I have been kicking around the plan to build a new lab at home. While in days past this would have been created out of old equipment lying around the house, that just cant be the case here.
In the push to further my career, I have been wanting to build a new VMWare lab. VMWare has released ESXi 4.1 Hypervisor as part of the latest free edition (YAAA VMWARE). From there I wish to expand a lab that will include Domain Controller, File Server, Media Server (different than file) and what else maybe needed. I am also planning to use Linux and Windows to keep the knowledge broad.
I have been reviewing my own hardware lying around the house. I end that sentence as is, because well... my old hardware just wont cut it. I can build a few windows 2003 Domain Controllers or Printer Servers out of them. That might be it. The only other use they may have is as a form of SAN and iSCSI storage. Plenty of free OSes out there to make this old hardware into Storage. Sounds like a plan for now. In the mean time I have been reviewing the best way to create a lab for VMWare. I have been looking at AMD Chips with quad or six core to save money. Came to an interesting turn. The extra power that is in the Phenom AMD chips are wasted when used as a VMWare Host Server. The technical players on the interwebs are stating save my money and get an ATHLON II X4 proc. Not something I had looked into. So I am looking at a rig with AMD Athlon II X4, 8GB-16GB of Memory and a ton of slots for hard drives. I have 2TBs of storage just waiting to be used.
Which brings me to possibility of going for VM Certification. I have been thinking about it for a while. Not as many people out there with VM Certs. Major issue with it, the classes are required and they are not cheap. I have read they are close to $3,000. Not chump change. However it would be a another feather in the cap as it were.
Along with the Cert I have also decided to get a subscription to Microsoft TechNet. With the building of my lab, I will need lots of OSes even ones from Microsoft. I do prefer to get them legally. Microsoft Tech Net subscription fits perfectly into a VMWare Lab. The idea was on VM's web site in the forums posted by several people. The cost of the subscription for download only is $160 with my company's discount. That alone would pay for my wife's pc upgrade to Windows 7. I get all the OSes I wanted with that subscription. Get all the SQL DBs as well. After all that has gone down with Oracle owning MySQL these days, I still feel that its Microsoft boon. I am seeing MS SQL show up in a lot more places than Oracle. It wouldnt hurt to have a few DBs in the house, plus it comes with the subscription.
All it now comes down too is cash. Need the subscription, need the hardware and need the classes. Looks like 2011 will be a long road for me technical wise. Time to see where it takes me.
-Boston Tech Guy Out.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Grass isnt greener but love the work Part II
I got Ubuntu on my work laptop. I was able to do it using USB stick build. Same idea as boot from CD only with.. USB stick :-)
The install was light years smoother. Also a lot faster to boot and get files onto the hard drive. I liked it so much I put Ubuntu Netbook Edition on my EEE 900 Netbook the same way.
The question is "well how has it been?"
Very good. I am currently using the OS right now. With the world moving to cloud computing, the web browser is becoming THE APPLICATION that is used the most. I have already learned this in Windows, but on Linux it takes on another whole level.
I am using Ubuntu 10.10 in a Microsoft shop. A BIG WINDOWS AD/ MICROSOFT SHOP. Everything at the company is Microsoft; the OSes, Servers, DBs, workstations you name it. So how has it been. First the truth is, Ubuntu boots much faster than my Windows 7 install. Cant argue about it. BUT... My Windows 7 install logs directly into the AD. Ubuntu does not, you log in locally. My personal Windows 7 machine at home boots just as fast IMHO. Also unless your Exchange Environment has IMAP turned on (many dont like mine) then email will be hell on Earth to setup. I have been unsuccessful getting a Linux Exchange Client to properly work. I have been using OWA for email. Another big issue I am running into is TSCLIENT. Lets face it, I feel it just isnt as good as the Microsoft integrated one. I need the TSClient more then ever now on a Linux workstation. To add to the problems Windows 2008 Servers have issues with all Terminal Server Clients (Microsofts own as well). But on Linux, my machine crashes when the client crashes. Not Good. My last major issue, DNS. All my web browsers, terminal sessions and TSCLIENTs wont default to the local DNS Servers. I have to enter FQDN every time to access a resource. I feel this is an education problem. There must be a way around it.
Now for the plus side. I am really enjoying the Linux install. Learning as much as I can. I am now looking to add a number of Linux servers to my home network. For learning reasons I may add a Linux server as a Media Server to contain the family pictures and music. Excellent way to learn Linux server and hosting. I absolutely enjoy the Linux network settings much better than windows. Setup a connection, give it a name and turn it on or off as needed. Cant get any easier than that. Helps me when I bounce between the office and home. Plus at home I have direct connections and wireless.
