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    2. DustinB3403
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    Posts

    Recent Best Controversial
    • RE: Trying out Xen

      "Spinning rust"

      Gonna have to remember that one

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Trying out Xen

      We got it from : http://xenserver.org/overview-xenserver-open-source-virtualization/download.html and installed directly to a dedicated drive that we threw into out VM Host

      We specifically didn't want to use a Thumb drive to run the Distro.

      But thinking about it afterwards it would probably be easier to make a clone of a Thumb Drive ISO for backup purposes.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Trying out Xen

      XenServer has a Live CD that you can install directly to a dedicated drive. Which builds Dom0, Dom0 the resides on that disk as an 8GB partition.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Trying out Xen

      Oh just as a heads up I did a direct install of Xen, no overhead for another OS, directly into a dedicated (cheapo) hard drive. If I really wanted I could have used an 8GB Thumb drive to run the OS on.

      Keep all of your local storage for storage.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Trying out Xen

      NAUBackup is a great script for Xen. GitHub Link

      Anyways just wget into /patcher and it can be run right from there with just some small adjustments to the file paths.

      When I started using it I even made some recommendations to the comments to clear up what was being said. If you have questions don't hesitate to ask.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Tiled Linux Distros

      Scott I will try that tonight.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Tiled Linux Distros

      10 Last night, being as it's a free upgrade which also asked for a product key. Which is why it's likely that the downloader Microsoft has is providing the Retail Installer

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Tiled Linux Distros

      It is stored in BIOS but I can't find the field as is its a hidden record using a special chip designed by microsoft for just this purpose.

      Using a retail ISO or CD will never pull the BIOS OEM key.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Tiled Linux Distros

      Yeah that's what I'm already using.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Tiled Linux Distros

      I'm downloading an ISO now for Windows 8.1 and will try again when I get home this afternoon. But last night it asked for a product key, which sucks.

      Of course she has no recovery media of her own.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Tiled Linux Distros

      Yeah she said she liked Ubuntu design compared to a few others I showed her so I installed that. But if she really wants Windows 8 then I'll see what I can do, but the Make your own Media from Windows still requires a product key, it doesn't pull it in from BIOS.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Tiled Linux Distros

      I took a look around for the windows 8 ISO and couldn't find it. I'll take a look again, unless of course you have the link right there in front of you.

      And Linux would probably be a lot better for what she uses the device for, Web surfing exclusively.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • Tiled Linux Distros

      As much as I disdain Windows 8, I have a niece who loves it.

      Well she destroyed her windows partition, and oddly the system doesn't have a recovery partition built in. Anyhoo are there any linux distro's that mimic the Windows 8 theme that anyone is aware of?

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Frugal advice on a obtaining legit copy of Win 7 for a VM I'm adding.

      So then whoever made the comment about purchasing old NSA equipment and taking that key is outside of bounds in Microsoft's Eyes...

      Just sayin'

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: Frugal advice on a obtaining legit copy of Win 7 for a VM I'm adding.

      I thought it was against the terms of service to strip a product key off of an already assembled computer to re-purpose it as a VM..

      Maybe I was wrong with that but I'm almost certain I read that on an OEM Agreement for Windows 7.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: XenServer vs ESXi

      Well I didn't say they had it, I just wouldn't say they "don't have a T3 support number"

      If I did then I'd be lying.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: XenServer vs ESXi

      @scottalanmiller .. Only if they had a Direct Dial to T3 support. Which they might if they are a partner of ESXi. But I don't have an answer to this.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: XenServer vs ESXi

      coliver

      Licensing priced for an enterprise is comparable to buying a car, you may have $200,000 to drop, but the next guy just wants 4 wheels and a steering wheel.

      Why should I (we) pay more for a solution just because others are? Especially when there are other options for free.

      Yes.. yes I know they are both bare-metail hypervisors.

      Lastly

      If we went with either paid solution (we not the MSP) would be more than likely to have to reach either support department* for help, unless its of a critical function at which point the MSP would come in to help.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: XenServer vs ESXi

      Easy support as in (Our current MSP already uses this, therefore we don't have to look for support should we need it)

      The enterprises item is specifically a negative as much larger companies (from all information I could find) with the aforementioned ones you put up are paying for ESXi functionality and licensing.

      ESXi Essentials licensing allows you to use more than the maximum hardware of 1 CPU. Otherwise it's practically worthless without licensing but to run a few VM that can fit on a single CPU.

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
    • RE: XenServer vs ESXi

      So with some verbiage I stole from Scott here's my list of primary reasons to not use ESXi. (Ignore the bullets it reads better on my screen)

      Citrix XenServer Facts (Advantages really…)
      • We already knows it. (It’s already in use for Day-to-Day )
      • It is incredibly easy to use.
      • It is very performant and this has been shown.
      o VM’s used by Interactive over a 3-5 day span producing sellable work only a few days after EagleXen was built and VM’s configured.
      • Zero cost for everything, totally zero licensing if Citrix support isn’t required.
      o Licensing is per Socket CPU and is perpetual (if needed)
      o No critical functionality is lost if support is cancelled
      • Full Paravirtualization Options for Linux workloads.
      • Updates are also free forever, regardless of a support contract.
      o Updating is also extremely easy with Free Tools (already configured)
      • No overhead cost for license management.
      • No salesman providing guidance. Built to suite our needs
      • VM Backups are completely free and schedulable.
      o Already configured and performed weekly on hardware we had in house*
      • Far greater feature set than any possible VMware option.
      o HA is free
      o XenMotion is free
      o XenMotion Storage is also free*
      o Many more free features
      • No scale limitations (within reason)
      • Local support available (in Rochester)*
      o Unlimited free forums support
      o Paid options available with licensing through Citrix
      • Minimal technical debt incurred.
      o Hardware cost for required needs

      ESXi vSphere Essentials Facts
      • Publicly and extremely common Hypervisor
      o Easily supported between different MSP’s as it’s “common”
      o Designed for Enterprise businesses not SMB’s
      o Licensing is priced for Enterprises not SMB’s
      • Licensing Cost
      o Maintenance is required to receive system updates
      o Essentials allows use of appropriate hardware only
      o Without a Plus plan or higher VMWare offers no support*
       Essentials is a bare metal hypervisor that simply allows us to use our chosen hardware
      o MSP’s / In-House IT must troubleshoot all issues
      • Internal IT must learn ESXi vSphere Essentials management
      o Troubleshooting procedures
      o Backup systems
      o Restoration steps
      o Updating steps
      • Requires 3rd party VM Backup Solution (Veeam / Unitrends.. etc.)

      posted in IT Discussion
      DustinB3403D
      DustinB3403
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