Friday, June 10, 2011

My new address: http://freethreads.wordpress.com/

This blog has been moved to: http://freethreads.wordpress.com/

Sunday, May 29, 2011

NDMP: An open protocol to backup enterprise data

NDMP is an open protocol that enables backup/ restore of data in a heterogeneous environment. A real world case: You have two file servers(filer) from NetApp and EMC. And you want to backup your data without bothering about which filer you'd use.

Here NDMP comes into play. If both the filers are running an NDMP server, you can seamlessly carry out backup and restore. You just concentrate on your backup operation and leave out the details of :
- How data is stored ( you need to know data format though)
- What operating system is running on the filer
- Add/ remove a filer with no problem

Extensive information: www.ndmp.org/



Friday, April 8, 2011

VMWare player vs VirtualBox: which is better?

I have a Windows XP host machine with guest Ubuntu OS. I started with the latest VMWare player and benefits I noticed:

1. Hassle-free installation of Ubuntu
2. Seamless integration between guest and host
     o) You can copy-paste files across host and guest!
     o) Clipboard is shared bi-directionally

3. Very good performance: applications, network, and devices (DVD)
4. Display scales well on bigger screen with VMWare tools.
5. Alas! you can have at-max one processor simulated

VirtualBox

1. Easy Ubuntu installation
2. Most horrible and pathetic clipboard sharing. Contrary to claimed, it provided one-way clipboard from guest to host.
3. XP clipboard stopped working and never worked till I stopped VirtualBox.
4. Supports VMDK files but it's crappy, buggy and leaves VMDK in an un-usable state. I could never run my VMDK with VMWare later.
5. Can simulate up to 4 cores.
6. Supports shared folder between host and guest. I think it's a generation behind what VMWare provides.
7. Very slow performance: application, system start-up/ shutdown or stand-by. This is the biggest letdown.

My verdict: VirtualBox has miles to go and I am using VMWare still :)

Friday, March 25, 2011

How to Upgrade Ubuntu guest in VmWare?

o) Get the ALTERNATE Ubuntu image from UBUNTU website. (I prefer using Torrent to get this file)
A DESKTOP ISO will _NOT_ work!
o) Now, it's a blatant lie that you would not need an Internet connection. You got to have it; if not, go and do something else.
o) Okay, once you got you alternate ISO image ready, do the following:
  • sudo mkdir -p /media/cdrom
    sudo mount -o loop ~/Desktop/ubuntu-10.10-alternate-i386.iso /media/cdrom
  • gksu "sh /media/cdrom/cdromupgrade"



o) Yup! that's pretty much you need to do.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Corrupted VMWare VMDK file? How to fix?

o) Create a new VMWare machine of the same guest OS.
o) Assign the corrupted VMDK file as additional HDD to the new machine. VMWare machine config allows you to add an existing HDD (VMDK file) to a machine.
o) Browse your corrupted virtual HDD. Enjoy!