vRanger Recommended ESX settings

Have you ever run into issues with vRanager Backups either failing, or not removing the snapshots correclty after a backup?

Here are some vRangerPro performance tuning recommendations that need be applied to VMware's ESX Service Console.

The default values are usually sufficient, however there are several instances where VMware recommends increasing the RAM assigned:

• When third-party system management agents are installed or crashing on the service console.
• When a backup agent is installed on the service console.
• When heavy swap file utilization is noticed on the service console.

Solution:

Increase CPU Reservation from 233 to 1500, which can be done on the fly.

To increase the CPU reservation that the service console has on the ESX host, first open the vi client and select the ESX host. If this is an ESX cluster environment, these settings should be replicated to all ESX hosts in the cluster that will be running backups for Virtual Machines.

• Select the ESX host in VI Client inventory.
• Select the configuration tab "System Resource Allocation” from the software pane.
• Under "Shares" select the drop down for "Normal."
• Under "Reservation" click the “Edit” link and the CPU reservation slider can be adjusted up to 1500 MHz.

To Increase Memory Reservation to 800 MB:
*** This change requires a RESTART of the ESX host to take effect. ***

• Select the ESX host in VI Client inventory
• Select the configuration tab "Memory" from the software pane.
• Select “Properties,” and the amount of RAM modified from the default of 272MB up to 800MB.

vReplicator

Here's a little taste of the nice features for host based replication options from vizioncore. (www.vizioncore.com)
So what are the basics???
Here is the scenario. You need to design a DR plan that will allow for up to 15 minutes of RPO.
vReplicator is a great solution over a LAN/WAN link when there is no option or budget for SAN replication.

Features

vReplicator is the leading replication solution for VMware Virtual Infrastructure, allowing for selective replication of individual virtual machines. With vReplicator, the entire virtual machine is replicated, including configuration settings, patches to the OS, the applications themselves as well as the data and all other OS-level changes

Replication Synchronization
The initial synchronization for vReplicator leverages proven technology for the initial copy of the source virtual machine. Additionally, a differential engine sends changes to the destination host and applies them to the closed target virtual machine.

Differential or Hybrid Replication
vReplicator now offers two types of replication Differential and Hybrid. Differential replication, the initial synchronization for vReplicator, leverages proven technology for the initial copy of the source virtual machine. The differential engine sends changes to the destination host and applies them to the closed target virtual machine (VM). Hybrid replication takes the difference, or changes form the source VM to the target, and submits only those changes, instead of resending the whole image.

VSS
vReplicator includes an agent that works in conjunction with the Microsoft® Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to pause application writes. This feature enables quiescing of supported databases to provide a “transactionally consistent” replica for High Availability (HA) or Disaster Recovery (DR) sites.

Status Information and Report Enhancements
vReplicator now offers enhanced status information, which is available in the GUI, to determine the duration of replication passes, successful connection to both target and source VM, and verification of successful passes. Performance statistics are available to determine the load of a host and the impact of replication on the virtualized environment. These statistics are helpful in determining the limitations of the host and the performance requirements for replication. vReplicator now also offers the ability to export activity reports that provide status and meaningful context. The ability to export job information to such formats as Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF), Extensible Markup Language (XML), and Microsoft® Excel (.xls), allows the user to import this data into third-party reporting software to create custom reports.

Failover Testing
vReplicator offers a simple method to assist with D/R testing. A single button will power on the D/R VM in an isolated state for analysis. When testing is complete, all changes will be reverted at the next replication pass.