Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Part No 820-6988-10
Revision 1.0, 12/11/08
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Table of Contents
Example Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hardware and Software Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Disk Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Hardware Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Upgrade the Server Firmware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Create a Bootable RAID1 Array for the Host OS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Installing Windows and Hyper-V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Choose the Windows Server 2008 Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Install and Update Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Update the RAID HBA Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Install the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Upgrade the HBA Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Initialize the Disk Drives with Sun StorageTek RAID Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Create the RAID Volumes using Sun StorageTek RAID Manager Software . . . . . . 12
Install and Configure Hyper-V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Optimizing Windows and Hyper-V Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Planning for Hyper-V Overhead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Optimize Performance in a Hyper-V Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Ordering Sun Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Accessing Sun Documentation Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
1 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is componentized, using granular and optional roles.
The installation and configuration of Windows Server 2008 components is done by
adding server roles, such as Hyper-V, File Server, Print Server, and Terminal Services. By
default, no server roles are activated.
The Hyper-V role in Windows Server 2008 provides a virtualized server computing
environment. This hypervisor-based virtualization system for x64 servers can be used to
subdivide a single physical server into multiple virtual machines, each running a
separate operating system instance. Virtualization techniques such as Hyper-V can help
enterprises consolidate the workloads of multiple servers onto one machine for better
utilization, decreased hardware and energy costs, and lowered datacenter complexity.
This guide shows the steps necessary to install and configure Microsoft Windows Server
2008 Hyper-V on a Sun Fire™ x64 server with a Sun™ Storage J4000 series array for
external storage.
Example Configuration
Three virtual machines (VMs) were created on a Sun Fire X4150 server using Microsoft
Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. A Sun Storage J4000 series array was used for additional
storage and to provide increased performance by spreading the disk I/O over a greater
number of disk spindles.
Note – The configuration described in this document used the Sun Fire X4150 server. How-
ever, this configuration also applies to Sun Fire X4250, X4450, X4140, X4240 and X4440 serv-
ers. Similarly, although the Sun Storage J4200 array was used in this document, the
configuration steps also apply to Sun Storage J4400 and J4500 arrays.
Note – This guide is intended for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, and not for
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008.
Disk Configuration
Two VMs in this example configuration were intended for use by disk-intensive
applications, and therefore used two separate sets of disks each: one for the operating
system and one for the data. The third VM was intended for a mostly network-intensive
application (for example, a security gateway), and thus used a single RAID volume for
storing both the OS and data.
Table 1 and Table 2 describe the disk drive layouts of the internal and external disks
used in this example. The main root partition (Windows Server 2008 x64) and each VM
use a dedicated set of spindles, for performance reasons. A global hot spare is
configured for each controller, for increased availability.
Tip – Transaction log volumes could be created in case a VM runs disk-intensive trans-
actional database applications, such as SQL Server or Exchange.
System Setup
System setup includes the following primary tasks:
• Hardware Installation (page 3)
• Upgrade the Server Firmware (page 4)
• Create a Bootable RAID1 Array for the Host OS (page 4)
Hardware Installation
Refer to the server-specific Installation Guide for complete server installation
instructions (for example, the Sun Fire X4150 Server Installation Guide). The
documentation for any Sun Fire x64 server is available from the following URL:
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/server.x64.
1. Insert the Sun StorageTek SAS RAID External HBA in the Sun Fire server.
Tip – When using a Sun Fire X4150 server, insert the Sun StorageTek SAS RAID Exter-
nal HBA in PCIe slot 2. This slot is directly connected to the Memory Controller Hub
(MCH). Slot 1 is used by the internal HBA and Slot 0 is connected to the Input/Output
Hub (IOH).
Tip – Although it says “SAS” in its name, the Sun StorageTek SAS RAID External HBA
also supports SATA disks and is used to connect external storage arrays with either
SAS or SATA disks.
2. Insert the Sun Fire X4150 server and Sun Storage J4200 array in the rack using corre-
sponding slide rails. Connect the SAS cable between the External SAS HBA and the
Sun Storage J4200 array.
4 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
3. Plug the power cords into the AC power connectors on the Sun Fire X4150 server
power supplies. The Service Processor will boot immediately and the power supply
fans will start spinning (standby power mode), but the server should stay OFF. If
not, turn it OFF using the power button at the bottom left on the front panel of the
server.
4. Plug the power cords into the AC power connectors on the Sun Storage J4200 array
power supplies. The array will immediately turn ON. The Sun Storage J4200 array
does not have any on/off switch.
Once the server is updated with the latest firmware release, it is recommended to load
the BIOS default settings by following these steps:
1. Turn the server ON.
2. As the first POST screen appears on the monitor, press <F2> to load the BIOS setup
utility. The first POST screen can take over a minute to appear, depending on the
amount of memory in the system.
