vCenter

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  • 1.  Protecting vCenter

    Posted Nov 23, 2011 09:19 AM

    Hi,

    I am designing a vSphere 5 environment and have a question regarding what to do about protecting the vCenter VM.  The vCenter will be a VM in linked mode with another one on a remote site.

    Due to cost reasons we will not be using Heartbeat to protect the VC so I have another option I have thought of and would appreciate your opinion:

    I intend to create a clone of the VC VM (at each site) and leave powered off until such time as the live VC fails.  I understand that the ADAM database will not be kept up to date on the clone so that will require some support to keep up-to-date (but things like licenses & roles do not change too much).

    The other method could be to use MSCS to cluster the VC service, this again won't cater for the ADAM database but I assume the remote linked VC will replicate the updates if needed should the cluster fail to the other node?

    Which is the best option here?

    Thanks

    Bob



  • 2.  RE: Protecting vCenter

    Posted Nov 23, 2011 09:29 AM

    Hi

    Are you looking for cost free solution or low cost solution, automatic or manual ?

    BTW, as far as I remember VMware does not support vCenter services on MSCS that was o vSphere 4, maybe something has changed in vSphere 5



  • 3.  RE: Protecting vCenter

    Posted Nov 23, 2011 09:34 AM

    Hi,

    I have heard that MSCS is not supported as well and I'm not keen on that option.  Basically, other than heartbeat is there another low-cost / free solution to protecting VC?  Manual failover would suffice so long as it's painless!

    Thanks again for your reply.



  • 4.  RE: Protecting vCenter

    Posted Nov 23, 2011 09:47 AM

    Hi

    Low cost:

    DoubleTake HA - nice solution and work well

    Platespin Protect - good solution too

    For both above you can get trial license

    Cost Free

    PWCLi scripts:  create and schedule a script which will clone your vCenter VM and keeps 2 copies (every day or every 6 hours - depend what you need)

    power CLI community, place where you can find a scripts

    http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/server/vsphere/automationtools/powercli

    Where is your vCenter DB located on this same VM where vCenter run or it's on separate server?



  • 5.  RE: Protecting vCenter

    Posted Nov 23, 2011 10:30 AM

    Thanks for that!  I'll go with the PowerCLI scripts to enhance my solution.

    The DB is located on a separate SQL cluster.

    Cheers

    Bob



  • 6.  RE: Protecting vCenter
    Best Answer

    Posted Nov 23, 2011 12:32 PM

    Thanks for that!  I'll go with the PowerCLI scripts to enhance my solution.

    you are welcome, award me some points and we are good ;-)

    The DB is located on a separate SQL cluster.

    Protect vCenter DB is much more important than vCenter instance itself.