My messages from the Virtual Iron Community Q&A Forum

These were based on Virtual Iron 3.5. Only 290 users were registered in their forum at this point.

Failure of get file

• Topic Title: Administrative GET of vdisk stopped with only partial download
  • I tried download two vdisks (4GB and 9GB) at the same time. They were well on way to completion then stopped. I had just clicked on the comparison of hypervisors whitepaper, so I guess the lag in starting acrobat caused the downoads to abort. Looks like the error recovery is very minimal.... So I guess the trick is to go away and give the machine running Administration Manager a couple of hours to concentrate solely on the download. I'd also had problems when going through the public internet when some brief hiccup aborted a file transfer, but this download today was with just a single switch between my laptop and the server. Maybe I need to invest in a cross over cable, and an extra nic port on the server just for doing downloads, so I can eliminate the switch.....
    • Suggestion: Download each file individually

No auto restart of virtual machines after power failure

• Do running virtual servers restart after power failure?
  • If several virtual servers are running, and the power to my server fails and then is restored, will the virtual servers restart when power is restored to my server and Virtual Iron is restarted?
  • Answer from another user: Apparently they do not.
    • My question: Maybe something like Perl could be installed at the VI layer to automate the restart of the virtual servers? And maybe bash, and joe editor too.... Sendmail would be nice to be able to manage the server by sending emails to the VI layer, for example, a monitoring service watching the servers could email a restart command to VI..... Would spam assassin take up too much room, to make sure any incoming pharmaceutical ads didn't trigger any unwanted actions?

Problems after failed copy

• Can't delete vdisks after reboot?

