Manual VM Images
Manual VM Images
Manual VM images are virtual machine images that are created by manually installing an operating system and applications on a virtual machine. This process can be time-consuming and error-prone, and it can be difficult to keep manual VM images up to date.
Benefits of manual VM images:
- More control over the operating system and applications that are installed
- Can be used to create custom images that are tailored to specific needs
Drawbacks of manual VM images:
- Time-consuming and error-prone to create
- Difficult to keep up to date
- Can be difficult to share with other users
Alternatives to manual VM images:
- Automated VM images: Automated VM images are created using a scripting or automation tool. This process can be faster and more efficient than creating manual VM images, and it can also help to ensure that images are consistent and up to date.
- Managed VM images: Managed VM images are provided by cloud providers or third-party vendors. These images are typically pre-configured with a specific operating system and applications, and they are often kept up to date by the provider.
Examples of manual VM images:
- A VM image that is created by manually installing Ubuntu Linux on a virtual machine.
- A VM image that is created by manually installing Windows Server 2022 on a virtual machine.
- A VM image that is created by manually installing a custom application on a virtual machine.
References:
Tools and products that can help with Manual VM Images:
VMware vCenter Converter:
- Converts physical, virtual, and cloud machines to a variety of formats, including VMware, Hyper-V, and AWS.
- Supports both Windows and Linux operating systems.
- Can be used to create both full and differential backups.
VMware vCenter Converter
Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM):
- Manages virtual machines and hosts in a private cloud environment.
- Can be used to create and manage manual VM images.
- Supports both Windows and Linux operating systems.
Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud:
- Provides backup and disaster recovery for physical, virtual, and cloud machines.
- Can be used to create and manage manual VM images.
- Supports both Windows and Linux operating systems.
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud
Veeam Backup & Replication:
- Provides backup and disaster recovery for physical, virtual, and cloud machines.
- Can be used to create and manage manual VM images.
- Supports both Windows and Linux operating systems.
Veeam Backup & Replication
Clonezilla:
- A free and open-source disk cloning and imaging tool.
- Can be used to create both full and differential backups of VM images.
- Supports both Windows and Linux operating systems.
Clonezilla
References:
Related terms to Manual VM Images:
- Virtual machine snapshot: A point-in-time copy of the state of a virtual machine. Snapshots can be used to create manual VM images.
- Virtual machine backup: A copy of a virtual machine that can be used to restore the virtual machine in the event of a failure. Backups can be used to create manual VM images.
- Virtual machine cloning: The process of creating a new virtual machine from an existing virtual machine. Cloning can be used to create manual VM images.
- Virtual machine image management: The process of managing virtual machine images, including creating, storing, and deploying images.
- Virtual machine image library: A repository of virtual machine images that can be used to deploy new virtual machines.
- Virtual machine image standardization: The process of ensuring that virtual machine images are consistent and meet certain standards.
Related technologies:
- Hypervisor: A software layer that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical server.
- Virtualization: The process of using a hypervisor to create multiple virtual machines on a single physical server.
- Cloud computing: The delivery of computing services over the internet.
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): A cloud computing model in which the provider provides the infrastructure, such as virtual machines, storage, and networking, and the customer manages the operating system and applications.
Related practices:
- Continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD): A software development practice in which developers regularly integrate their code changes into a central repository and then use automation to build, test, and deploy those changes to production.
- DevOps: A software development methodology that emphasizes collaboration between developers and operations teams.
- Infrastructure automation: The use of automation tools to manage and provision infrastructure, including virtual machines.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites for Manual VM Images:
1. Hypervisor:
- A hypervisor is a software layer that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical server.
- Examples of hypervisors include VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Citrix Hypervisor.
2. Virtualization Host:
- A virtualization host is a physical server that runs the hypervisor and the virtual machines.
- The virtualization host must have enough resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage, to support the virtual machines that will be created.
3. Guest Operating System:
- A guest operating system is the operating system that will be installed on the virtual machine.
- The guest operating system must be compatible with the hypervisor that is being used.
4. Virtual Machine Creation Tool:
- A virtual machine creation tool is a software tool that is used to create virtual machines.
- Examples of virtual machine creation tools include VMware Workstation, Microsoft Virtual PC, and Citrix XenServer.
5. Storage:
- Storage is required to store the virtual machine images and the virtual machine files.
- The storage can be local storage on the virtualization host or it can be network storage.
6. Networking:
- Networking is required to allow the virtual machines to communicate with each other and with the outside world.
- The networking can be provided by a physical network adapter on the virtualization host or it can be provided by a virtual network.
7. Backup and Recovery:
- A backup and recovery solution is required to protect the virtual machine images and the virtual machine files in the event of a failure.
- Examples of backup and recovery solutions include VMware vSphere Data Protection and Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager.
8. Security:
- Security measures are required to protect the virtual machines from unauthorized access and attacks.
- Examples of security measures include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and anti-malware software.
What’s next?
After you have Manual VM Images, the next steps typically involve:
1. Testing the VM Images:
- Test the VM images to ensure that they are working properly and that they meet your requirements.
- This can be done by deploying the VM images to a test environment and running tests to verify their functionality.
2. Storing the VM Images:
- Store the VM images in a secure and reliable location.
- This can be done on local storage, network storage, or in the cloud.
3. Managing the VM Images:
- Implement a system for managing the VM images, including version control, documentation, and security.
- This will help to ensure that the VM images are kept up to date and that they are used properly.
4. Deploying the VM Images:
- Deploy the VM images to production environments as needed.
- This can be done manually or through automation tools.
5. Monitoring the VM Images:
- Monitor the VM images in production to ensure that they are performing as expected.
- This can be done through monitoring tools or by manually checking the VM images.
6. Updating the VM Images:
- Keep the VM images up to date with the latest security patches and software updates.
- This will help to ensure that the VM images are secure and that they are performing optimally.
7. Backing up the VM Images:
- Regularly back up the VM images to protect them in the event of a failure.
- This can be done using backup software or through cloud-based backup services.
8. Archiving the VM Images:
- Archive the VM images that are no longer in use.
- This will help to free up storage space and it will also help to prevent the VM images from being used accidentally.