. VIRTUOZZO TM FOR LINUX 2.6.1 WHAT S NEW DOCUMENT Copyright 2005 SWsoft
TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS... 2 INTRODUCTION: KEY THEMES... 3 Ease of Use and Manageablity... 3 Security... 3 Powerful... 3 KEY VIRTUOZZO ENHANCEMENTS... 4 COMPLETE VIRTUOZZO FOR LINUX 2.6.1 ENHANCEMENTS... 5 Virtuozzo Control Center (VZCC) and Features... 5 Virtuozzo Management Console (VZMC) Features... 6 Virtuozzo Power Panel(VZPP) Features... 6 Security Features... 6 Architecture and Management Enhancements... 6 Network Device Enhancements... 7 Hosting Specific Enhancements... 7 VZAgent Features... 7 Utility Enhancements... 7 Backup Enhancement... 8 Installation Enhancements... 8 General Usability Enhancement... 8 SELECTED SCREEN SHOTS... 9 Figure 1: Virtuozzo Control Center... 9 Figure 2: Hardware Node Resources in VZCC... 9 Figure 3: Network Traffic Report... 10 Figure 4: Plesk Install Wizard... 10 VIRTUOZZO FOR LINUX ROADMAP & FUTURE PLANS...11 SWsoft 2005 2 VIRTUOZZO
INTRODUCTION: KEY THEMES Virtuozzo 2.6.1 is a major new release of that includes over 50 new features. In this release, a completely new management tool is introduced and the core VPS capabilities are greatly extended. Virtuozzo 2.6.1 key themes are: EASE OF USE AND MANAGEABLITY A new web-based management tool, Virtuozzo Control Center (VZCC), adds management capability from any computer on the Internet without adding additional software. The VZCC includes much of the management capability found in the Virtuozzo Management Console or command line, as well as some of the functionality available to VPS owners in the Virtuozzo Power Panel. VPS owner ease of use and manageability is also improved with improvements to the Virtuozzo Power Panels (VZPP). SECURITY There are three significant security related components in v2.6.1: A utility which simplifies maintaining software levels and hotfix deployment to help keep Virtuozzo servers up to date. Virtual Private Networking support allows a VPS owner to establish a secure communication channel with the VPS over an insecure public network. Stateful firewall support enabling the use of stateful firewall rules inside VPSs, configured either manually or by means of any popular firewall software. POWERFUL A number of new networking features make Virtuozzo VPSs as powerful as dedicated servers without compromising flexibility and manageability. An ability to delegate a physical network device (including VLAN devices) to any VPS helps to create flexible configurations, meeting specific networking and security requirements. Well-documented tools and open management API increase Virtuozzo s power through easy integration with existing management systems and tools. A new SOAP-compatible interface, makes application integration easier with help of existing IDEs (Integrated Development Environments). SWsoft 2005 3 VIRTUOZZO
KEY VIRTUOZZO ENHANCEMENT OVERVIEW The following features are the most important Virtuozzo for Linux 2.6.1 enhancements: 1) Virtuozzo Control Center (VZCC) Web-based tool for Virtuozzo administrators to perform most management tasks previously available only in the Virtuozzo Management Console or via the command-line interface (Figure 1). The VZCC is the first step in providing flexible management from anywhere on the network and will grow to become a critical management interface. For a more in-depth discussion of the VZCC, please refer to the complete enhancement section. 2) Stateful firewall support Stateful firewall support enabling the use of stateful firewall rules inside VPSs, configured either manually or by means of any popular firewall software. Virtuozzo stateful firewall support relies on the state iptables functionality and may work inside a VPS with no additional configuration. 3) VPN support Virtual Private Networking support allows a VPS owner to establish a secure communication channel with the VPS over an insecure public network. 4) Online Virtuozzo updates The vzup2date utility simplifies maintaining software levels and hotfix deployment to help keep Virtuozzo servers up to date. The utility also handles the delivery and installation of OS and application templates directly from the SWsoft repository. 5) SOAP interface- A new SOAP-compatible interface for VZAgent makes application integration easier with help of existing IDEs (Integrated Development Environments). Additional important features include: 6) vzcache Enabling the Virtuozzo templating" of identical files across multiple VPSs, even while VPSs are running. 