Checklists: Adding an Existing Host to Virtual Machine Manager
After you add an existing Virtual Server-based virtual machine host to System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 (VMM), use the following checklists to help ensure smooth transition. When you add an existing host to Virtual Machine Manager, all virtual machines that have been added to Virtual Server are discovered, and you can begin managing the virtual machines in VMM. However, a few adjustments are needed to support virtual machine migration and automatic placement of virtual machines, ensure accurate host ratings during placement, resolve any issues with unsupported virtual machine configurations, and add the files that you use to create virtual machines to the Virtual Machine Manager library.
Note
For a discussion of operational differences between Virtual Server and VMM, see "Moving from Virtual Server to Virtual Machine Manager" (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=102845).
Checklists:
Host Configurations and Host Groups
Virtual Machine Configurations
Configuring the Library
Checklist: Host Configurations and Host Groups
| # | Task | References |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Configure standard virtual networks on all hosts. Why? When you migrate a virtual machine to a different host, the virtual network adapters on the virtual machine will be left in a not connected state after the migration if the target host does not have virtual networks equivalent to those that the virtual network adapters were connected to on the previous host. During migration, VMM attempts to connect the virtual network adapters on the virtual machine with equivalent virtual networks on the target host based on the virtual network name as well as the virtual network description. If the network names (by default, based on the network adapter model) do not match, VMM attempts to connect the virtual network adapter to a virtual network with same virtual network description. The most efficient way to resolve this issue is to specify standard network descriptions -- such as CORPNET -- for the virtual networks that are configured on all hosts. This enables you to attach multiple physical network adapters to the same virtual network on the host in order to balance the network load on hosts that have a large number of virtual machines in use. |
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2 |
Configure default virtual machine paths on all volumes that you use to store virtual machine configuration files. Why? When virtual machines are migrated to the most suitable host in a host group through automatic placement, the migration fails if the recommended drive does not have a default virtual machine path configured on the host. Automatic placement occurs whenever a self-service user creates or deploys a virtual machine. It also occurs when an administrator uses the drag-and-drop method to migrate a virtual machine to a host group in Virtual Machines view. |
About Virtual Machine Placement |
3 |
Register any virtual machines on the host that had not been added to Virtual Server. Why? Unregistered virtual machines are not discovered when a host is added to VMM. To register the virtual machine, use the VMs tab in the Host Properties dialog box. |
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4 |
Optionally create host groups. Why? You can create custom groups of virtual machine hosts, known as host groups, for easy managing of hosts and virtual machines. Host groups are represented by folders in the navigation pane of Hosts view and Virtual Machines view. Host groups also are used to reserve resources for the use of host operating systems, and they are used to designate hosts for the virtual machines created by self-service users in virtual machine self-service. |
Checklist: Virtual Machine Configurations
| # | Task | References |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Update network configurations on virtual machines. Why? After you update the virtual network configurations on the host to standard network names, you need to update the existing network configurations of the virtual machines on the host. |
How to Add and Configure Network Adapters for a Virtual Machine |
2 |
Disable undo disks for any virtual machines that have Unsupported Undo Disk status. Why? In VMM, checkpoints are used instead of undo disks to enable an administrator to create temporary backups that can be used to restore a virtual machine to a previous state, and undo disks are not supported. When a virtual machine with undo disks is discovered, the virtual machine is given Unsupported Undo Disk status, and you must either merge or discard the undo disks before you can manage the virtual machine in VMM. |
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3 |
For any virtual machines that have Incomplete VM Configuration status, locate the missing virtual hard disk, move it into the folder that contains the virtual machine's configuration files, and then repair the virtual machine, choosing the Refresh option. Why? In a newly discovered virtual machine on a host that was recently added to VMM, Incomplete VM Configuration status always indicates a missing virtual hard disk. Note If other files are missing from the virtual machine—an ISO image (.iso), a virtual floppy disk (.vfd), or a virtual network configuration file (.vnc)—a job warning is logged without placing the virtual machine in an Incomplete VM Configuration status. To find out more about the issue that caused the Incomplete VM Configuration status, view job details in Jobs view of the VMM Administrator Console. |
Troubleshooting "Incomplete VM Configuration" Status for a Virtual Machine |
Checklist: Configuring the Library
| # | Task | References |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Add .vhd files, scripts, and ISO images to the Virtual Machine Manager library. Why? Before you can use .vhd files, scripts, ISO images, and other resources to create virtual machines in VMM, you must add the files the Virtual Machine Manager library. The library is a catalog of resources stored on library shares that can be located on multiple library servers. Until you add the files to the library, they are not visible in VMM, and therefore cannot be used in VMM operations. |
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2 |
Create virtual machine templates from your .vhd files. |
Related Resources
Moving from Virtual Server to Virtual Machine Manager (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=102845)
Getting Started Using Virtual Machine Manager (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=98629)
Configuring Virtual Machine Manager (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103120)
VMM Glossary (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=98630)