320 likes | 335 Views
Best Practices to Address the Top 3 Issues in Managing the Virtualized Data Center. Best Practices to Address the Top 3 Issues in Managing the Virtualized Data Center. Bob Baxter rlbaxter@candotechnologies.com PO Box 55 Pine CO 80470 303-838-6448. A Little About Myself.
E N D
Best Practices to Address the Top 3 Issues in Managing the Virtualized Data Center Best Practices to Address the Top 3 Issues in Managing the Virtualized Data Center Bob Baxter rlbaxter@candotechnologies.com PO Box 55 Pine CO 80470 303-838-6448
A Little About Myself • 31 years I/T experience • 26 years managing systems • Data center & service desk management • Operating systems • Database administration • Process automation & event notification • Document imaging and workflow • ITIL Certification (IT service mgmt best practices) • Server virtualization
Agenda What are “Best Practices”? What is “Virtualization”? What are the “Top 3 Issues”? Summary
What are Best Practices? What are Best Practices? There are many I/T practices… But which ones are the “Best”???... Several industry organizations publish “Best” practices… UK government OCG ITIL recognized worldwide… Ultimately, YOUR organization will determine its own “Best Practices”
What is ITIL? What is ITIL? Information Technology Infrastructure Library… Service Strategy >> Service Design >> Service Transition >> Service Operation >> << Continual Service Improvement >> ITIL: IT Provides Services, not Technology… . ITIL: Services that add VALUE …. ITIL is a Key Management Discipline that Meshes Technology Management and Corporate Management .
Server Virtualization is not New! Server virtualization has been around since the 60’s
What is Server Virtualization? What is Server Virtualization? • EMA defines virtualization as: • “A technique for abstracting (or hiding) the physical characteristics of computing resources from the way in which other systems, applications, or end users interact with those resources.”
Traditional Non Virtualized Servers Traditional Non Virtualized Servers Traditional Non Virtualized Servers
Hosted Virtualization Hosted Virtualization Hosted Virtualization Hosted Virtualization Hosted Virtualization “Generally” not “Data Center Class”
Hosted Virtualization Hosted Virtualization Hosted Virtualization Hosted Virtualization Paravirtualization
Desktop Virtualization Desktop environments hosted on Servers Thin clients on physical desktops Citrix/VMware/Sun Ray
Why Virtualization? Why Virtualization? Based on ITIL Framework… Service Strategy… Service Design… Service Transition
Are Servers Really Cheap? Server Sprawl!
Why Virtualization? Why Virtualization? Financial Management • When done properly, good stewardship of funds • One, two, or just a few x86 servers are cheap. Combined they start to become expensive! • Consider: • Cost of the servers themselves • Power • Cooling • Network cabling • Floorspace • Disposal
Easier Provisioning of New Servers (Services!)… Can help speed projects through Service Lifecycle(More on this Later….)
Before You Start… Establish: SLA’s & KPI’s
Deming Cycle Deming Cycle
So…. What ARE the Top 3 Issues? So…. What ARE the Top 3 Issues? • Service Strategy: Financial Management Technology Selection:… • 2) Service Design Service Level Management Continuity Management Availability Management Capacity Management… • 3) Service Transition:Change Management
Best Practice Issue 1, Service StrategySelection of Virtualization Technology Things to Consider Cost Technology Future trends
Virtualization Technology Selection Best Practice Issue 1Selection of Virtualization Technology Best Practice Issue 1Selection of Virtualization Technology Best Practice Issue 1Selection of Virtualization Technology Virtualization Options: VMware ESX Full Virtualization VMware Server (free/hosted virtualization) Microsoft Server Hyper-V 1.0 Paravirtualization Microsoft Virtual PC (free/hosted virtualization Xen (Citrix/Open Source) Paravirtualization Citrix Parallels Virtuozzo Containers To Name a few
Read Your License Agreement Different software vendors and different software packages have different licensing terms
Best Practice Issue 2Service Design Objectives Systems must be available when needed… Unplanned outages minimized Adequate capacity
Best Practice Issue 2Service Design Considerations Inherent Advantages Service Level Management: Improved Uptime Continuity Management: Quicker recovery from failures Capacity Management: Easier to add more resources
Service Design Considerations InherentDisadvantages Increased complexity… Continuity Management:Server failure could mean more down systems… Capacity Management: Possible resource bottlenecks
Best Practice Issue 3Service Transition/Change Management Easy to build machines Easy to cheat on licenses Beware of Empire Builders!
Change Management is Critical! Change Management is Critical! Virtual Machine Sprawl!
Change Management is Critical! Change Management is Critical! Established change control procedures Change Advisory Board
Summary Summary Virtualization can increase efficient use of resources ITIL meshes business and technology management Never Forget: Virtualized data centers exist to provide SERVICES
Summary Summary Service StrategyThere are many options. Select the technology that’s Right for Your Organization Service DesignVirtualization is a two edged sword: It can help improve Capacity, Availability, Continuity or Hinder it Service TransitionChange Management is CRITICAL