October 27, 2012 at 3:43 am
Hi all,
When I just opened the 70-462 TK I saw a six server Hyper-V environment is neccesary to complete the book. It has only very, very brief instructions on setting this environment up. No info on the configuration of the separate servers on disksize, memory etc.
So far I have no experience with Hyper-V. I have only used it as enduser on some classroom MS courses in the past. Other MS studies I did could all be done on a single local SQL Server installation.
Before I even start to try and install the Hyper-V environment (on what machine is a different question...) I wondered if the empty training environment might be available as a download somewhere? I have seen similar environments available but have not been able to find this one.
Any ideas?
Cheers,
Erik
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October 30, 2012 at 1:17 am
In between I have been looking around, including asking a MCT, but so far I have not succeeded in finding the answer... As there are quite a few more people that have done the 70-462 exam here that also used the TK, there must be enough knowledge here to get me started and help me set up the environment myself...
The training kit gives no more info than this on the Hyper-V environment:
System Requirements
The following are the minimum system requirements your computer needs to meet to
complete the practice exercises in this book and to run the companion CD. To minimize the
time and expense of configuring physical computers for this training kit, it’s recommended
that you use Hyper-V, which is a feature of Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2,
Windows Server 2012, and certain editions of Windows 8. You can use other virtualization
software instead, but the instructions are written assuming that you are using a solution that
supports 64-bit operating systems hosted as virtual machines.
Hardware Requirements
This section presents the hardware requirements for Hyper-V, the hardware requirements if
you are not using virtualization software, and the software requirements.
Virtualization Hardware Requirements
If you choose to use virtualization software, you need only one physical computer to perform
the exercises in this book. That physical host computer must meet the following minimum
hardware requirements:
¦¦ x64-based processor that includes both hardware-assisted virtualization (AMD-V or
Intel VT) and hardware data execution protection. (On AMD systems, the data execution
protection feature is called the No Execute or NX bit. On Intel systems, this feature
is called the Execute Disable or XD bit.) These features must also be enabled in the
BIOS. (Note: You can run Windows Virtual PC without Intel-VT or AMD-V.)
¦¦ 8.0 GB of RAM.
¦¦ 80 GB of available hard disk space if you are using differencing virtual hard disks.
¦¦ DVD-ROM drive.
¦¦ Internet connectivity.
Physical Hardware Requirements
If you choose to use physical computers instead of virtualization software, use the following
list to meet the minimum hardware requirements of the practice exercises in this book:
¦¦ Six personal computers, each with a 1.4-GHz, 64-bit processor, minimum 2 GB of RAM,
50 GB hard disk drive, network card, video card, and DVD-ROM drive.
¦¦ All six computers must be connected to the same network.
Practice Setup Instructions
This section contains abbreviated instructions for setting up the domain controller (DC),
SQL-A, SQL-B, SQL-C, SQL-D, and SQL-Core computers used in the practice exercises in all
chapters of this training kit. To perform these exercises, first install Windows Server 2008 R2
Enterprise edition with Service Pack 1 using the default configuration, setting the administrator
password to Pa$$w0rd. For server SQL-Core, install Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
Edition with Service Pack 1 in the default server core configuration, setting the administrator
password to Pa$$w0rd.
After that the book just talks about the individual machines after the environment has been set up...
I do have a few questions like these:
- the Hyper-V environment of the six servers only needs 80GB of HD space. When using 6 physical PC's those need 50GB each... How come the difference?
- any idea of the specs that are needed per virtual machine on memory and diskspace? The TK says nothing about this...
- I have not Googled this one yet (will do) but does anyone know of some more instructions online in setting such an environment up without having to become a Hyper-V and Windows Server expert?
To be honest, I think MS could have given quite some more info in the TK for setting up the environment. To me it seems a little bit short sighted to assume that everyone knows his way around in Hyper-V and Windows Server...
Cheers,
Erik
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... to select or not to select, that's the question...[/font]
October 30, 2012 at 4:46 am
I did the 70-462 exam recently, and I have set-up the HyperV environment.
And I had as much experience as you when I first started 🙂
HyperV is included in Windows Server 2008R2 Enterprise and Windows Server 2012.
I used the trial version of Windows Server 2012. If you cannot complete the exercises in 180 days, you better skip the exam 🙂
It's really not that hard to set-up. The trick here is to use differencing disks:
The clue is that you create one virtual hard disk - the parent - on which you install Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server. All the other hard disks use this parent as a common basis. Because you already installed SQL Server on it, you only need 4 GB of space, instead of 4 * 4 GB (4 instances). So let's say you create a parent disk of 30GB large. Then you create 4 child VHDs (SQL-A, SQL-B, SQL-C and SQL-D). Each of those child disks only consumes the disk space that is specific for the child virtual machine. So at first, a child VHD only consumes a few megabytes. As you add databases, new SQL Server instances and other software, the child disk gradually grows in time.
This way you can create 4 virtual machines who consume in total not more than 50GB.
If you'd install everything on seperate machines, you'd need indeed 50GB each.
Regarding the configuration:
make sure there is enough disk space. At least 20GB for the parent VHD. With 30GB you'll be pretty safe. Make sure you have at least 90GB free in total on your host OS. (the OS that runs HyperV)
I gave every virtual machine 1GB of memory (I have 8GB in total), but in reality you could give a bit more, as you probably would not run all virtual machines at once.
