Notes on using Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator

Details

Category: Windows Server

Written by Winfred de Kreij

Server Consolidation and Virtualization Scenario

The Server Consolidation and Virtualization Wizard is used to complete the server consolidation and virtualization assessment. This wizard performs the following functions to complete the assessment:

·         Performs an inventory of the computers considered for consolidation and virtualization.

·         Consumes the performance monitoring data collected by the Performance Metrics Wizard.

·         Allows the user to provide a “model” virtual server that will host virtual machines (guests).

·         Determines the number and placement of guests on the virtual server.

·         Provides detailed reports and proposals describing which servers can be virtualized and on which virtual server host computers the consolidation process can be carried out.

Note   The Server Consolidation and Virtualization Wizard uses sophisticated algorithms for calculating the peak utilization of servers, considered for placement in a virtualized environment. This includes estimating high average CPU utilization and maximum observed disk and network input/output (IO). Server placement in the virtualized environment is based on peak utilization calculations.

Using the Wizard

This Accelerator is designed to have the smallest possible impact on network performance and the performance of the computers being inventoried. You do not need to deploy any software or agents to perform the assessment. The network impact during assessment is negligible. Windows-based computers being inventoried might show a rise in CPU utilization of up to 15 percent for less than 20 seconds.

For all assessment scenarios, you need to provide credentials that authenticate the computers and devices being inventoried. The quality of the credentials provided is a factor in the time required to complete the inventory. The assessment wizards will attempt to use credentials in the order they are provided. If the credential fails authentication then the next set of credentials is used. This process repeats until the authentication is successful or all available credentials have been tried.

Computer Discovery Methods

·         Import computer names from a file. Using this method, you can create a text file with a list of computer names that will be inventoried. Each computer name should be on a new line and the file should not use delimiters, such as comma, period, tab, and so on.

·         Scan an IP address range. This method allows you to specify the starting address and ending address of an IP address range. The wizard will then scan all IP addresses in the range and inventory only those computers.

·         Manually enter computer names. This method enables you to test and to inventory a few machines at a time.

Inventory Methods

The Assessment Wizard uses multiple inventory methods to collect information about a computer or device. The methods used are described as follows:

·         Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). This inventory method is required for all assessment scenarios. WMI is used to collect hardware, device, and software information from the remote computer. The following operating systems support WMI with default installations:

·         SNMP. This inventory method is enabled when you select the option to generate reports listing all SNMP devices. Otherwise this method is not used.

·         Remote Registry service. The Remote Registry service is used to find the roles installed on a server.

The “Remote Machine Configurations” section of this document describes in precise detail how to enable configurations on remote computers.

Server Virtualization and Consolidation Wizard

This wizard determines the number of virtual server host computers and the placement of virtual machines for consolidation of the servers you select by importing the computer names into the wizard. Using the data collected by the Performance Metrics Wizard, the Server Virtualization and Consolidation Wizard enables the user to configure a model virtual server host, select the virtualization technology to use, and generate reports and proposals that describe how the virtual machines should be placed on the virtual server hosts in order to best use the virtual server hardware.

Remote Computer Configurations

In order to run the Assessment Wizard, Performance Metrics Wizard, or Server Virtualization and Consolidation Wizard, the only required configuration is to configure the Windows Firewall (where appropriate) to enable remote access to WMI. This section describes this and other potential configurations that need to be completed before using this Accelerator.

Windows Installer Provider

By default, the WMI Windows Installer Provider is not installed on Windows Server 2003. This will prevent the Assessment Wizard from completing the application inventory and may result in incorrect role reporting. The following procedure enables inventory of installed applications.

To enable the WMI Windows Installer Provider

1.     In Add or Remove Programs, click Add/Remove Windows Components.

2.     In the Windows Components Wizard, select Management and Monitoring Tools and then click Details.

3.     In the Management and Monitoring Tools dialog box, select WMI Windows Installer Provider and then click OK.

4.     Click Next.

Remote Registry Service

The Remote Registry service is used to find the roles installed on a server. It is also required for running the Performance Metrics Wizard. This service is installed on Windows-based clients and servers, but the following conditions must exist for this inventory method to be successful:

·         The Remote Registry service must be started. By default, it is configured to start automatically.

·         The Windows Firewall Remote Administration exception must be enabled.(Check with “netsh firewall show service”)

·         You must authenticate using local Administrator equivalent privileges.

To enable or disable the Remote administration exception

This procedure can be performed using the command prompt or Group Policy. You cannot perform this procedure using the graphical user interface.

Using the command prompt

Substitute values for the placeholder in italics. The following table lists possible values for the placeholder.

All reports and proposals can be found in the following directory:

My Documents\MAP\DatabaseName\

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