  I rebooted, and went to the admin utility to restore all the data centers and nodes that had disappeared. I'm trying to delete the various USB cloned vdisks I'd setup because the batch of several clones failed, and I don't know which ones are good and which ones aren't. But one pair of virtual disks I can't delete, I get "[~admin:Error 586] Cannot delete Virtual disk: W2K3 Enterprise - No SP; parent Logical Volume: Golden Masters USB is currently in use" How can that be? The clone bombed, and I've rebooted a couple of times. How do I fix this? Here's the details: Virtualization Manager Message: com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.exception.IllegalOperationException: [~admin:Error 586] Cannot delete Virtual Disk: W2K3 Enterprise - No SP; parent Logical Volume: Golden Masters USB is currently in use. Level: SEVERE Stack Trace: sun.reflect.NativeConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance0(Native Method) sun.reflect.NativeConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance(Unknown Source) sun.reflect.DelegatingConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance(Unknown Source) java.lang.reflect.Constructor.newInstance(Unknown Source) org.python.core.PyReflectedConstructor._call_(Unknown Source) org.python.core.PyJavaInstance._init_(Unknown Source) org.python.core.PyJavaClass._call_(Unknown Source) org.python.core.PyObject._call_(Unknown Source) org.python.pycode._pyx78.com_virtualiron_vce_mgmt_api_physical_LogicalVolumeManagerPartition_deleteVirtualDisk_PRE$1(/mnt/mgmt/VirtualizationManager/rules/physical.LogicalVolumeManagerPartition.rule:31) org.python.pycode._pyx78.call_function(/mnt/mgmt/VirtualizationManager/rules/physical.LogicalVolumeManagerPartition.rule) org.python.core.PyTableCode.call(Unknown Source) org.python.core.PyTableCode.call(Unknown Source) org.python.core.PyFunction._call_(Unknown Source) org.python.core.PyObject._call_(Unknown Source) com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.rules.RulesEngine.invokeMethod(RulesEngine.java:196) com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.rules.RulesEngine.preProcess(RulesEngine.java:333) com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.license.LicenseEngine.preValidate(LicenseEngine.java:612) sun.reflect.GeneratedMethodAccessor67.invoke(Unknown Source) sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source) java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source) org.myoodb.core.AbstractObjectContainer.invokeTarget(AbstractObjectContainer.java:420) org.myoodb.core.AbstractTransaction.invokeMethod(AbstractTransaction.java:849) org.myoodb.core.command.InvokeMethodCommand.process(InvokeMethodCommand.java:97) org.myoodb.core.AbstractTransaction.processCommand(AbstractTransaction.java:407) org.myoodb.core.TransactionManager.processCommand(TransactionManager.java:60) org.myoodb.core.TransactionManager.processCommand(TransactionManager.java:413) org.myoodb.core.WorkManager.processWork(WorkManager.java:251) org.myoodb.core.AbstractClient.run(AbstractClient.java:49) java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source) I was able to enter delete command for two of the other vdisks, but after committing the job, the system says there was an error: Job Failed on step 0 of 20: Job info: 1 6000F4B00000000000000111ed6b0ea1 Delete vDisk VLinux01-Data 2 6000F4B00000000000000111ed6b7fc7 Delete vDisk VLinux01-OS 3 6000F4B00000000000000111ed6a5975 Delete Logical Volume Golden Masters USB - RHFC5 SAMS All Options (04/14/2007 08:01:37:983 AM) org.myoodb.exception.ObjectNotFoundException: No such object: 2163 at org.myoodb.core.AbstractTransaction.acquireContainer(AbstractTransaction.java:292) at org.myoodb.core.AbstractTransaction.invokeMethod(AbstractTransaction.java:845) at org.myoodb.core.Database.invokeMethod(Database.java:337) at com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.physical.LogicalVolumeManagerVolumeDbProxy.getName(LogicalVolumeManagerVolumeDbProxy.java:635) at com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.physical.LogicalVolumeManagerGroupDbImpl.objectResetter(LogicalVolumeManagerGroupDbImpl.java:986) at com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.job.JobEngine.genericObjectCaller(JobEngine.java:153) at com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.job.JobEngine.objectResetter(JobEngine.java:337) at com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.job.InternalJobDbImpl.objectCommitter(InternalJobDbImpl.java:410) at org.myoodb.core.AbstractObjectContainer.invokeTarget(AbstractObjectContainer.java:424) at org.myoodb.core.AbstractTransaction.invokeMethod(AbstractTransaction.java:849) at org.myoodb.core.command.InvokeMethodCommand.process(InvokeMethodCommand.java:97) at org.myoodb.core.AbstractTransaction.processCommand(AbstractTransaction.java:407) at org.myoodb.core.TransactionManager.processCommand(TransactionManager.java:60) at org.myoodb.core.TransactionManager.processCommand(TransactionManager.java:413) at org.myoodb.core.WorkManager.processWork(WorkManager.java:251) at org.myoodb.core.AbstractClient.run(AbstractClient.java:49) at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source) I've tried again to delete the virtual disks on my USB drive, and when I select them to delete them, I get [~admin:Error 88] object not found. The task won't even go into the job list now.... But they still show in the virtual disks listing, even after I click refresh. Here are the error details: Virtualization Manager Message: com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.exception.IllegalOperationException: [~admin:Error 88] object not found Level: SEVERE Stack Trace: com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.manager.ConfigurationManagerImpl.validateObjectExistance(ConfigurationManagerImpl.java:63) com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.manager.ConfigurationManagerImpl.deleteObject(ConfigurationManagerImpl.java:248) com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.manager.ConfigurationManagerImpl.deleteObject(ConfigurationManagerImpl.java:260) com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.physical.LogicalVolumeManagerPartitionDbImpl.deleteVirtualDiskImplicit(LogicalVolumeManagerPartitionDbImpl.java:1937) com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.physical.LogicalVolumeManagerPartitionDbImpl.deleteVirtualDisk(LogicalVolumeManagerPartitionDbImpl.java:1950) com.virtualiron.vce.mgmt.api.physical.LogicalVolumeManagerPartitionDbImpl.deleteVirtualDisk(LogicalVolumeManagerPartitionDbImpl.java:1964) sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method) sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source) sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source) java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source) org.myoodb.core.AbstractObjectContainer.invokeTarget(AbstractObjectContainer.java:424) org.myoodb.core.AbstractTransaction.invokeMethod(AbstractTransaction.java:849) org.myoodb.core.command.InvokeMethodCommand.process(InvokeMethodCommand.java:97) org.myoodb.core.AbstractTransaction.processCommand(AbstractTransaction.java:407) org.myoodb.core.TransactionManager.processCommand(TransactionManager.java:60) org.myoodb.core.TransactionManager.processCommand(TransactionManager.java:413) org.myoodb.core.WorkManager.processWork(WorkManager.java:251) org.myoodb.core.AbstractClient.run(AbstractClient.java:49) java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source) Edited: 04/14/2007 at 02:17 AM by GarnetR I tried restoring some other backups of the virtualization database, but I can't even clone virtual disks between LVGs on my built in SAS drives. The logical volume I want to clone to may have been the source for the failed copy to USB. How do I clear these from VI thinking they are still in use?

Virtual iron no longer boots

Maybe related to VI offering opportunity to create a LVG on the boot drive http://www.virtualiron.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=383&enterthread=y

I tried to reboot my server again to see if maybe the boot process would mark the virtual disks and logical volumes as not in use, but now I find my server saying "Non-System Disk or disk error"

I suspect this is related to the bug where VI offered me the chance to create an LVG on my boot drive. I thought it would be smart enough not to kill the boot partition, but apparently that isn't the case.

This is the second time I've lost the Virtual Iron boot partition. The first time was probably for the same reason, since I have two 146GB drives in the system, and VI numbers them differently than my raid controller, so I didn't know which one to try and create a LVG on, so I tried them both since they were both offered, but the batch of commands failed.... I didn't discover until reboot that my system had been hosed.

VI is wasting 100GB of my boot drive

VI offers me the chance to add boot drive as a Volume Group, but then fails on the operation http://www.virtualiron.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=382&enterthread=y

When I click on my server node, and "Virtual Disks", and then "Local Disks", the "Create Volume Group" button is enabled, and apprently my boot drive is in the list of drives I can use. If I create a job to create an LVG there, the job fails after I try to commit it.

BTW, apparently VI is only using the first 40GB of my boot drive, and is wasting the other 100GB. I've noticed that I only have room for a single 18GB vdisk export, I can't seem to export any larger vdisks I've created.

