Virtualization and Hosting
Agenda What is Virtualization? Best Practices Should I do it? Case Study - Tenmast Hosting Tenmast Data Center Demo & Questions
What is Virtualization? “…Creating a simulated version of hardware platforms, operating systems, storage devices, and computer network resources.” Centralize administrative tasks while improving scalability and workloads. 3 Types: Network Storage Server Why?
Consider This…. Hardware Compatibility Oversubscription/Performance BIOS settings – support virtualization Oversubscription/Performance Virtual machines run in a "layer" on a host system There will always be some level of performance sacrifice My advice…before you buy, virtualize something! Compatibility – Servers need to be consistent with similar specs – server needs to be able to support virtualization (BIOS Settings) Oversubscription/Performance – always some sacrifice to performance
Picking a Platform Linux Windows Server VM Ware Citrix Hyper-V What you select what to install is determined by what type of environment that you are using. Once you install one you are going to have the GUI of the platform that you select. One pro Linux has over Windows is that it has less overhead. Windows Server takes up resources in order to run leaving less to run your virtual machines while requires fewer resources to run.
Benefits of Hosting It’s easy! You don’t have to worry about managing the server, creating users, updates, security, backups, or hardware upgrades Quicker access to solve your issues. Tenmast has immediate and intimate knowledge of your server 99.99% Network Uptime
Benefits of Hosting Load balancing and redundant applications You can work from anywhere with internet access without issue Your database and hardware is under constant performance monitoring 24/7/365 Restarting the physical machine or work station will not always resolve the issue
Hosting Lessons Learned Virtualization can introduce obstacles Printing/Drivers Expansion/Oversubscription Where did we start? Where are we today?
Tenmast Hosting - Printing Problem: Printers Drivers Client
Tenmast Hosting - Printing Solution: TSPRINT
Expansion/Oversubscription Original Design 2 servers for several clients Goal: Cost Savings Future Plans Redesign Load balanced applications for all clients Resources are allocated as needed
Where did we start and are we today? Then: <75 Users Then: 1Gbps Then: 2 Servers Then: <1TB 2016: ~2100 Users 2016: 10Gbps 2016: ~ 300 Servers 2016: 100TB 2017: ~2700 Users 2017: 10Gbps 2017: ~ 400 Servers 2017: 150TB
What’s does it all mean? Demo!