Virtualization, need advice?

Question

linux

We are a small provider in Siberia, we came to the conclusion that having dozens of servers is not profitable and not as convenient as we would like. The tasks of all servers are different, I don’t really want to combine them.
We are considering the idea of ​​buying 1-2 powerful servers (let's say 24 cores and 64GB of RAM for each) and using virtualization.
Guest systems - mostly Linux, a couple of BSDs.
You need something simple and relaxed, according to the principle - set it up, set it up once and create as many virtual machines as you like. If there are any problems, you need the ability to quickly transfer the guest system to another server.
The question is what is better to use (maybe even some commercial systems based on the same Xen or OpenVZ)? And is there any point in taking a steam bath? Has anyone had a similar experience?
None of us knows anything about virtualization, and it’s hard to imagine how it all should look.

Answer 1

Forget VMware. For your task, Proxmox VE is just what the doctor ordered. If you do not want to go deep, then do not bother with containers (OpenVZ). Put everything on KVM.

Answer 2

VMware
There is an excellent web interface through which you can create virtual machines, allocate resources for them. I myself have been using it for a couple of months and was very surprised at how much the web muzzle is thought out and allows you to create guest systems in a few clicks.

Answer 3

You need to look at the issue as a whole.
Those. hardware and software, they often first “buy” hardware and then think what to put on it.
It is also necessary to immediately work on the issue of scaling and calculate the load. When sizing, do not forget about the load on the storage system. Issues such as backup, recovery should immediately be voiced at the stage of choosing a hypervisor.
I believe that Vmware or paid Xen is the best option for you, but there will be fewer problems with Vmware since 99.9% of vendors support vmware, almost everything is also with storage, including API, and with backup and recovery everything is in chocolate.

Answer 4

There's a meaning. But in what exactly - it is necessary to consider.
1) Where are you located? Calculate the cost of accommodation and electricity for the year;
2) Spare parts for a year. What is the price?
3) Did you take statistics on the load on disks, memory and processor? In practice, there is not enough memory and disk performance, less often plugging into the CPU.
Based on this, you need to look. You will have the least problems with VMWare or with some commercial version of Xen, do not mess with containers, maybe later, when you know exactly what to do.

Answer 5

On openvz, you can only run linux (and junk). On Xen, fbsd is also possible (it is possible in HVM to suffer less).
“Set it and forget it” is KVM, but there is a problem with “create as many virtual machines as you like” and “quickly drag the machine” =)

Answer 6

I suggest you consider installing not two servers, but three. Otherwise, the migration of guest systems loses its meaning - if one server crashes, the second one will have a double load ...
Well, or initially abandon the idea of ​​​​migration.

Answer 7

Recently transferred one small hoster from MSVS to KVM.
If you need help with the implementation, write in a personal.

Answer 8

Take a look at KVM

Answer 9

It is for this reason that it is necessary to start with the sizing of the future system in order to understand what equipment is needed. When I started working with the architecture of future IT systems, I was full like this: let's take so much memory - it should be enough.
And how much is enough, and then how to scale, etc.
Start by calculating the necessary resources for the N-1 scheme (only because you are a provider), then decide on the storage, and only then with the migration plan to the hypervisor.

Answer 10

Virtualization is a good presentation www.slideshare.net/alexclear/web-virtualization2 : (video: black.pu.ru/f/spblug_20130328.mp4 )