7) Network device dedication- A physical network device may be assigned to a VPS for its exclusive use. For example, an Ethernet device or VLAN network device may be dedicated to a certain VPS which then has full control over the device making it possible to create custom network configurations or meet the needs of specific applications relying on particular types of network devices. 8) Network traffic usage report- Network traffic reports are available on a VPS basis for VPS owners using the VZPP or the VZCC or VZMC for administrators. 9) Flexible iptables management- A convenient way to set a list of allowed tables per VPS, regardless of the tables loaded on the Hardware Node itself. As a result, additional iptables-related functionality such as stateful firewall support may become part of a chargeback or hosting plan. 10) Database-like pager in VZAgent API- Database-like ability to collect, page and search data on web-based applications or interactive management and provisioning systems integrated with Virtuozzo. Create convenient data pagers with flexible search capabilities for Virtuozzo objects: VPSs, templates, or log entries. SWsoft 2005 4 VIRTUOZZO
COMPLETE VIRTUOZZO FOR LINUX 2.6.1 ENHANCEMENTS The following 50+ features are included in the Virtuozzo for Linux 2.6.1 release, grouped into feature categories: VIRTUOZZO CONTROL CENTER (VZCC) AND FEATURES Virtuozzo Control Center (VZCC) Web-based tool for Virtuozzo administrators to perform most management tasks previously available only in the Virtuozzo Management Console or via the command-line interface (Figure 1). Currently this single server management interface will allow administrators to: List, create, destroy; install and de-install application templates Manage multiple VPSs at the same time on a single server Manage VPS properties and settings Use any VPS management functionality available in Virtuozzo Power Panel (VZPP) Manage Virtuozzo licenses Manage OS and application templates Back up and restore a VPS View various Virtuozzo logs Open VZPP Selection- Opening the VZPP from the VZCC is a convenient way to get the Virtuozzo Power Panel interface without knowing or resetting the VPS administrative password. Localization-ready VZCC interface VZCC has the text entries, interface messages, and text controls stored in separate files using a standard localizable format enabling localization beyond the several standard Virtuozzo language packs. Sort and search The ability to search for data and sort items by field, accessible in both the VZPP and VZCC. Network traffic usage report- Network traffic reports are available on a VPS basis for VPS owners using the VZPP or the VZCC or VZMC for administrators. License Management- VZCC license management and license direct request support. Application Dependency Auto-resolution VZCC automatically selects the proper application set with cross-application dependencies resolved on install or application modification. Hardware Node Resources Overview - VZCC provides an overview of the server resources usage, including disk, memory, CPU and swap in a convenient graphical form. (Figure 2) OS and Application Templates- upload and installation in VZCC Hardware Node Reboot Mass Operations on Items Resource Usage Overview SWsoft 2005 5 VIRTUOZZO
VIRTUOZZO MANAGEMENT CONSOLE (VZMC) FEATURES VZMC Windows Support- VZMC includes centralized support for both Linux and Windows servers. Calendar-based Data Selector- Sets a period for all log and statistics reports in the VZMC, independent of regional dating formats. New VPS tasks in VZMC Frequent tasks, such as copying the VPS IP address into the clipboard and opening VZPP web interface for the VPS are available now on the VPS popup menu. Network traffic usage report- Network traffic reports are available on a VPS basis for VPS owners using the VZPP or the VZCC or VZMC for administrators. (Figure 3) Calendar-based Data Selector- Sets a period for all log and statistics reports in the VZMC, independent of regional dating formats. VPS ID- VZMC process monitor displays VPS ID HWID- is displayed in the server properties in the VZMC. Number Stored Backups- shown in VZMC VIRTUOZZO POWER PANEL(VZPP) FEATURES Network traffic usage report- Network traffic reports are available on a VPS basis for VPS owners using the Virtuozzo Power Panels(VZPP) or the Virtuozzo Control Center(VZCC) or Virtuozzo Management Console(VZMC) for administrators. Open VZPP Selection- Opening the VZPP from the VZCC is a convenient way to get the Virtuozzo Power Panel interface without knowing or resetting the VPS administrative password. SECURITY FEATURES Stateful firewall support Stateful firewall support enabling the use of