3. Once in the BIOS setup utility, load the BIOS default settings by pressing <F9>.
4. Press <F10> to save the BIOS settings, exit and reboot the server.
Tip – At this time, create only the RAID1 array that will be used for the host OS. The
other volumes will be created at a later time using the RAID Manager Software for
Windows as it is a full-featured software application with a graphical user interface,
it is the easiest to use and offers the widest range of management functions.
Tip – The following URL gives access to the documentation available for all Sun
StorageTek SAS RAID HBAs (Internal and External):
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/stortek.raid.hba
2. Enter the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility by pressing <CTRL><A> when prompted
during POST:
3. If multiple RAID HBAs of the same model or family are in the server, a list will
appear. Select the internal (INT) HBA, connected to the disk drives inside the server:
12. Press <Enter> to accept all the other default parameters and to create the new
RAID 1 array.
Tip – It is recommended to enable write caching with battery only. This will make
sure that, in case of a power outage, the data in the cache that has not been written
to disk is preserved until the power is restored. A fully charged battery will save the
cache content for up to 72 hours.
Virtualization Rights
Windows Edition (per Server License)
Windows Server 2008 Standard 1 physical + 1 VM
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise 1 physical + 4 VMs
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter 1 Physical + unlimited VMs
7 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
The various editions of Windows Server 2008 also support varying amounts of
maximum memory or sockets. Refer to the following URL to find the appropriate edition
for a specific deployment’s needs:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/compare-specs.aspx
Tip – For more information on the Service Processor and the RKVMS feature, see the
Integrated Lights Out Manager User's Guide in the product documentation section
at:
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/server.x64
2. Once Windows is up and running, use Windows Update to install the latest system
and drivers updates released by Microsoft. Reboots may be necessary. Repeat Win-
dows Update until no new available update is listed:
8 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
If no external connection is available, these files can also be found on the Tools &
Drivers CD.
Note – The Sun StorageTek SAS RAID HBA drivers apply even if there are SATA disk drives in
the external storage array.
2. In the Enterprise View section, click on the server name under Managed system
and enter the Windows system administrator password.
Tip – The Sun StorageTek RAID Manager can be used to configure and monitor the
storage in other servers on the network in a single window by providing their IP
address and login. For more information, open the documentation set for the Sun
StorageTek SAS RAID HBA at the following URL:
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/stortek.raid.hba
3. Right-click on Managed system and select Update controller images to update the
firmware on the HBAs:
10 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
5. Click Next then Add to add the ROM update images files. Select the files previously
downloaded. There are several files with the .ufi extension.
6. Click Next and the controller corresponding to the firmware image file set will be
automatically selected. If the firmware version in the image files is not newer than
the version running on the controller, the controller will be grayed out. The figure
11 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
below shows a system with two external RAID controllers, one at the same release
level as the downloaded firmware (gray), the other one needs to be updated
(selected).
7. Click Next, then Apply, then confirm with Yes to proceed with the update. If neces-
sary, repeat the procedure using the set of image files corresponding to the other
internal and external HBAs in the system. The process will take about one to two
minutes per controller.
8. Once all the controllers are updated, reboot Windows for the HBAs to load the new
firmware.
Tip – For more detailed information on creating volumes, refer to the Sun StorageTek
RAID Manager Software User’s Guide. To access this document, open the documenta-
tion set for the Sun StorageTek SAS RAID HBA at the following URL:
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/stortek.raid.hba
2. Click on the Create icon in the Tool Bar and select Custom configuration. Click
Next:
6. Click Next:
7. Click Apply:
16 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
The new RAID 1 volume is created and the disks synchronized in the background. The
RAID 1 volume will be displayed in the main window under Logical Devices. At this
point, the volume is ready to use.
4. Enter the volume name (for example, SERVER1-DATA) in the field Name.
5. Click to select the two disk drives to be used for the new RAID 5 volume.
18 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
6. Click Next:
7. Click Apply:
19 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
The new RAID 5 volume is created and the disks synchronized in the background. The
RAID 5 volume is ready to use.
Tip – A global hot spare drive is dedicated to a disk controller. At least one hot spare
drive should be created per HBA.
In this example, two global hot spare disks are created— one for the Internal HBA and
one for the external HBA.
1. Right-click on one of the unused disk drives and select Create hot-spare drive:
20 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
2. A plus sign will appear next to the selected disk drive, indicating that it is desig-
nated as a hot spare. Any other logical drives created on the controller will auto-
matically be protected by that global hot spare disk.
3. On the Select Server Roles page, click Hyper-V then click Next:
22 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
5. On the Create Virtual Networks page, click one or more network adapters if you
want to make their connection to a physical network available to virtual machines:
Tip – Additional virtual networks can be created later from the Hyper-V Manager. It is
a recommended best practice to leave one NIC untouched, to ensure that the parent
partition can always be managed independently of the virtual machines.
