mrnick1234567 wrote:
a) We add our 6 hosts to one of their existing vCentre Server's and use them for monitoring.
b) We setup another vCentre Server local to our vhosts and use link mode to the main vCenter Server cluster.
Of (a) and (b) - has ayone had experience with this kind of setup? My main worries are what happens if the link goes down? With option (a) I guess we lose all management. With (b) what happens if our on site server contact the main cluster?
I'm running a setup similar to A currently, but with a pair of GigaMANs between the datacenters. If the link goes down, you lose the ability to easily manage your infrastructure (especially vMotion) but can still connect to individual hosts, which depending on your site is either mission critical or an annoyance.
I've set up B in a lab environment. It's a very simple process that requires little administrative effort. You essentially just choose linked mode when installing the 2nd vCenter server. Domain trust is a factor, as well as roles.
This link contains some info: http://pubs.vmware.com/vsp40_e/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm#context=admin&file=c_using_vcenter_server_in_linked_mode.html
c) We see if there is someway to transfer the spare licences to a cVentre Server at my office and make it completely stand alone.
You would definitely need an additional vCenter license ... I suppose you could install the vSphere license key on this host, but I'm not entirely sure if that's legal. There is no "big brother" for licenses that I'm aware of.
Also (very roughlty) is there a lot of data transfer down the link between linked vCentre servers? We would have 6 hosts and say 50VM's
I wouldn't be concerned with traffic for that amount of VMs. We're talking under 100kbps.