harry@aasterud.com
2010-Oct-29 07:23 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] In the process of deciding to virtualize, manyuncertainties
Hi and thx for swift reply. Yesterday I got a similar reply from the VMware forum. Here they stated that digi.com had a product called AnywhereUSB, which supports VMware servers. Looks like your link is about 50% less expensive :-) Question however remains, looking at the supported OS''es, does it support Linux VM''s?. From the product information I see they support Windows and Mac OS. I need to pass through USB connection to a linux VM. Any experience there? Alternative could be to run XenServer, set up a Win VM, install a VMworkstation like software (Virtualbox,... or can XenServer be installed on top of a running Win OS?), and install a new VM (within the VM) so that USB will become visible. A cut and paste solution, but maybe worth while trying, if all else fails. Anyway, if you could confirm if you managed to use a Silex server in conjuction with a Linux VM, I would be very grateful. Best Regards, Original Message: ----------------- From: kcobler@coblercorp.com Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:28:21 -0500 To: xen-users@lists.xensource.com Subject: Re: [Xen-users] In the process of deciding to virtualize, manyuncertainties Quoting "harry@aasterud.com" <harry@aasterud.com>:> Hi all, > > I have 2 web servers running with Raid 5 (software raid). They run centos > 5.4. No other devices attached. > > Then I have a windows 2003 server running backups on the network,including> the web servers via samba. Backup is stored on a external hard disk, > connected to the win server over USB. > > There is a fourth server running linux, that is used for general purpose > and special scripting testing. It has a USB hub connected, with 2 or more > smart card readers (type Smargo). No raid, just basic setup. > > I started testing of virtual servers with Oracle Virtualbox. The hosing OS > was windows XP pro 32 bit. The entire OS and data was encrypted with > truecrypt. Easy going, but found out the hard way that the virtualplatform> is only as safe as the host OS it is running on. Got a nasty virus, and > after 2 weeks trying to get rid of the virus, I found that this is notsafe> enough as a production server solution. > > So I reformatted the new server and installed XenServer. One of the first > things I found out was that the USB printer that I had connected did not > show on the installed Win XP VM. After doing some reading, Is this a known > problem? Also the DVD burner could read discs, and be used for installing > software on the Win XP VM, but not for burning. The external HDD connected > with USB cable was not recognized either, just as the USB pen was not > recognized. > > So I am seeking assistance... . Is PCI and USB passthrough is supported in > one of the XenServer products? By the way, my server hardware is 64 bit > compatible, how tell I XenServer to run in 64 bit, and can I run 32 bit > VM''s? > > In the mean time I am trying to anticipate any future issues. Next on my > list is to do a basic test by installing Win XP VM. Can anyone advice mein> if the know issues are going to be solved: > > - USB printer in XP VM > - HDD via USB cable visible in XP VM > - Burning DVDs on XP VM > > If this is working, next is the Linux server with the USB hub and USB > Smargo card readers. Is this supported by XenServer? > > Next will be importing the 2 Centos web servers. Is software raid > supported? Can anybody confirm this? If not, I wonder how to convert the > server to VM? I can not make an image of the entire setup including all > mirror partitions. Any suggestions? > > If raid5 is not supported, then what is the best solution to have my > servers secured against HDD failures? What is the best strategy? NormallyI> consider one server at a time, like choosing the raid type, firewall, > antivirus, etc . > > Backups are another concern. Right now I use Acronis Enterprise, but feel > that this solution is not good enough, due to the fact that I am in big > troubles when shit will hit the fan, and it will. Ive been there ;-). > Acronis is just not fool proof when it comes to securing linux servers. I > am looking for a bare metal recovery solution like R1Soft, where snapshots > are being used, and hotcopying the partitions. What is the closed I get > when using XenServer? I could consider running 2 VMware servers, and where > server 2 is a mirrored copy of server one, to ensure load balancing / > redundancy. Or is there an easier solution? Please your 2 cents. > > Last, but not least, is encryption. When using software like Truecrypt, > does XenServer allow to encrypt the entire OS and underlying data, or itit> advisable to encrypt only the VMs? >PCI passthru was difficult for me (hardware had to support it). USB passthru was limited to one device. My solution for USB in a VM environment is USB over IP device. http://www.silexamerica.com/products/usb_device_connectivity/sx-3000gb.html This device allowed me to add a USB hub to support multiple USB devices. Also the device is supported by Windows 2003/XP, etc. I also could have different devices attached to different VMs at the same time. Ken Cobler _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on Microsoft® Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
kcobler@coblercorp.com
2010-Oct-29 12:16 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] In the process of deciding to virtualize, manyuncertainties
Quoting "harry@aasterud.com" <harry@aasterud.com>:> Hi and thx for swift reply. > > Yesterday I got a similar reply from the VMware forum. Here they stated > that digi.com had a product called AnywhereUSB, which supports VMware > servers. Looks like your link is about 50% less expensive :-) > > Question however remains, looking at the supported OS''es, does it support > Linux VM''s?. From the product information I see they support Windows and > Mac OS. I need to pass through USB connection to a linux VM. Any experience > there? > > Alternative could be to run XenServer, set up a Win VM, install a > VMworkstation like software (Virtualbox,... or can XenServer be installed > on top of a running Win OS?), and install a new VM (within the VM) so that > USB will become visible. A cut and paste solution, but maybe worth while > trying, if all else fails. > > Anyway, if you could confirm if you managed to use a Silex server in > conjuction with a Linux VM, I would be very grateful. >I''ve tried the digi AnywhereUSB solution. It works on XP (limited support for Windows 2003 and 2008). Also digi had USB 1.0 device speed (they may have improved to USB 2.0 support). The digi device is controlled by one guest OS at a time. That''s why I found the silex solution that does support Windows 2003 and 2008, USB 2.0 speed, and can have multiple guest OSes control individual USB device on 1 silex box. Ken Cobler _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users