The latest version of eEVOS, R7, introduces a variety of new features and enhancements designed to simplify virtual machine (VM) management, increase flexibility, and further improve data security. These updates optimise performance, making eEVOS an even more powerful platform for virtualisation.
1. Updated Hypervisor
The hypervisor in eEVOS R7 has been updated to the latest version, delivering improved performance and extended hardware support. This enhances the efficiency and stability of VMs.
Benefits:
- Improved performance and optimised resource utilisation.
- Support for modern hardware and new processor architectures.
- Security and stability updates ensure smooth and reliable operation.
2. Virtual Switch with Native VLAN Support
One of the standout features in eEVOS R7 is the introduction of a virtual switch with native VLAN support. This allows VMs to be seamlessly integrated into VLANs, enhancing network flexibility and security.
Benefits:
3. More Flexible VLAN Ranges and Untagged VLANs
eEVOS R7 allows for the flexible configuration of VLAN ranges. For example, ranges such as 1-5, 7-4094, and untagged VLANs like VLAN 6 can be set up. This feature is particularly useful when configuring firewalls, as it enables administrators to group and manage multiple VLANs efficiently, securing network zones effectively.
Benefits:
4. Dynamic Disk Management for Running VMs
One of the major innovations in eEVOS R7 is the ability to dynamically manage disks for running VMs. While previous versions only allowed adding or removing network cards, you can now expand disks or add new ones without needing to restart the VM.
Benefits:
- Seamless storage expansion with no downtime, ensuring VM availability.
- No disruption to the VM’s operation when adding or expanding disks.
- Dynamic storage adjustments based on the VM’s needs in real time.
5. Improved and Simplified VM Management
In eEVOS R7, VM management has been significantly enhanced. Administrators can now start, stop, or reset VMs directly from the console. Additionally, VM start and stop times have been significantly improved, enabling faster workflows and greater operational efficiency.
A key new feature in eEVOS R7 is the ability to filter VMs based on their active or inactive status and to select a node to see which VMs are running on that specific node. This filtering feature simplifies the management of large clusters by providing clear visibility into the status of VMs and their distribution across different nodes.
Benefits:
- Faster control over VMs directly from the console.
- Accelerated start and stop times for greater efficiency.
- One-click reset of VMs without additional steps or hassle.
- Convenient filtering options to easily identify active/inactive VMs and view which VMs are running on specific nodes, improving overall management efficiency.
6. Off-Site Disaster Recovery
The Off-Site Disaster Recovery (DR) feature in eEVOS R7 allows for asynchronous or scheduled replication of VMs to remote locations. This not only secures data but also preserves the entire VM configuration, ensuring a rapid recovery in the event of a disaster.
Benefits:
- Maximum data protection by replicating VMs to remote locations.
- Automated DR processes with asynchronous or scheduled replication.
- Fast recovery during a failure or disaster, maintaining business continuity.
7. Live Storage Migration
With Live Storage Migration, you can dynamically move running VMs between different cluster drives without needing to restart the VM. This feature allows for flexible storage management and optimised resource usage.
Benefits:
- No downtime during storage migration, ensuring seamless operation.
- Efficient storage optimisation by moving VMs between different cluster drives.
- Flexible storage management, enabling dynamic adjustments as needed.
8. Live Remote Site Migration
The Live Remote Site Migration feature in eEVOS R7 enables you to migrate running VMs to another eEVOS site without downtime. This provides maximum flexibility, allowing workloads to be moved dynamically between different geographical locations without interrupting operations.
Benefits:
- Zero-downtime migration, ensuring uninterrupted workload transfers.
- Geographical flexibility for distributing IT resources across multiple locations.
- Optimised workload distribution, reducing latency and improving resource utilisation.
9. Upgrading Existing eEVOS Versions “On the Fly”
eEVOS R7 allows for upgrading existing eEVOS versions on the fly, without interrupting operations. VMs can be migrated from one node to another, and the node can be upgraded while VMs continue running. After the upgrade, VMs can be migrated back, enabling you to upgrade each node one by one without any system downtime.
Benefits:
- Seamless upgrades with no interruption to ongoing operations.
- Step-by-step upgrades of a cluster while maintaining availability.
- Zero downtime, as VMs are live-migrated during the upgrade process.
10. Features for eEVOS R6
With this update, all of the mentioned features – except for the virtual switch and extended VLAN support – are now available in eEVOS R6 as well. This means that features like dynamic disk management, Off-Site Disaster Recovery, Live Storage Migration, Live Remote Site Migration, and on-the-fly upgrades are now also integrated into eEVOS R6. However, the virtual switch and extended VLAN configuration remain exclusive to eEVOS R7.
Exclusive R7 Features:
- Virtual switch with direct VLAN support.
- Extended VLAN range configuration.
Conclusion
eEVOS R7 introduces significant new features, such as the virtual switch with extended VLAN support, which simplifies network integration and enables more flexible VLAN management. Most of the new features, including dynamic disk management, Off-Site Disaster Recovery, Live Storage Migration, Live Remote Site Migration, and on-the-fly upgrades, are also available in eEVOS R6. The virtual switch and extended VLAN features, however, remain exclusive to eEVOS R7, making it the ideal choice for environments with advanced networking requirements.