Also configure a virtual network that can be used by your virtual machines. You also need to add extra networks (not explained in the training kit) if you want to do the clustering exercises. You need at least 3 if I'm not mistaken. (1 for regular traffic, 1 for clustering traffic, 1 for the shared storage).
Since I have Windows 7 on my laptop (which doesn't have HyperV), I installed a Windows Server 2012 virtual machine that was bootable. In other words, I could boot my laptop into the virtual machine, so the VM could use my full hardware resources. Here's an article that explains how to do it:
(it talks about Windows 8, but it's the same for Windows Server 2012)
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
October 30, 2012 at 4:50 am
Oh yeah, Eric, you do will have to get your hands dirty with Windows Server and HyperV. Especially if you want to set-up clustering 🙂 But you'll learn a lot from the process. I spent a good two weeks (only in the evening of course) setting up the environment before I could even begin making the exercises.
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
October 30, 2012 at 5:02 am
Thanks Koen for your elaborate reply. Always strange to reply in English to someone who also speaks Dutch natively 😉 Can it be I saw/heard you speak sometime on a SQL Saturday or so?
I also run Windows 7 on my laptop. But, as this is a MacBook Pro, this could be an extra challenge...
I will have a go at it soon, I always like a challenge. This weekend the wife and kids are away so that might me the perfect opportunity. I also found some ready made Windows Server VHD's on Microsofts Download center but those do not have the differencing disks.
I might want to contact you with a few questions though if you don't mind...
Thanks,
Erik
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October 30, 2012 at 6:00 am
Hi Eric,
I haven't spoken on a SQLSaturday (or SQLZaterdag), but I did on the Belgian CommunityDay (twice) and on the SQLServerDays (also in Belgium). Also did some LiveMeeting on the 12HoursOfSQL in the beginning of this year.
I'm not sure how to do it in a Macbook Pro. I'm curious what would happen if did try it though. Are you using bootcamp to boot into windows 7?
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
October 30, 2012 at 6:24 am
Ahh, I saw your name on the agenda of the SQL Server Days in Belgium next November, that's why I recognised it. Might see you there, just got my teamleader to approve my registration!
Yes, I use Bootcamp. Without BC it can be done but is pretty hard. In between I have asked at work if they have a spare machine/server doing nothing that I could borrow for a while. That would be the better option, not having to mess with my Mac. They were pretty confident they could help me...
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October 30, 2012 at 6:57 am
The spare server would certainly a better option, because fiddling around with a $2500 laptop isn't always fun 😀
Come say hi on the SQLServerDays, it's always nice to meet some people who are also SQLServerCentral visitors.
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
November 3, 2012 at 5:10 am
Well since yesterday I have learned two things:
- my Mac will not support Hyper-V as it is too old
- the spare server from workt turned out to be a dead end
So now I guess I'll have to buy/build me some hardware. Which I find very difficult to choose as there is so much choice...
As I will probably sell the system after getting my MCSA I would not need a top end configuration. Any ideas on what would be a sufficient setup for the course environment?
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November 3, 2012 at 2:29 pm
The more RAM, the better 🙂
CPU isn't that important, you will be doing pretty simple exercises, not calculating PI till the millionth digit. 🙂
Enough space on the hard disk is also crucial. After installing OS and everything, 100 GB spare would be OK.
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
November 5, 2012 at 2:03 am
I too am on the hunt for hardware for this. My old laptop is XP. Looking at a laptop with Windows 8 and 8 Gig RAM. I think Hyper V comes with Windows 8 not sure if it all versions. Hoping this will be good enough to get me going.
E.
:w00t:
November 5, 2012 at 2:11 am
Ells (11/5/2012)
I too am on the hunt for hardware for this. My old laptop is XP. Looking at a laptop with Windows 8 and 8 Gig RAM. I think Hyper V comes with Windows 8 not sure if it all versions. Hoping this will be good enough to get me going.E.
:w00t:
According to this article, you'd need Windows 8 Pro.
8GB of RAM is enough, just don't run all the VMs at once 🙂
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
November 5, 2012 at 2:22 am
I have just bought a used mid 2011 i5 2,3 Ghz Mac Mini that will be my new friend for this 🙂
I will fit 16 GB memory and a second disk (a small SSD). I will use this SSD for the VM's OS and the VM's data will be stored on the second 7200 rpm disk.
This should be enough to get me going, maybe a bit too much for the study environment but I guess it will be handy anyhow to have a dedicated test server available.
And If I decide to sell it, it will keep its value somewhat longer than comparable PC's
And the Mac looks good too 😉 and only consumes about 10W!
Hope to get it and the parts soon so I can get giong!
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February 20, 2013 at 2:36 am
Hi all,
Has anyone tried to prepare the environment using VirtualBox? Prepare 2 server and 4 SQL Server machines - sounds not so difficult.
Or Microsoft-based VM is mandatory here?
Thanks.
February 20, 2013 at 2:48 am
I don't think it is mandatory, but in order to use VirtualBox it will need the following features (not sure if it has them or not):
* multiple shared networks between the machines (needed for clustering)
* parent/child VMs (differencing disks), otherwise you'll need a whole lot of storage since you need 5 VMs
The reason it's easy to use HyperV, is because you typically would set up a test environment like this using Windows Server, which has HyperV already installed. (I think if you have Windows 8 Pro you also have HyperV)
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
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