Developing a truly virtual infrastructure : What do you need to consider ?

1. Welcome! Developing a truly virtual infrastructure : What do you need to consider ? Andy EcclesEnterprise Solutions Architectaeccles@iscnet.co.uk

2. Todays Objectives Agenda • Don’t just virtualise, optimise • Server Virtualisation • Virtual Desktop • Application Delivery • Assessment Offer

3. Optimise! More than just a buzzword • Today’s businesses are demanding more for less • Almost everything can be ‘virtualised’ – but is it a good idea? • A hybrid approach is becoming common with solutions from different vendors being integrated together • Agility is critical, don’t design yourself into a corner

4. Server Virtualisation Fewer and fewer important considerations • What servers can be virtualised? • So many Windows/x86 servers run at only peak 5% CPU! • Consolidation has significant benefits for these servers • Some services do deserve their own hardware • But the agility of virtual servers is a very useful attribute • Don’t expect a quart from a pint pot, sizing is important • Limitations • Some hardware components can be difficult (GPU, etc) • Very heavy I/O can suffer virtualisation overhead

5. Server Virtualisation Hypervisors and storage • Hypervisors and Management • Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer, VMware ESX • It’s the management and infrastructure that matter • Using appropriate storage is essential • Yes, you can use local storage in Virtualisation Infrastructure • But enterprise-class storage is essential for full flexibility • Performance • High Availability • Snapshots • Replication • Deduplication

6. Application Delivery So many choices... • What’s the point of all of this? • To get applications to your users • Terminal Services, Virtual Desktop, all very good but... • Connectivity is a significant part of the requirement • Don’t forget about the humble desktop, you might need some! • Limitations of Server-Based Computing • App support... Bear in mind that some can be worked around. • Getting the applications onto the servers or desktops • Stream apps from a central single instance where possible

7. Traditional Desktop PC! How does it look?

8. Virtual Desktop How does it look?

9. Terminal Services / XenApp How does it look?

10. Basic SBC flowchart Help to give an initial indication of what to use • A rough guide • Some of the ‘rules’ can be broken • ISC always tailor designs, no one-size-fits-all approach • Third-party products can help to bypass some SBC limitations

11. When is SBC the wrong tool? The challenges and considerations • Link latency must not be excessive • Over 100ms can be difficult for RDP • 400ms or more for Citrix ICA with tuning • Satellite BB is a bit of a challenge • If you can’t rely on consistent connectivity for your users • Heavy graphics and some multimedia are a challenge today • Wyse, HP, Citrix, Microsoft even Qumranet are helping • Peripherals can be a pain to connect and manage • Certain connectivity requirements can be difficult (IPSec VPN)

12. Take a hybrid approach My idea of an ideal deployment • Use Terminal Services with XenApp where required for best value • Use full desktop PCs where SBC just doesn’t fit • Implement a good SSL VPN to provide web-based users with a desktop from anywhere, any time, on any device... • Use VDI for the ‘others’ - and make the most of single-instancing • Virtualise applications where possible, or deliver some of the applications seamlessly into the virtual desktops using TS/XenApp! • Ensure you work with a qualified and experienced partner for design and implementation

13. How we work in the ISC Enterprise Solutions Group • We are a team of subject-matter experts who also understand the impact of our subject on infrastructure as a whole • Our strength is in integrating technologies, possibly from different vendors, to provide a coherent solution • We don’t use a one-size fits all template for infrastructure, each scenario is analysed independently • ISC Solutions Architects are funded internally to provide balanced advice to customers, not commissioned to sell

14. Analysis Offer with the ISC Enterprise Solutions Group • We offer no-obligation assessment/analysis meetings • Our subject-matter experts are available at no cost • These meetings typically take between one and two hours • We are flexible with proposing new solutions or development of existing infrastructure • There are boxes on your feedback forms to tick if you’d like to take the opportunity of meeting our people • Application delivery, desktop and application virtualisation • Server virtualisation, consolidation and agility • Storage consolidation, flexibility and protection.

15. Thankyou! Questions and Answers Andy EcclesEnterprise Solutions Architectaeccles@iscnet.co.uk