datacenter optimization server virtualization

Datacenter Optimization Server Virtualization

Dirk Holzwarth

Alstom

Overview

The way to the Virtualisation

Present Situation

“Single Point” of Administration

The Challenge

The Workflows

ALSTOM Core Business

Rail Transport

Power

ALSTOM Power Turnkey Power Plants

Coal Handling

BoilerFeedwaterCondenserPreheater

Fly Ash Handling

ESP

Turbogroup(Turbine & Generator)

Transformer

E&C Switchyard

(T&D) Switchboards

(LV,MV)

ALSTOM Transport

IT at ALSTOM

Run as an internal business since 2001

ITIL processes adopted for service delivery

Delivering year on year cost reduction

Service in three regionsAmericaNorth EuropeSouth Europe

Key Figures

14 Countries

37,000 Desktops

2995 Servers

2494 Intel Servers1763 Physical / 731 Virtual

1,200 Staff

The way to the Virtualisation

Server Sprawl

Pressure to reduce operating costsMany physical locationsApplications requiring dedicated serversLow utilisation of existing server estate

12% CPU utilisation across 1,300 serversTime to provision new infrastructure

ProcurementCommissioning

Changing business requirements

Server Virtualisation Solution

Virtualisation with VMware provided demonstrable benefits following a 6 week evaluation in 2002Adopted as primary Intel platform for Windows/Linux workloads

Infrastructure Benefits

Fewer SAN connectionsFewer Network portsLess wasted disk spaceLower server costsFewer datacenter resources

Process Benefits

Server provisioning < 1hrStaff focus on value add activitiesSimplified recoveryLower costs overall

Server Virtualisation

ESXLotus Notes

Active Directory

Altiris

NetIQ App Mgr

alstom.com

intranet

Citrix

LiveLink

ESX

ESX

ESX

GSX

GSX

GSXLotus Notes

Active DirectoryDHCP/DNS

Altiris PS

Lotus NotesActive Directory

DHCP/DNSAltiris PSFile/Print

SAN

VirtualCenter

Datacenter Remote Sites

Remote Site Infrastructure

Objective to simplify the infrastructure and physical presenceSingle server/cluster running all site servicesTechnology

VMware GSX ServerHP Proliant DL380

Supporting sites of up to 300 usersFully manageable remotely

Admin & supportServer installs or rebuilds

Present Situation

Facts & Figures (Northern Europe)

625 Guest VM’s33 SMP

24 ESX Hosts5 x 2 CPU

17 x 4 CPU2 x 8 CPU

38 GSX Hosts13 x 1 CPU Single Server21 x 2 CPU Single Server2 x 1 CPU Package Cluster2 x 2 CPU Package Cluster


625 Guest VM’s33 SMP


17 x 4 CPU2 x 8 CPU


41 % of all Intel Servers

in the Region North

are already Virtual

Facts & Figures (Northern Europe)625 Guest VM’s

33 SMP


11 x 4 CPU6 x 8 CPU


1

10

100

1000

Jun 05

Jul 0

5Aug 05Sep

05

Okt 05

Nov 05Dez 0

5

Jan 0

6

Feb 06

Mrz 06

Apr 06

Mai 06

Jun 06

Jul 0

6Aug 06Sep

06

Okt 06

Guest VM`sSMPESX HostsGSX Hosts


Guest Systems (GSX & ESX HOSTS)Usage of the 625 Guest VM’s CPU Memory• Average over all 6% 20%• Average top 10% 63% 93%

Uptime of the 625 Guest VM’s• Average over all 92 days• Average top 10% 360 days (max. 361 days)


GSX Host SystemsUsage of … CPU Memory • Average over all 17% 65%• Average top 10 38% 91%

Uptime of the GSX Hosts• Average over all 14 days• Average top 10% 24 days (max. 34 days)


ESX Host SystemsUsage of … CPU Memory • Average over all 37% 12%• Average top 10 60% 17%

Uptime of the ESX Hosts• Average over all 81 days• Average top 10% 161 days (max. 361 days)

“Single Point” of Administration

Common VCC Region North

One centralized tool – VirtualCenter - for a decentralized administrationAdministrators of different countries working with one tool and can support each other

Virtual CenterManagement Console

Common VCC Region North

Not only the sites in Europe are managed, also the construction sites orbranch offices in e.g. Argentina, Egypt, Malaysia or Bulgaria Common look and feel over the whole structure

The Challenge

The Challenge

In Alstom, all IT development is done once in each Region and documented in a so called Ready-to-deploy-kit (R2DK)

All ESX- and GSX- Hosts are installed in the same way!

