VMware in the Data Center Server Consolidation Strategies

VMware in the Data Center Server Consolidation Strategies for Meta. Frame Greg Pontrelli Enterprise Systems Engineer - Southwest Citrix Systems, Inc.

Why are we here? • Meta. Frame usage is growing dramatically! • Growth means more hardware required • More hardware = increased need to consolidate servers … to explore a few server consolidation solutions! Citrix Confidential

What are we going to cover? • Review current Meta. Frame deployment practices • Explore 3 consolidation strategies, one in depth • Examine a customer pushing forward with the virtualization solution today • Conclude with additional resources Citrix Confidential

What is this VMware stuff? • ‘Virtualizes’ operating systems • Changes the business norm • Solves today’s customer pains • Really cool! Citrix Confidential

Current Standard Practices Scaling out vs. scaling up…

Scale out vs. scale up… • Attributes of ‘scale out’ model – (you know and live these!) • Why scale out? – Failure isolation – OS scalability limitations – Hardware costs – low in terms of $/CCU • Challenges… – – Physical server management Logical server management Per server software licensing costs Billing/cost allocation practices Citrix Confidential

Scale out vs. scale up… • Challenges are forcing some customers to deploy 4 -8 CPU Meta. Frame servers, even at higher $/CCU costs… Citrix Confidential

Trends in Meta. Frame server consolidation What solutions are people thinking about, exploring, and/or deploying?

Scale up – native OS? • 4 -32 CPU systems, native Windows OS? – Maybe, but unfortunately not in most cases… Win 2 K TS scales linearly past 2 CPU’s? Scalability limited by Kernel architecture? TS ‘uses’ memory over 4 GB? Runs 32 -bit apps well? Viable option for scaling up with MF? Citrix Confidential No Yes No Win Svr 2003. 32 2003. 64 No Maybe Yes No No Maybe

Scale out – BLADES! • The promise… – – – Extremely compact footprint Relatively inexpensive – new $/CCU leader? All the positive points of ‘scale out’ Better physical server management ‘Flooring’ costs decreased? (rack space) • The challenges… – – Logical server management Immaturity of the technology Software licensing costs (per server) ‘Flooring’ costs? (billing practices) Citrix Confidential

Server Consolidation with ‘Virtual Machines’ Introducing Darren Harvey Manager, Systems Engineers - West VMware, Inc.

Traditional Intel Architecture Citrix Confidential

Virtual Machine Architecture Citrix Confidential

VMware Partitioning • Run multiple operating systems on one physical machine • Fully utilize server resources Citrix Confidential

VMware Isolation • Uses CPU hardware • Powerful performance, fault, and data isolation • CPU, RAM, disk, and network resource controls • Guarantee service levels Citrix Confidential

VMware Encapsulation • VM is saved within a file • VM can be transferred through time and space • Flexible deployment • Easier Disaster Recovery Citrix Confidential

VMware & Citrix – Scaling Up and Out Citrix Confidential

Demo: Inside ESX Server Customer Story: Conseco Darren Harvey Manager, Systems Engineers - West VMware, Inc.

Conseco at a glance • Why Citrix? Why VMware? • First deployed Meta. Frame on VMware GSX Server over 1 year ago • 1 data center native, 1 on VMware GSX Server, 3 key results: – More CCU’s on VMware GSX Server – Rock solid stability with VMware GSX Server – Operation savings the key • Current deployment for 2000 users on IBM x 440’s Citrix Confidential

Conseco Environment Details • 2000 Users at 170 sites Core Network • 5 x IBM x 440’s with 68 VMs on ESX Server • Meta. Frame servers, admin servers, application servers • Full lifecycle (Dev Prod) ESX Server 1. 5. 2 running on 8 way 32 GB IBM x. Series 440 Redundant Brocade Switches, EMC Symmetrix • Virtual Storage • Disaster Recovery • Instant Provisioning Citrix Confidential

Conseco Success • Running over 100 concurrent VMs on 12 hosts, 50+ base images, 5 different HW platforms with 100% VM compatibility • Supporting Development, Testing, Production, and Failover/Disaster recovery environments for a diverse set of Meta. Frame, Application Server, and Admin Services • “The best way to rapidly distribute and deploy across worldwide data centers. ” • “Dead simple recovery process. ” Chuck Zlamal, Snr. Linux/Windows Administrator, (Charles_E_Zlamal@consecofinance. com) Citrix Confidential

Where does this fit in a Citrix environment?

