Project Objective
A nested virtualization lab built on a provided Windows Server foundation that progressed from basic host provisioning to a fully automated, fault-tolerant cluster. This project demonstrates comprehensive hands-on expertise in enterprise virtualization, embodying cloud principles such as resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and on-demand service delivery.
Key Achievement
Successfully achieved zero-downtime failover using vSphere Fault Tolerance, with automated load balancing via DRS triggering vMotion based on CPU contention.
Architecture Overview
Core Components
ESXi Hosts
2 x Nested ESXi 7.0 Hosts (ESXi1, ESXi2) providing the compute layer for virtual machines with local and shared storage.
vCenter Server
vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) providing centralized management, inventory, and advanced features like DRS and HA.
Active Directory
Domain Controller for vclass.local domain with integrated DNS, providing identity services and RBAC integration.
iSCSI Storage
Windows-based iSCSI Target Server providing shared storage for live migration and fault tolerance capabilities.
Network Architecture
| Network Segment | Purpose | VMkernel Adapter |
|---|---|---|
| Management Network | ESXi host management, vCenter communication | vmk0 |
| Production Network | VM guest traffic | VM Port Group |
| Storage Network (iSCSI) | iSCSI traffic to shared storage | vmk1 |
| vMotion Network | Live migration traffic between hosts | vmk2 |
| Fault Tolerance Network | FT logging traffic | vmk3 |
Implementation Phases
Foundation & Host Provisioning
- Deployed Windows Server 2019 management VM with dual NICs
- Created and installed two nested VMware ESXi 7.0 hosts
- Configured local VMFS datastores and deployed Ubuntu Server VM
Centralized Management & Identity Services
- Configured Active Directory Domain Services and DNS
- Deployed vCenter Server Appliance using template
- Standardized time synchronization using NTP across all components
- Licensed vCenter, created Datacenter, added ESXi hosts by FQDN
- Joined vCenter to Active Directory and configured RBAC
Shared Storage & VM Lifecycle Management
- Configured Windows Server as iSCSI target with dedicated storage network
- Created VMkernel adapters and port groups for iSCSI traffic
- Connected ESXi hosts to shared storage and created iSCSI-Datastore
- Demonstrated advanced VM management: templates, snapshots, cloning
- Configured vMotion networks and performed live migrations between hosts
Automation, High Availability & Resilience
- Created vCenter alarms for resource monitoring and validated with load testing
- Built vSphere cluster with Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS)
- Tested DRS automation levels and resource-based vMotion recommendations
- Configured and tested vSphere High Availability (HA) failover
- Enabled vSphere Fault Tolerance for zero-downtime VM protection
Project Gallery
Technical Highlights
Live Migration
Performed seamless vMotion migrations between hosts with zero VM downtime, demonstrating workload mobility.
Automated Load Balancing
DRS automatically triggered vMotion based on CPU contention, optimizing resource utilization across the cluster.
Zero-Downtime Protection
vSphere Fault Tolerance maintained a secondary VM copy in lockstep, providing instant failover capability.
Technologies Used
Platform
Virtualization Features
Storage
Networking
Enterprise Features
Infrastructure Services
Project Outcomes
- Built production-like virtual infrastructure embodying cloud principles: resource pooling, rapid elasticity, on-demand service
- Automated resource optimization through DRS with dynamic workload balancing
- Provided business continuity through HA automatic failover capabilities
- Achieved zero-downtime protection for critical workloads using Fault Tolerance
- Demonstrated end-to-end virtualization lifecycle management from provisioning to decommissioning
Value Delivered
Validated deep practical expertise in enterprise virtualization, from foundational host provisioning to advanced automation and high-availability configurations.
