Setting up Rackspace Cloud as my test lab

Well... Today I began taking the first steps to completing my SQL Server certification. I created my first windows domain using Rackspace's cloud offering. Admittedly, this was the first domain I have ever set up. And the process went quite well. The only issue I had was adding computers to the domain. I wasn't able to see the domain. Turns out that I wasn't pointing my DNS to the DNS server I installed when I built the domain. Once I got that sorted out I was ready to go.

If you've ever used Amazon's EC2 service, Rackspace's cloud is pretty similar. There are a few key differences. Amazon charges you for the storage and time the server is actually 'powered' on. Rackspace, on the other hand, will bill you when the server is created. It doesn't make a difference if the server is on or off you will get billed for it. Because of this I've had to change my approach in my architecture to reduce costs.

1. Create the domain controller and get it working the way I want it to work.
2. Once that is done, make an image of the working server. This will allow me to recreate my lab whenever I need to.
3. Create a server image that will be used to install SQL Server.
4. When I need to work on the lab, I fire up the domain controller based on the image and the other server image.
5. Every time you do this you will need to point your SQL Server install server to the new DNS on the DC. It will get a new IP address every time you build a new one.

The reason I'm doing it this way instead of just keeping the servers active is so that I don't get an hourly bill. That being said, I set up two types of instances. I set up a 1GB ram box with 40GB of space at .08 per hour and a 2GB ram box with 80GB of space at .16 per hour. That's really pretty inexpensive but I don't see the need to pay for something if I'm not using it.

I hope you take some time this year to explore the power of the cloud. Personally, I think this is an extremely valuable tool for learning how to administer or learn a new system. If you mess up just fire up another system.

Good luck!

J.D

Administration, Learning