Virtualization – WHY? • Consolidate physical servers • Seriously simplify change management – ‘Imaging’ becomes trivial – Building and isolating Test/Dev and Pre-production/pilot environments (and doing it right!) is more feasible • Gain benefits of ‘scale out’ approach – Failure isolation – OS scalability limitations – Hardware costs? • VM portability to different host platforms Citrix Confidential

Virtualization – WHY? • Benefits of ‘scale up’ approach – – Compact rack footprint Some physical server management challenges addressed ‘Flooring’ costs decreased? (rack space, billing practices) Simplified data management • Dynamic capacity management • N times 2? In a Meta. Frame environment? Citrix Confidential

Virtualization – WHY NOT? • Challenges – – – Relatively new technology in the Citrix world Muddy support messages from key vendor Industry knowledge still developing N+x hardware redundancy more expensive Logical server management When to virtualize production Meta. Frame servers? Citrix Confidential

Virtualize Meta. Frame - when? • The key: Know and understand your workload! • Meta. Frame VM’s may make sense when: – You expect scalability to be bound by guest OS • CPU’s not scaling, kernel resources exhausted, etc. – You expect to be application bound • Memory consumption, poor thread management, etc. – Your cost allocation model favors fewer boxes Citrix Confidential

Virtualize Meta. Frame - when? • Meta. Frame VM’s may NOT make sense when: – You expect scalability to be bound by CPU • Not infinitely conclusive… – You expect some other component to be challenged • Best bet: bring VMware in and TEST! Citrix Confidential

Examples from the field… • Manufacturing company – Internal costing drove them to deploy many 8 CPU MF servers – Current load on 8 ways is 100 CCU (one silo) – Goal: reduce solution cost to internal customers • NET: VM driven MF servers may make sense if it increases CCU on existing hardware Citrix Confidential

Examples from the field… • Telecommunications firm – Existing farms have a large number of 4 CPU systems deployed – New workload they are looking at brings CCU down considerably – Goal: maximize CCU on the system • NET: VM driven Meta. Frame servers may make sense if it can increase CCU on existing hardware Citrix Confidential

Examples from the field… • Another telecommunications firm – Current environment is deployed on quads with 4 GB RAM – Current load on 4 ways is 80 CCU and CPU bound – Goal: reduce the quantity of physical servers • NET: VM driven Meta. Frame servers may not make sense because of the current CPU bottleneck Citrix Confidential

To summarize… • In a Citrix Meta. Frame environment, the VMware solution makes sense for: – Consolidation of under-utilized servers – Hosting of under-utilized Citrix support servers – Hosting test/dev and pilot/pre-production Meta. Frame servers – Hosting the right production Meta. Frame servers Citrix Confidential

Wrap up…

Wrap up • Current norm: scale out vs. scale up… – Great job for most today! • Scale up, 4 -32 CPU and native OS… – May be a solution when 64 -bit CPU’s, apps arrive – Not generally workable solution today • Scale out, blades… – May be new $/CCU leader! – …when technology matures • Scale up (and out): virtualization… – Great fit for many uses today – Investigate uses today – Watch for more data as scenarios/technology matures Citrix Confidential

Additional Resources • VMware www. vmware. com • HP White paper on 8 -ways, VMware and Meta. Frame – Search Active Answers for VMware – HP’s Suite and Booth • IBM White Papers • Your Citrix SE – We all use it! Citrix Confidential

Citrix Authorized Training • With Citrix Training: – Learn tips and techniques for managing and administering Citrix software – Obtain valuable lab time for hands-on practice – Prepare for Citrix certification exams – Learn quickly and efficiently in the classroom • New Courses and Certification Include: – CTX-720 X Citrix Meta. Frame Secure Access Manager Administration – CTX-6100 Citrix Core Technologies and Architecture – Citrix Certified Integration Architect (CCIA) program to be launched in Q 4 2003 • Available Worldwide from 350 CALCs • Training Locations from www. citrix. com/training Citrix Confidential TM

Question and Answer…

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