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Deliver your Technology-Based Labs with VMware Lab Manager

Deliver your Technology-Based Labs with VMware Lab Manager. 5/6/2010 Michael Fudge. Agenda. Why is this so difficult? How lab manger makes it easer The iSchool specfic Setup Demos / Use-cases Where do we go from here?. How do you conduct labs for:.

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Deliver your Technology-Based Labs with VMware Lab Manager

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  1. Deliver your Technology-Based Labs with VMware Lab Manager 5/6/2010 Michael Fudge

  2. Agenda • Why is this so difficult? • How lab manger makes it easer • The iSchool specfic Setup • Demos / Use-cases • Where do we go from here?

  3. How do youconduct labs for: • Operating Systems Install / Configuration • Setting up and securing network services: DHCP, DNS, HTTP, SMTP, LDAP, Etc… • Host and network-based firewalls. • Routing, NAT, VLANS. • Application deployment, workstation configurations. • Advanced services: web applications, email, VOIP

  4. A Typical Example: “The Email Lab” • You’d like build an experiential learning activity around email and its protocols • From a configuration standpoint, you’d like each student to have the same experience. Email Client:Windows XP POP3, IMAP, SMTP Protocols • Outlook Express • Wireshark Email Server:Windows 2003 • hMailServer

  5. How it used to be done. • Need a lot of hardware to do this for the entire class. • Need a lot of space for the hardware • Difficult to prepare and deploy labs in this manner, and keep them consistent. • Students must be “in the lab” to complete the exercise. Ethernet Switch Windows XP client Windows 2003 email server

  6. Platform Virtualization makes things a little better • Platform Virtualization • VMware workstation • Virtual Box • Virtual PC • What used to be a computer is now just “files” • The “host” computer is a lab workstation or student’s personal computer. • Requires several GB of storage. Where do you put all those the files?

  7. Where Do You Store Your Platform VM files? “Mobile Racks” “Portable Storage” “File Server” • Need high network bandwidth to server • File server becomes a bottleneck under high utilization • Students must sit at same seat in lab • High failure rate from adding / removing drives • Poor I/O performance • Deployment issues – how do you get the VM files to the students?

  8. The Lab Manager Solution… • Accessible through a web browser • “Package-able” • Provides network isolation • Consistent configurations • Accessible anytime from anywhere

  9. What Exactly is Lab Manager? “Web browser-based delivery of platform virtual machines and networks.” Think:

  10. Overview of Lab Manager Let’s take a quick look https://vlab.ischool.syr.edu

  11. Configuration: The core concept Virtual Machines Virtual Networks ConfigurationBoundary Physical Network

  12. Security Model Lab Manager iSchool Implementation To confine a set of resources to a group of users, (for a specific course or research project, for example) a separate workspace must be created • Users and Groups assigned to organizations / workspaces then given permission to resources (Configurations and Templates). Organization iSchoolLabs iSchoolLabs iSchoolLabs Main Staging Course Specific Workspaces

  13. iSchool Physical Network Implementation SU Network VyattaNAT 128.230.x.y The NAT removes the requirement ofeach VM having anIP address on theCampus Network, and the MAC address registered to the IP. 10.1.1.1 Lab Manager VM’s Lab Manager VM’s 10.1.2.2through10.1.254.254 Virtual Networks can leverage the physical network as needed

  14. iSchool Roles/Workflow Template Designers Create VM Template(s) Administrators Workspace Management Create NetworkTemplate(s) Security Management Lab Designers VM Template(s) Configuration Library Archive NetworkTemplate(s) Library Capture Students & Teachers Clone from Library to Workspace Deploy Configuration(Powers on VM’s) Connect Virtual And Physical Networks

  15. Lab Designers: Steps to deploy a Configuration Lab Designers can practice these step in a special organization called “iSandbox”

  16. Demo Time! https://vlab.ischool.syr.edu

  17. Software Costs Costs are negligible thanks to: • Vendor “Academic Initiatives” (IBM, Microsoft). • Low-cost operating systems, flexible licensing • Vyatta (open source cisco-like networking) • Vmware e-acadamy $150 /year licensed to support ESX, vCenter and Lab Manager

  18. Hardware required: • SAN (iSCSI / FC) • Servers • ESX Hosts • vCenter • Lab Manager Lab Manager vCenter ESX1 ESX2 ESXn … SAN

  19. Estimates for ESX Hosts (no SAN) • 2 Server minimum Recommended • Count in class section = 32 (30 students 1 TA, 1 Prof) • Estimate based on 64GB RAM required to run one class section • Agreement to leverage SAN @ Central IT, so there’s a substantial cost savings there.

  20. Next Steps for us • Build “iSandbox” for template designers to hone their craft. • Identify which classes should be moved into this environment first (for Fall 2010). • Class Roster Integration – PowershellCmdlet. • Purchase hardware to support real use in the classroom. • Start rebuilding labs for the new environment over the summer. • Most importantly: Capture pilot experiences for best practices.

  21. Thank you - Questions? http://michaelfudge.com/lab-manager Or http://bit.ly/fudgelabman

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