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VMware in the Data Center Server Consolidation Strategies for MetaFrame. Greg Pontrelli Enterprise Systems Engineer - Southwest Citrix Systems, Inc. Why are we here?. MetaFrame usage is growing dramatically! Growth means more hardware required
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VMware in the Data CenterServer Consolidation Strategies for MetaFrame Greg Pontrelli Enterprise Systems Engineer - Southwest Citrix Systems, Inc.
Why are we here? • MetaFrame usage is growing dramatically! • Growth means more hardware required • More hardware = increased need to consolidate servers … to explore a few server consolidation solutions!
What are we going to cover? • Review current MetaFrame deployment practices • Explore 3 consolidation strategies, one in depth • Examine a customer pushing forward with the virtualization solution today • Conclude with additional resources
What is this VMware stuff? • ‘Virtualizes’ operating systems • Changes the business norm • Solves today’s customer pains • Really cool!
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
Scale out vs. scale up… • Challenges are forcing some customers to deploy 4-8 CPU MetaFrame servers, even at higher $/CCU costs…
Trends in MetaFrame 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…
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)
Server Consolidation with ‘Virtual Machines’ Introducing Darren HarveyManager, Systems Engineers - WestVMware, Inc.
VMware Partitioning • Run multiple operating systems on one physical machine • Fully utilize server resources
VMware Isolation • Uses CPU hardware • Powerful performance, fault, and data isolation • CPU, RAM, disk, and network resource controls • Guarantee service levels
VMware Encapsulation • VM is saved within a file • VM can be transferred through time and space • Flexible deployment • Easier Disaster Recovery
Demo: Inside ESX ServerCustomer Story: Conseco Darren Harvey Manager, Systems Engineers - West VMware, Inc.
Conseco at a glance • Why Citrix? Why VMware? • First deployed MetaFrame 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 x440’s
ESX Server 1.5.2 running on 8 way 32GB IBM xSeries 440 Conseco Environment Details • 2000 Users at 170 sites Core Network • 5 x IBM x440’s with 68 VMs on ESX Server • MetaFrame servers, admin servers, application servers • Full lifecycle (Dev Prod) Redundant Brocade Switches, EMC Symmetrix • Virtual Storage • Disaster Recovery • Instant Provisioning
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 MetaFrame, 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)
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
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 MetaFrame environment?
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 MetaFrame servers?
Virtualize MetaFrame - when? • The key: Know and understand your workload! • MetaFrame 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
Virtualize MetaFrame - when? • MetaFrame 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!
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
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 MetaFrame servers may make sense if it can increase CCU on existing hardware
Examples from the field… • Another telecommunications firm • Current environment is deployed on quads with 4GB RAM • Current load on 4 ways is 80 CCU and CPU bound • Goal: reduce the quantity of physical servers • NET: VM driven MetaFrame servers may not make sense because of the current CPU bottleneck
To summarize… • In a Citrix MetaFrame 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 MetaFrame servers • Hosting the right production MetaFrame servers
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
Additional Resources • VMwarewww.vmware.com • HP White paper on 8-ways, VMware and MetaFrame • Search Active Answers for VMware • HP’s Suite and Booth • IBM White Papers • Your Citrix SE • We all use it!
TM 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-720X Citrix MetaFrame Secure Access Manager Administration • CTX-6100 Citrix Core Technologies and Architecture • Citrix Certified Integration Architect (CCIA) program to be launched in Q4 2003 • Available Worldwide from 350 CALCs • Training Locations from www.citrix.com/training