Virtual Server Naming Conventions

Daniel333

What do you use for your physical box and virtualized server's naming convention?

I've been slapping a 'v' in front of the normal server name thus far and naming the physicals hosts normally. Just wanted to know anyone had a better way or if a vendor had released a recommendation anywhere?

here is what my clients are looking like...
SFESX01
vSffile01
vSfapp01
vSfapp02

JDMurray

I usually put "-vm" as a suffix, as in "XPSP3-01-vm" or "Deb501-03-vm". Putting "v" or "vm" first in the name screws up alphabetizing and you end up with a machine directory that has a big "V" section. The "-vm" is unabiguous for machine name searches too.

blargoe

I treat them just like my physical hosts... no special naming for VMs

If you're using a different convention for your VMs, are you renaming them when you P2V also?

HeroPsycho

Daniel333 wrote: »

What do you use for your physical box and virtualized server's naming convention?

I've been slapping a 'v' in front of the normal server name thus far and naming the physicals hosts normally. Just wanted to know anyone had a better way or if a vendor had released a recommendation anywhere?

here is what my clients are looking like...
SFESX01
vSffile01
vSfapp01
vSfapp02

Since there are security vulnerabilities associated with virtualization software, bear in mind what you're advertising in the host name.

RTmarc

blargoe wrote: »

I treat them just like my physical hosts... no special naming for VMs

If you're using a different convention for your VMs, are you renaming them when you P2V also?

This. The servers are named for their role; i.e., VirtualCenter, Wisdom, HelpDesk, etc.

The host servers all have the same format: First four of location, followed by ESX##. EX: CorpESX01

astorrs

blargoe wrote: »

I treat them just like my physical hosts... no special naming for VMs

I do the same, after all we tell everyone (when trying to sell them on using them) that virtual machines are no different from physical machines.

I do however distinguish the virtual hosts using whatever naming convention exists at the client. If they don't have one that's usually one of the first things I implement - and yes I have my personal preference there too.

bwcarty

Our VMs use the same naming convention as physical servers. If we were to differentiate them somehow, I would prefer to have the physical servers with the special designation...something as simple as a rack number tacked onto the end of the name would be enough to indicate to us that it's not a VM.