Wait your wireless works??!?!! Yes I got it to work on Linux. The issue: My security settings were too weak on the router. Ubuntu wouldnt even connect to it. Took the time to revamp the settings, make changes and bamb worked like gravy. Only problem? My HP Laptop Wireless LED is blinking.. and blinking.. and blinking.. I see that a number of Ubuntu users are having the same issue since 8.1. Will look into it when I can.
Circling back around to the major question: Can a Linux Workstation be used in a pure Microsoft Shop. Simple answer is yes with alot of forgiveness. There will be problem, there will be odd issues. I fully admit that I love Windows 7 with Powershell. Add MS SQL to the equation, ya your going to have issues. However in the world of VMs, who says you can have either a Windows 7 VM install on the workstation or better have Windows VM on the network. I am currently doing the later and it seems to be working well.
On a side note. VMWare's vSphere Client does not have a Linux Version. This is insane in my professional opinion as the host servers are a Linux bred OS. Getting VMWare Client on WINE has been useless, and I am not the only one with that issue.
Plenty more to come on my Linux adventures.
-Boston Tech Guy out
The install was light years smoother. Also a lot faster to boot and get files onto the hard drive. I liked it so much I put Ubuntu Netbook Edition on my EEE 900 Netbook the same way.
The question is "well how has it been?"
Very good. I am currently using the OS right now. With the world moving to cloud computing, the web browser is becoming THE APPLICATION that is used the most. I have already learned this in Windows, but on Linux it takes on another whole level.
I am using Ubuntu 10.10 in a Microsoft shop. A BIG WINDOWS AD/ MICROSOFT SHOP. Everything at the company is Microsoft; the OSes, Servers, DBs, workstations you name it. So how has it been. First the truth is, Ubuntu boots much faster than my Windows 7 install. Cant argue about it. BUT... My Windows 7 install logs directly into the AD. Ubuntu does not, you log in locally. My personal Windows 7 machine at home boots just as fast IMHO. Also unless your Exchange Environment has IMAP turned on (many dont like mine) then email will be hell on Earth to setup. I have been unsuccessful getting a Linux Exchange Client to properly work. I have been using OWA for email. Another big issue I am running into is TSCLIENT. Lets face it, I feel it just isnt as good as the Microsoft integrated one. I need the TSClient more then ever now on a Linux workstation. To add to the problems Windows 2008 Servers have issues with all Terminal Server Clients (Microsofts own as well). But on Linux, my machine crashes when the client crashes. Not Good. My last major issue, DNS. All my web browsers, terminal sessions and TSCLIENTs wont default to the local DNS Servers. I have to enter FQDN every time to access a resource. I feel this is an education problem. There must be a way around it.
Now for the plus side. I am really enjoying the Linux install. Learning as much as I can. I am now looking to add a number of Linux servers to my home network. For learning reasons I may add a Linux server as a Media Server to contain the family pictures and music. Excellent way to learn Linux server and hosting. I absolutely enjoy the Linux network settings much better than windows. Setup a connection, give it a name and turn it on or off as needed. Cant get any easier than that. Helps me when I bounce between the office and home. Plus at home I have direct connections and wireless.
Wait your wireless works??!?!! Yes I got it to work on Linux. The issue: My security settings were too weak on the router. Ubuntu wouldnt even connect to it. Took the time to revamp the settings, make changes and bamb worked like gravy. Only problem? My HP Laptop Wireless LED is blinking.. and blinking.. and blinking.. I see that a number of Ubuntu users are having the same issue since 8.1. Will look into it when I can.
Circling back around to the major question: Can a Linux Workstation be used in a pure Microsoft Shop. Simple answer is yes with alot of forgiveness. There will be problem, there will be odd issues. I fully admit that I love Windows 7 with Powershell. Add MS SQL to the equation, ya your going to have issues. However in the world of VMs, who says you can have either a Windows 7 VM install on the workstation or better have Windows VM on the network. I am currently doing the later and it seems to be working well.
On a side note. VMWare's vSphere Client does not have a Linux Version. This is insane in my professional opinion as the host servers are a Linux bred OS. Getting VMWare Client on WINE has been useless, and I am not the only one with that issue.
Plenty more to come on my Linux adventures.
-Boston Tech Guy out
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