System Center 2012 CTP for Windows Server "8" Beta

Have done some preliminary readings about CTP and its material.

What is CTP

Community Technology Preview (“CTP”) enables System Center customers to jointly evaluate System Center 2012 and Windows Server “8” Beta. Customers should use this CTP for their evaluations of Windows Server “8” beta, and to provide Microsoft with feedback on both products. The CTP includes updates to the Virtual Machine Manager and Data Protection Manager components of System Center 2012.


What are the technology available now in CTP
As of now, there are only 2 products available in CTP program, these are:-

• Virtual Machine Manager 2012
• Data Protection Manager 2012

What do I get out of SC2012 CTP

Virtual Machine Manager
The CTP enables the Virtual Machine Manager component's management server to run on Windows Server “8” as well as managing virtual machines (VMs) hosted on Windows Server “8”. The CTP also enables management of new Windows Server “8” features in Virtual Machine Manager:

• Creation of Hyper-V Virtual Networks using Hyper-V Network Virtualization
• Creation of virtual machines using the VHDx format
• SMB 2.2 file servers as storage for virtual machines in a clustered and non-clustered environment
• Live migration and live storage migration

Data Protection Manager The CTP enables the Data Protection Manager component's repository and agents to run on Windows Server ‘8” as well as providing protection in Windows Server “8” environments. The CTP also adds protection for new features in Windows Server “8”:

• Hyper-V Virtual Machines on Cluster Shared Volumes 2.0 (CSV2.0)
• Hyper-V Virtual Machines on remote SMB share
• Files on De-Duplicated Volumes

What are the system requirements

Supported operating systems: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 8 Beta

Data Protection Manager:
Windows 2008
Windows 2008 R2
Windows "8" Beta

Virtual Machine Manager:
 Windows “8” Beta (Management Server, Console, Library Server, VM Hosts)
Windows “8” Beta or Windows Server 2008 R2 (Database Server)
Windows Server “8” is the only supported guest operating system

Other Software: SQL Server 2008 R2 with SP1, Standard, Enterprise or Datacenter Edition, 64-bit edition only

Pre-requisite Software: .NET 3.5

Hypervisor:  Data Protection Manager: Not applicable
Virtual Machine Manager: Hyper-V on Windows Server "8" only

Where can I get CTP
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29099

Screencast: Adding Hyper-V Cluster to SCVMM 2012 RC

Continue to my previous blog Screencast: SCVMM 2012 Installation, I have proceed to add my biggest production Hyper-V cluster to SCVMM 2012 RC. The cluster consists of 9 Hyper-V nodes which is hosting 71 VMs on VFARM3 cluster. Below is the screencast of the process.

Screencast: SCVMM 2012 Installation

Installation of System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) 2012 is simple enough, and I have screenshot each of the important screen you will come across during installation.

Windows Automation Installation Kit is require. To download a copy, click this link http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=194654

Upon completing this, VMM is installed on the host. Take a peek at my next blog on how I add a Hyper-V cluster to SCVMM 2012 RC at Screencast: Adding Hyper-V Cluster to SCVMM 2012 RC.