23 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
7. The computer must be restarted to complete the installation. Click Close to finish
the wizard and restart the server:
9. After the computer restarts, log on with the same account that was used to install
the role. The Resume Configuration Wizard will complete the installation. Click
Close to finish the wizard:
10. Once the Hyper-V role is successfully installed, use Windows Update to install any
Hyper-V updates released by Microsoft. Specifically, ensure the following updates
are installed on the system:
– KB 950050 — Hyper-V RTM code
– KB 956710 — 24 LP support
– KB 956697 — VSS backup issue
– KB 951308 — Enhanced cluster experience with HA VMs
Note – Not all updates are downloaded automatically to the system; it may be necessary to
explicitly download one or more of these updates from the Windows Download Center.
5. Enter a name for the network in the Name: box (for example, Main Data External).
6. Select External as Connection Type and select the network interface connected to
the main data network:
Tip – As a recommended best practice, leave one physical NIC untouched for manage-
ment reasons.
6. Click the Store the Virtual Machine in a different location check box and specify
the volume created for SERVER3:
7. On the Memory page, specify enough memory for the guest operating system that
is planned to run on this virtual machine. In this example, 2 GB of RAM is assigned
to this VM.
8. On the Networking page, connect the network adapter to the virtual network Main
Data External created previously. (See “Create Virtual Networks” on page 24.)
Note – If you select to boot from network, a PXE compatible legacy adapter will be config-
ured into the VM. If this option is not selected, a synthetic NIC will be configured automati-
cally and the guest OS will be able to take advantage of it after it has loaded the correct
Integration components.
29 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
9. On the Connect Virtual Hard Disk page, specify a name, location, and size to cre-
ate a virtual hard disk so that an operating system can be installed on it:
10. On the Installation Options page, choose the desired method to install the operat-
ing system.
11. Click Finish.
Tip – Download the Performance Tuning Guidelines for Windows Server 2008 from
the Microsoft Web site at:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=121171
31 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
• Memory Overhead
The memory cost associated with running a guest operating system on a Hyper-V
virtual machine was observed to be approximately 300 MB for the hypervisor, plus
32 MB for the first GB of RAM allocated to each virtual machine, plus another 8 MB
for every additional GB of RAM allocated to each virtual machine.
• Network Overhead
Network latency directly attributable to running a guest operating system in a
Hyper-V virtual machine was observed to be less than 1 ms, and the guest
operating system typically maintained a network output queue length of less than
one.
• CPU Overhead
The CPU overhead associated with running a guest operating system in a Hyper-V
virtual machine was found to range from 9% to 12%.
Note that pass-through disk support provides improved performance at a small cost to
convenience. Pass-through disks are essentially physical disks/LUNs that are attached
to a virtual machine and do not support some of the functionality of virtual disks, such
as Virtual Machine Snapshots.
32 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Consider configuring pass-through disks for data volumes using only the SCSI controller.
This is recommended because the SCSI controller can only be installed if Hyper-V
integration services are installed whereas the IDE controller is available without
installing Hyper-V integration services. If the IDE controller is installed without
installing Hyper-V integration services, then disk I/O will be performed without the
benefit of the IDE filter driver and will be sub-optimal. Therefore, to ensure optimal disk
I/O performance for the data files in a Hyper-V virtualized environment, install
integration services on both the host and guest operating system and configure pass-
through disks for data volumes with the SCSI controller.
Tip – Do not attach a system disk to a SCSI controller. A virtual hard disk that contains
the boot disk must be attached to an IDE controller.
As a general rule of thumb, plan to allocate at least 512 MB memory for the root
partition to provide services such as I/O virtualization, snapshot files support, and child
partition management.
33 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Consider using a 64-bit operating system for each guest operating system. This should
be done because by default, 32-bit Windows operating systems can only address up to
2 GB of virtual address space per process. Installation of a 64-bit operating system
allows applications to take full advantage of the memory installed on the physical
computer that hosts the Hyper-V virtual machines.
Be aware of the virtual processor limit for different guest operating systems and plan
accordingly. The number of processor cores that are available to the guest operating
system running in a Hyper-V virtual machine can impact the overall performance of the
hosted application. Hyper-V accommodates the following number of virtual processors
for the specified guest operating system, as listed in Table 4:
For more information about the guest operating systems that are supported on Hyper-V
see:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=118347
Summary
The paper describes the procedures used to install and configure Hyper-V on a Sun Fire
X4150 server. This example configuration also used a Sun Storage J4200 array for
additional storage and to spread the disk I/O over a great number of spindles for
34 Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers Sun Microsystems, Inc.
References
Sun Fire x64 server documentation:
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/server.x64.
Hyper-V:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/hyperv.aspx
To reference Sun BluePrints Online articles, visit the Sun BluePrints Online Web site at:
http://www.sun.com/blueprints/online.html
Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Sun Fire x64 Servers On the Web sun.com
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