, 2010 2:15 PM

in response to: Troy Clavell

Re: vCenter

"It is crucial to take care of your DB, as it is the most important part of vCenter"

Let's say if my server is complete toast and no DB can be recovered for vCenter - how scread I'm if I have to reinstall vCentrer with new blank DB?

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Troy Clavell

14,082 posts since
Oct 12, 2007

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5. Apr 20, 2010 2:18 PM

in response to: elijah1

Re: vCenter

not totally screwed. You would just create a new vCenter server, connect to a blank DB and add your hosts back in. You will lose historical data, but it would not be a catastrophic failure.

See this KB, not exact, but it will help you get an overview

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/5850444

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elijah1

74 posts since
Feb 25, 2010

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6. Apr 20, 2010 2:23 PM

in response to: Troy Clavell

Re: vCenter

Thanks a lot.

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elijah1

74 posts since
Feb 25, 2010

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7. Apr 23, 2010 6:16 AM

in response to: Troy Clavell

Re: vCenter

Troy, can you elaborate pn this one:

"you will have NO vmotion and DRS as it is 100% dependant on having vCenter online"

According to this article (http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/articles-tutorials/vmware-esx-articles/vmotion-drs-high-availability/options-vmware-virtual-center-vcenter-redundancy.html)

"With DRS and a VC failure, all guest VMs running in the DRS enabled cluster will continue to function as normal. However, no more recommendations for guest reallocation or automatic reallocation of the guest VMs will happen. Thus, Virtual Center is not a single point of failure for advanced features of VMware’s Virtual Infrastructure"

My main concern is - if vCenter goes down then will vMotion/DRS move machines from one host to another if needed? The article is a bit vague but I think if no recomendaions will be made for automatic relocation, then it is logical to asume that there will be no moving as well?

Thanks.

Elijah.

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mittim12

5,518 posts since
Mar 24, 2006

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8. Apr 23, 2010 6:51 AM

in response to: elijah1

Re: vCenter

Correct, if vCenter is not available then DRS and Vmotion will not be available. You could still connect up to the individual host or command line to power host on and off or other administrative features. HA will also continue to function as normal.

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Apr 20, 2010 1:26 PM

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