The Guest Servers are not installed in the same way everywhere!

The Processes for the installation of the Hosts are the same, but not for the service!

Targets for 2006 is, to standardise all work around the VirtualCenter

The Challenge

In 2005 we had some optionsDo all installation with a common, process based installation guide • Too complicated to do it manually• Too costly in the service• Administrators will not use the manual approach every time

Using unique templates• Even with templates different installations because of different environments

(e.g. not everywhere ADS)• Very cost intensive to keep all the templates up to date (Patch level;

Antivirus)

Automatic installation by scripts• Even with the knowledge of the software deployment tools ALTIRIS and

ENTEO, still very complicated• The software distribution comes after the deployment of a server and is

usually decentralise

The Challenge

At VMWorld 2005 we drew the attention of a Swiss company whichhas developed a workflow software around the VirtualCenter

After a one week evaluation, Alstom purchased the product VS-O fromdunes technologies SA

The first two challenges where tomake a internationally automated provisioning of ESX guest serversmake a process based backup (consistent, while the server is running) and restore of guest servers

The Workflows

The Workflows

Automated manipulation from VMs on ESX ServersWEB front-end for VM Server requestStandardizes Templates Country specific changes over WMIWorkflow dispatching over Lotus Notes

All based on VS-O from dunes technologies SA

The Workflows

What is VS-O? Virtual service orchestration software solution for VMware VirtualCenter

Integrated development platform based on open standards

Enables rapid design, validation and integration of businessprocesses into the virtualized datacenter

Integration of virtual infrastructure as well as physical systems

The Workflows

Customized Solutions for

ProvisioningMigrationBackupFailoverDisaster Recovery Monitoring

Enhanceable withUser-activated WorkflowsEvent-driven PoliciesScheduled Tasks

Process Automation for Virtual Infrastructure

Automation Engine

Dunes Library

VMware

Backup DisasterRecovery

Consultant Library

Enterprise Library

Provisioning

Effective Solutions forServer ConsolidationBusiness ContinuityBusiness AgilityDevelopment & Test

The Workflows

Overview

Development Process

For introduction of a workflow we use the Release Management based on ITIL

Each developer has own development environment built up with VMware Workstation. In the development environment, the workflows are developed and the first tests are made.

Before going to production, we test the new workflows in our test environment. This is a non-production copy of our standard service environment.

After successfully testing we apply the workflows to production environment.

Development Testing Service

Testing Environment

Testing environment is replica of production environment. This is necessary to do testing that is close to real-life .That means, we can do in production, what we can in testing environment.

Testing environment equipment:

VirtualCenter 1.4

2 x ESX Server 2.5.3

SAN with about 500GB

VirtualCenter 2.0

2 x ESX Server 3.0

SAN with about 460GB

Microsoft W2k3 Cluster for use with GSX / VMware-Server

To have a separate test environment is very important while using automated workflows:

You can do everything with workflows.

Build up, Change and Destroy !

Testing Environment

SAN Storage

GSX / VMware ServerW2k3 Cluster

VI3 / ESX3 Server

ESX2 Server

VSO-Client

Here you have a look at the VSO-Client start window

VSO-Client

Start a Workflow

Backup Workflow

Scheduled and manual hot-backups of virtual machinesManageable over VS-O Client or Webbrowser

Provisioning Workflow

Target:People of the IT-Department should have an easy way to request new

machines with only supplying a few parameters:

Operating system typeVirtual Machine configuration (RAM, disk space)IP Configuration, Server name, domainLocation


Solution:Create basic templates for each supported OS. The templates include the basic configuration and applications necessary for all countries at ALSTOM, e.g. Microsoft patches, virus scanner, support tools, ...Build a “Custom configuration package” for each countryThe “Custom configuration package” includes all country specificsettings and configurations, e.g. EPO Server, SNMP Settings, ...These settings are applied within the workflow over WMI to the new virtual machine, after the basic template is deployed. Develop a workflow in VS-OThe workflow in VS-O provides the GUI (VS-O Client, Webbrowser) for the users and manages the provisioning of the new machine.


ITInfrastructure

Request

FinanceApp Team

SalesApp Team

Server Request:NeedsTimeBudget

Approve

IT Security IT Manager

Server Approval:SecurityTimeBudget

PlanIT SpecialistIT Manager

Server Planning:CapacityTimeBudget

Supply

IT Operator

IT QA

Provision


Overview of deployment workflow:


Example of provisioning workflow: VM request


Email to approver:


Approval in Workflow:


Workflow in client view:

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