Virtual Data Centers, Nodes, etc. have disappeared from Virtualization Manager

Topic Summary: But virtual servers seem to still be running http://www.virtualiron.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=378&enterthread=y

When I go to the management IP for my server, I get the normal virtual iron webpage with links to Administration manager, virtualization manager, etc.

But when I click on Virtualization manager, and log in, I don't see any virtual data centers, no nodes, nothing. I have tried rebooting the PC I am using to run the virtual iron virtualization manager, and that has not helped.

However I can still ping the virtual servers, and access the web server runing in at least one of them.

Seems like maybe I should reboot the whole server, but I'm concerned about not being able to use VI interface to do a shutdown of the various VS that are running.

The last thing I was running was a copy of about 40GB of golden masters to the external USB on the server, but the last thing I saw in my log was that after 3 hours of running, the command had failed around the time I briefly disconnected power from the ethernet switch attached to the server's nic. I don't know why a brief loss of the external internet connect should have caused a copy on the server's own hard drives to fail...

I rebooted my server, reclicked the virtualization manager, and the virtualization manager still doesn't show any of the virtual data center nodes, servers, or anything. So I now I can't get to my virtual machines to restart them.

The left pane is always blank. I clicked on hardware, and networks shows the two networks that were set up. But none of the other tabs show any information.

How to password protect the virtual management IP page?

If my virtual manager management IP is publicly accessible, how can I hide that I running virtual iron? http://www.virtualiron.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=379&enterthread=y

How can I password protect access to the initial virtual iron welcome page that displays on virtual management IP address?

change ip of management nic

Topic Summary: How to change the ip of the management interface http://www.virtualiron.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=350&enterthread=y

Another user was told to put in a support ticket to find out how to do this.

Can you please post this IP change procedure? I'll be installing my server in a data center in the next couple of days, and I need to have this procedure handy in advance of the move, I'd like to test it before showing up at the data center.

Repeated "Disconnected" status on title bar of Sample-VS from tutorial

Is it a problem to open multiple java consoles simultaneously? http://www.virtualiron.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=376&enterthread=y

Multiple job batches under construction

Sometimes after setting up a multi-step batch, I realize there is something else I want to do...

Want to keep copies of golden masters on an attached USB drive

VI console shows that a USB external drive is recognized http://www.virtualiron.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=365&enterthread=y

I want to be able to keep copies of golden masters (reference installs of various OS) on an external USB hard drive. I don't need the VMs to be able to access this drive or it's contents, or to run from the drive. I just need this external drive to show up as a destination for cloning of virtual disks.

When I plug the drive in, I see a bunch of messages on the screen like "usb 4-1: configuration #1 chsen... scsi1: scsi emulation for USB Mass Storage devices... SCSI deevice sda: 976773168 512-byte hdwr sector (500108 MB).... sda: assuming drive cache: write through... sda: sda1... sd 1:0:0:0: attached scsi disk sda... sd 1:0:0:0: attached scsi generic sg0 type 0.... usb-storage: device scan complete."

So how can I clone to this target? Or copy clone copies back from this target?

Suggestion: USe virtualization manager and administrative get on exported vhd images

My response:

After my server is in a data center, dragging the vdisks back and forth across the internet to get the images back to my office would be really slow, plus use a lot of bandwidth if it was done as any kind of a regular backup. I was hoping to leave the external drive at the datacenter attached to my machine.

But it seems with VI, instead I'd need to invest in a second server, with iSCSI initiator software, or a second one server to sit in the data center and run the management softwaree. That also ends up doubling my costs at this point....

Also, Even here on my local network, dragging the backups back and forth across my lan has been slow, seemed like it took a long time to upload a 4GB iso. And, I tried to export a 10GB vdisk last night, so that the image would be put in the vdisks area, and the management software said there wasn't enough room. I only have 1 DVD, and 3 or 4 CD isos uploaded, and a single 4GB golden master as a vdisk, for a total of about 15GB maybe. So, somehow virtual iron has managed to use up most of the 146GB boot drive I installed it on, leaving me less than 25GB for my own stuff... So that apparently means even in the best case, I couldn't export a 60GB VS drive as a vdisk in order to download.... So I would have to download the .vhd directly, but I don't know how to get to those, and the VS would have to be powered down during that whole operation that would probably take a very long time....

Intercommunication between multiple Win2K3 VS: Virtual NIC?

Want to have disk share on main VS privately shared with 2 or 3 other VS http://www.virtualiron.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=374&enterthread=y

Solution to single core per windows VS?

Can I split it into four sessions and get processor affinity to assure spreading the load? http://www.virtualiron.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=373&enterthread=y

node performance graphs for more than 90 minutes?

What if I wanted to see it over the last week?

They are thinking about this for the future.

Can A Win2003 VM Use more than one core?

Running on quad core xeon, free version of VI only allows one processor for Windows 2003 VM http://www.virtualiron.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=14&threadid=364&enterthread=y

Cbarclay says a solution maybe in 3 months.