stateful firewall rules inside VPSs, configured either manually or by means of any popular firewall software. Virtuozzo stateful firewall support relies on the state iptables functionality and may work inside a VPS with no additional configuration. VPN support Virtual Private Networking support allows a VPS owner to establish a secure communication channel with the VPS over an insecure public network. Online Virtuozzo updates The vzup2date utility simplifies maintaining software levels and hotfix deployment to help keep Virtuozzo servers up to date. The utility also handles the delivery and installation of OS and application templates directly from the SWsoft repository. ARCHITECTURE AND MANAGEMENT ENHANCEMENTS LVM (Logical Volume Manager) support- helps flexibly manage the growing demands of VPSs in terms of disk space. Flexible Port Redirection- Available in the VZPP allows users to create additional services, virtually working on the VPS IP address, but not consuming the VPS resources. Services may be added while the VPS is stopped. Fedora Core 2 Support- for the host OS. CentOS 3.x Linux Support- for the host OS. SWsoft 2005 6 VIRTUOZZO
NETWORK DEVICE ENHANCEMENTS Network device dedication- A physical network device may be assigned to a VPS for its exclusive use. For example, an Ethernet device or VLAN network device may be dedicated to a certain VPS which then has full control over the device making it possible to create custom network configurations or meet the needs of specific applications relying on particular types of network devices. Adjust MTU- on VPS network device. HOSTING SPECIFIC ENHANCEMENTS Flexible iptables management- A convenient way to set a list of allowed tables per VPS, regardless of the tables loaded on the Hardware Node itself. As a result, additional iptables-related functionality such as stateful firewall support may become part of a chargeback or hosting plan. Plesk installation wizard in VZPP- A simple installation wizard in the Virtuozzo Power panel guides VPS owners through a Plesk install. The install also takes advantage of Virtuozzo s templating capability and shares files to both disk space and memory. (Figure 4) VZAGENT FEATURES SOAP interface- A new SOAP-compatible interface for VZAgent makes application integration easier with help of existing IDEs (Integrated Development Environments). Database-like pager in VZAgent API- Database-like ability to collect, page and search data on web-based applications or interactive management and provisioning systems integrated with Virtuozzo. Create convenient data pagers with flexible search capabilities for Virtuozzo objects: VPSs, templates, or log entries. Direct Log Fetching- in VZAgent without using temporary storage Per-session Storage & New Authentication Scheme- in VZAgent used by SOAP. VPS ID- added in the process information output from VZAgent Filemanager Upload/Download- in packet mode in VZAgent VPS Creation- on the basis of a template Cross-platform Cluster Support On-demand UBC and Memory Statistics HWID Reporting Command COMMAND LINE ENHANCEMENTS Vzcache Running VPS- The vzcache utility may now be used on VPSs running intensive disk I/O operations and still provide consistent data. The vzcache utility provides the ability to template common VPS files, reestablishing cross-vps file sharing and saving on disk and memory usage on the server. vzctl- New command line functionality includes control over: network devices assigned to specific VPSs new port redirection scheme list of iptable modules in specific VPSs SWsoft 2005 7 VIRTUOZZO
BACKUP ENHANCEMENT Acronis Backup Software Support Support for Acronis True Image Server for Linux enabling a consistent server disk backup image without interrupting server operations. INSTALLATION ENHANCEMENTS General Installer Improvements License entry moved- to enable trouble-free installations GENERAL USABILITY ENHANCEMENT Smart Tips- printed on shell login when VPS is in under repair mode SWsoft 2005 8 VIRTUOZZO
SELECTED SCREEN SHOTS FIGURE 1: VIRTUOZZO CONTROL CENTER FIGURE 2: HARDWARE NODE RESOURCES IN VZCC SWsoft 2005 9 VIRTUOZZO
FIGURE 3: NETWORK TRAFFIC REPORT FIGURE 4: PLESK INSTALL WIZARD SWsoft 2005 10 VIRTUOZZO
VIRTUOZZO FOR LINUX ROADMAP & FUTURE PLANS Look for these features and more to be implemented in the subsequent patches for Virtuozzo coming up in the next quarter of 2005: 1. Linux 2.6 series kernel support 2. New features for Virtuozzo Control Center 3. Dedicated server to VPS migration tools 4. Additional backup system features 5. New OS and application templates 6. And more SWsoft 2005 11 VIRTUOZZO