VDI Monitoring and Capacity planning choices (part 3 of 5)

26. Jun, 2009 0 Comments

Veeam Monitor

http://www.veeam.com/vmware-esx-monitoring.html

Product datasheet available here.
Veeam Monitor also has two versions – a free (yes FREE!) version with full monitoring capabilities, but it does not include capacity planning. The non-free version is $250/socket. This tool also runs on top of Windows Server, so include a Windows server cost in your estimating.
The evaluation displays as an “Evaluation License” but there is no mention of host or time restrictions. I am unclear what limitations are involved with this license.
This tool is a client-server application, and requires a windows OS to run on. The pieces can be installed separately so the client can run on your own desktop while the server is safe in the data center. The tool works by interfacing with vCenter – your first task once setting up the application – and making sense of the many logs and events therein. Multiple vCenters can be added, with limited federation of data available. The monitoring pieces are pretty standard, but seem to be a lot cleaner and simply laid out then some others. This is probably a result of the client-server model, since they can make the front-end look however they like and is not dependent on sometimes clunky web browsers. Capacity planning is report based, and requires Excel 2007 on the client station (or server, if that’s where the client is running). The reports seem to be on-demand only, with no scheduled report capability. Running a Trend Report creates a Veeam Report Viewer file. That file gets processed through the Report Viewer common to most Veeam applications, and this is where Excel 2007 is used to generate a spreadsheet full of graphs and raw data. Like vFoglight, the resulting graphs show you capacity used and VMs using the capacity, but there is no mention of how much VM capacity is left. Regardless, this is a very well-done tool, and provides ample amount of data for you to plan for virtual desktop expansion. Are you ready for Tek-Tools Virtual Profiler?

-Bruce Heavner, GlassHouse Senior Consultant