[Info-vax] VMware

[Alexander Schreiber]

Dave Froble <davef at tsoft-inc.com> wrote:
> On 12/9/2019 11:37 PM, Grant Taylor wrote:
>> On 12/9/19 8:24 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>>> But, I have to ask, how do they run all those instances.  It seems to
>>> me that it would be an operations nightmare.  I'm guessing they use
>>> SANs so backup would not be such an issue.  But other operations?
>>
>> It really depends what those instances are.  I don't think it's
>> difficult to get 100 VMs on a single host, assuming it's got enough
>> resources and that the VMs are small enough.  10 such hosts in a cluster
>> is not a problem.  That's 1,000 instances.  More such hosts and VMs is
>> not difficult.
>>
>> SAN LUNs are not a backup any more than shadow disks are a backup.  Nor
>> is RAID a backup.  Data corruption is a thing.  You need actual backups
>> if you care about the data.
>
> Yes, I understand all that.  But backing up a SAN is probably much 
> easier than backing up 1000 stand alone systems.

Two magic words: standardization & automation.

>> If the instances are Virtual Desktop Infrastructure that's accessed by
>> end users, then chances are good that the VDI instances are almost
>> cookie cutter installs and can be replaced at a moments notice.  End
>> users are advised to save data in a location that's not part of the
>> VDI's disk that can get replaced.
>>
>> Yes, there's operational headaches.  But there's quite a bit of
>> automation to streamline that.  If a VDI instance fails automation,
>> replace it with a new copy that passes automation.
>
> But what are the applications that can exist in such an environment? 
> That is where I get lost.

Virtual desktops are a thing. Your "desktop" no longer is a box under your
desk, but a VM in a datacenter somewhere. You connect to it via your laptop.
It runs a standard image. If it is badly broken, it gets automatically
reimaged on request with the standard image.

Saves power, hardware and more importantly: support costs.

And that is only one example.

Kind regards,
           Alex.
-- 
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and
 looks like work."                                      -- Thomas A. Edison