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Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

akutz Feb 13, 2008 1:00 AM

SVMotion is a VI 2.5 client plugin (the FIRST released, third-party plugin in fact) that extends the client's functionality by providing an integrated, graphical tool that can be used to invoke storage VMotion (SVMotion) operations. This plugin is not supported by VMware. In fact, the plugin is not anywhere close to supported by VMware because it is the result of a two-week dive into the inner-workings of the VI client libraries with popular reflection tools (reverse-engineering). l o s t c r e a t i o n s is working on a white paper that describes how to build VI plugins.

Read more about SVMotion and download it here http://www.lostcreations.com/code/wiki/vmware/viplugins/svmotion.

1. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

bill.french Feb 13, 2008 10:06 AM (in response to akutz)

Well, if this is the first third party plug in, and totally untested, am I the first to confirm it works in a production environment?

I was able to successfully storage vmotion a (minor) 1 disk production vm from an iSCSI lun to local storage successfully. I'll try a multi-disk, multi lun vm next. 20GB disk took less than 15 minutes. I have the good fortune of having several production vms that are (almost) inconsequential if they disappear, things like the WSUS server.

I am confused as to where to send payment? There's no "buy now" link on the website?
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2. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

akutz Feb 13, 2008 10:12 AM (in response to bill.french)

A few people have confirmed that it works, but the more the merrier No payment necessary, but thank you for asking. I release all my software under the New BSD license. Good karma and all that : )
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3. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

melvery Feb 13, 2008 12:44 PM (in response to akutz)

Hi akutz, we bumped into you plugin today during our VMware training. Did some test with it (from iSCSI LUN to internal disk) and it seems to work great! Also tried two vm's atonce and that worked aswell!

Keep up the good work!
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4. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

winops Feb 14, 2008 4:13 AM (in response to akutz)

Fantastic. Works a treat!

Many thanks.
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5. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

A.Mikkelsen Feb 14, 2008 4:44 AM (in response to akutz)

Damm nice

Thanks for the good work.

Regards
A. Mikkelsen
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6. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

williambishop Feb 14, 2008 2:39 PM (in response to A.Mikkelsen)

Didn't work for me on 3.5, gave a vague error about invalid parameter, and failed. No real problem, I was more or less just testing it on a small vm...Very clean, I expect this one will be quite good.
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7. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

akutz Feb 14, 2008 5:23 PM (in response to williambishop)

Could you be more specific about the exception?
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8. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

williambishop Feb 14, 2008 6:09 PM (in response to akutz)

Actually, that was as specific as it gave me. Invalid parameter, no further information was available in the event log.
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9. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

rott Feb 15, 2008 2:55 AM (in response to akutz)

Hi,

I tried to install the plugin today but I wasn't able to find the plugin in the VI Client. I followed the installation guide and put the SVMotion directory under plugins. Even after restarting the PC it didn't find the plugin under "Manage Plugins".
After that I tried it on a complete different Infrastructure with another Client - same effect!?

Do you have any Ideas?

Michael
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10. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

akutz Feb 15, 2008 4:22 AM (in response to rott)

Re-download the zip file. I had screwed up the deploy script and it was not including a necessary assembly. My apologies.
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11. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

akutz Feb 15, 2008 4:27 AM (in response to akutz)

I just uploaded version 0.0.2.0 to the server. Changes include:

- The ability to right-click on (almost) any object in the inventory and get the command "Migrate Storage...". This allows you select multiple VMs for SVMotion.
- The GUI is slightly different.
- The code in the repositories is now thoroughly documented for those of you who wish to create your own plugins.

Hope this helps!
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12. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

crnielsen Feb 15, 2008 4:47 AM (in response to rott)

Hi

I have the same problem as rott. It newer shows up in the plugin manager.

Regards

Claus
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13. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

doomdevice Feb 15, 2008 4:52 AM (in response to rott)

Hi rott,

had the same issue. it seems there are multiple webservers behind the link and different zip files. after downloading the zip file multiple times I´ve found out that there is a difference.

You must have the zip file containing SVMotion.zip again inside. Extracting that file into the plugin directory worked for me.

@lostcreations teams: The tool is great and thanks a lot for publishing the sources also!! Great help and community support!

Dennis
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14. Re: Introducing the VI 2.5 Client Plugin - SVMotion

akutz Feb 15, 2008 5:53 AM (in response to doomdevice)

Although Doom's solution will work, the answer is simply my deploy script was screwed up. The new SVMotion.zip file should be exactly what you need. I was working on deploy scripts long after I should have gone to bed. Sorry.
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