Monitoring Vmware Environment

[Rsant]

Hi,

What is the best third party product to monitor the health of a VMware Infrastructure Environment?

Veeam Monitor, Vcharter or Vkernel ?

Thanks!

[oreeh]

I prefer Nagios.

[azn2kew]

What is your budget like? Nagios is a great free tools to monitor general cpu, memory, disk and networking on all nodes and its linux based. Tools you mentioned are commercial and could be pricey, but Virtual Center would allow you to view performance and other general stuff as well. Adding to the list, vFoglight, vmSight, and SCOM 2007 can also manage ESX as well as SCVMM 2007. (too much disk space required) I would list down types of sources to monitor and find specific tools for it even freebies out there like Nagios.

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

Regards,

Stefan Nguyen

iGeek Systems Inc.

VMware, Citrix, Microsoft Consultant

[oreeh]

Nagios can monitor a lot more than just cpu, memory disk and network.

[azn2kew]

Yes, those just name a few basic needs, but you can have a lot more as mentioned. You can also use Solarwinds free VM Monitor tool which is great too at

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

Regards,

Stefan Nguyen

iGeek Systems Inc.

VMware, Citrix, Microsoft Consultant

[Texiwill]

Hello,

This is always an interesting question and depends on what you mean by monitor...

Performance: vCenter, eG, Munin, Nagios, HP PMP, etc.

Host Health State: vCenter, Nagios, HPSIM, OpenManage, vFoglight, etc.

VM Health State: vCenter, Nagios, HPSIM, vFoglight, etc.

Network Security: Snort, Catbird, Reflex, etc.

Virtualization Security: Catbird, Reflex, Configcheck, etc.

Configuration Management: Tripwire, Configuresoft, HP VPM, etc.

Compliancy....

etc. etc. etc.

What do you want to monitor?

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator
====
Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.
Blue Gears and SearchVMware Pro Blogs -- Top Virtualization Security Links -- Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast

[Rsant]

So, I want to monitor performance of my Cluster, Hosts and VMs.

I would like to know information like:

How many VMs I can create with performance o my current environment ?

What is the behavior if I install another Host to my Cluster ?

Sory by my english...

[Texiwill]

Hello,

So, I want to monitor performance of my Cluster, Hosts and VMs.

vCenter, vFoglight, eG, HP PMP, vmktree, munin, unnoc, etc.

I would like to know information like:

How many VMs I can create with performance o my current environment ?

What is the behavior if I install another Host to my Cluster ?

No tool will come out and say this information. You have to derive it from the data you receive and the workload you are currently using and what you want to do in the future. You need a good way to judge your workload before doing an analysis to say what the virtual environment can and can not handle, the impact of adding another VM, or the impact of adding another host.

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator
====
Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.
Blue Gears and SearchVMware Pro Blogs -- Top Virtualization Security Links -- Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast

[azn2kew]

As an VMware Architect, you have to determine those during your planning and have some sort of operating standards and of course use management tools to monitor the health of the hosts and than automate your provisiong.

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

Regards,

Stefan Nguyen

iGeek Systems Inc.

VMware, Citrix, Microsoft Consultant

[Rsant]

I agree with you, but I would like to know what is the best management tool to monitor the health of my hosts and VMs.

And about Vkernel Modeler, someone has heard or use this software?

[azn2kew]

Remember vKernel Modeler 1.0 is still in beta stage and you don't want to use it for production but welcome to test them. But look at the lists of applications listed above and consult for details.

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

Regards,

Stefan Nguyen

iGeek Systems Inc.

VMware, Citrix, Microsoft Consultant

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Check out http://www.gabesvirtualworld.com/?p=298 for a test run of VKernel Modeler.

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator
====
Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.
Blue Gears and SearchVMware Pro Blogs -- Top Virtualization Security Links -- Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast

[cchesley]

Here is an independant review of Vcharter vs. Vkernel: showdown

Chris

vkernel