Managing Virtual Environments: Big Deal or No-brainer? Andi Mann Research Director Enterprise Management Associates

Session Abstract Whether you have already deployed, are planning to deploy, or are just wondering about virtualization in your data center, this is an absolute must-see session. Anyone can deploy a virtualization solution, but how you manage it can make the critical difference between success and failure. This session will give you actionable examples and recommendations to make that difference, and help you ensure a successful, long-term virtualization strategy. During this session, Andi will present EMA research data and expert analysis on: Key virtualization outcomes -- with data and examples from both good virtualization deployments, and from bad ones Critical virtualization management challenges -- across multiple disciplines, with implications for people, processes, and technology Recommended solutions -- to address the multiple layers of virtualization complexity, and drive positive business outcomes Real-life experiences -- presenting EMA case studies of successful virtualization management approaches

Who Is Enterprise Management Associates (EMA)? Why is EMA Different? Because of the real-world experience of our skilled analysts, our reputation for objectivity and our focused insight into the IT Management market.

EMA’s Practice Areas

Agenda Key Virtualization Outcomes Data and examples from both the good and bad sides of virtualization deployment Key Concerns for Virtual Systems Management (VSM) Across multiple disciplines, with implications for people, processes and technology Recommended VSM Solutions To address the multiple layers of virtualization complexity, and drive positive business outcomes Real-life VSM Experiences EMA case studies of successful virtualization systems management approaches

The Good News: Multiple Use Cases, Positive Outcomes

Not Only For Server Consolidation Source: “Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”, Enterprise Management Associates, 2008“Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”

Not Only In Test And Development Test and development is the leading use case (79% of enterprises) Increasingly a production technology 75% deploy for production app 50% deploy for production Db/web servers Fundamental for mission-critical services Deployments for all workloads have increased since 2006 Source: “Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”, Enterprise“Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations” Management Associates, 2008

Virtualization Delivers Measurable ROI Has your virtualization deployment resulted in real, measurable cost savings? Source: “Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”, Enterprise Management Associates, 2008“Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations” Vast majority report real and measurable cost savings

Virtualization Delivers Multiple Outcomes Source: “Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”, Enterprise Management Associates, 2008“Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”

The Bad News: Multiple Layers of Complexity

Multiple Platforms Source: “Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”, Enterprise Management Associates, 2008“Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”

Multiple Technologies Source: “Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”, Enterprise Management Associates, 2008“Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”

Multiple Vendors Source: “Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”, Enterprise Management Associates, 2008“Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”

Multiple Layers of Complexity Source: “Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”, Enterprise Management Associates, 2008“Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”

Multiple Layers Of Complexity, Multiple Problems

Key Concerns for Virtual Systems Management (VSM)

Key VSM Concern -- Managing VM Sprawl Uncontrolled VM deployment and migration results in: Increased management requirements Software compliance issues Best practice compliance issues Configuration management problems Security and risk exposure Uncontrolled cost Service and performance problems Enterprises must automate and control virtual machine lifecycle processes to prevent these exposures

Key VSM Concern -- Managing Process Coordination Maintaining configuration, patch cycles, availability Connecting dynamic VM environment with existing processes, procedures Compatibility Of human and process interfaces, inputs, outputs Of skill sets and other human issues Of integration and orchestration technologies Of management tools Of versions and releases Source: Enterprise Management Associates

Key VSM Concern -- Security, Audit, Control 41% cited “Improve Security and Control” as a critical driver Only 31% cited Security and Control as an effective outcome Security Administration is the #1 discipline that gets harder in a virtual environment Complexity increases risk and security issues Source: “Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”, Enterprise Management Associates, 2008“Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”

Other VSM Concerns Abstraction and Visualization Managing the Rate of Change Dealing with Complexity Ensuring Consistency Governance and Risk Management Containing Costs Providing Support People and Human Issues Manageability Virtualization is not a silver bullet -- how well you manage it is a critical success factor

Compounding Issue -- Virtualization Skills 25% of all enterprises with virtualization deployments do not have the skills they need Source: “Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”, Enterprise Management Associates, 2008“Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”

Result -- Questionable VSM Satisfaction Only 16% of enterprises with virtualization deployments are completely satisfied with how they manage them Source: “Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”, Enterprise Management Associates, 2008“Virtualization and Management: Trends, Forecasts, and Recommendations”

Recommendations for Effective Virtual Systems Management (VSM)

Virtual Machine Management Recommendations Physical and Virtual Discovery Configuration Audit/Control Change Management Automation Ensure compliance and availability of virtual systems with visibility and control

Performance Management Recommendations Discovery Physical infrastructure monitoring Virtual infrastructure monitoring Operating environment monitoring Connecting the pieces Meet service levels with end-to-end monitoring and control

Automation Reduce MTTR, embed skills, reduce errors Integration Connect platforms, technologies, vendors Orchestration Connect automation and integration React in seamless, automated ways to complex business and IT needs Open Service Request Advise User, Manager External Updates Approval Routing Departmental Coordination IT Process Automation Process Management Recommendations

Enterprise Systems Management Core Recommendation -- Connect Physical Systems Management With Virtual Systems Management Virtual Infrastructure Physical Infrastructure PerformanceMonitoringEventManagementProvisioningChange/ConfigManagement Patch Distribution WorkloadAutomation Asset & InventoryComplianceReportingRemoteControl/OOB Backup & Recovery`DatabaseAutomationDatabaseAutomation Virtual Machine ManagementChargebackAutomation

Core Recommendation -- Connect All Systems Management With Business Objectives Inventory & FulfillmentWeb/ERPApplications Physical & Virtual Systems Management Audit & Control Requirements Sales and MarketingCustomerService ServiceDesk HRManagement Partner/ChannelResources

Virtual Systems Management in the Real World: Selected EMA Case Studies

EMA VSM Case Study: Maintaining Compliance With Virtualization Audit and Control Edfinancial Services “ It has been a huge time saving in validating that the changes the development group said they were making, are the changes that are actually taking place, ” “ When problems happen, we can cover them with fewer people. ” “ It reduced the whole interview with auditors from 3 hours to around 45 minutes. ”

EMA VSM Case Study: Managing VM Sprawl With Virtual Configuration Management Leading North American finance company “ We wrote script after script just to manage the environment. Now we can eliminate them all. I don ’ t have to worry about maintaining them, or keeping a scripter on staff. ” “ Things that would take an hour to understand, now I can have a report in minutes. ” “ [We are] much better at finding changes that are not appropriate. I don ’ t think [the auditors] are going to find any problems this time. ”

EMA VSM Case Study: Managing Resource Utilization with Performance Management Leading global consumer products company “ We were flying blindly … not saving as much as we could ” by deploying a maximum of 4 VMs per core regardless of actual utilization “ We now have better server-to-VM ratios that are based in reality, not just a ‘ best guess. ” “ I can spend less time to get the information that I need. On a monthly basis, this will save me about 5- 6 hours. ”

Questions

Wrap Up

EMA Research Report -- Virtualization And Management: Trends, Forecasts And Recommendations Are Available Now! Over 70 pages of in-depth analysis from April 2008, including over 50 charts representing over 200 data points from over 600 enterprises Comprehensive collection of data, analysis and advice covering all aspects of virtualization and virtualization management The largest, most extensive, most in-depth independent virtualization research study conducted to date First and only research study to provide data-driven long-term trend analyses, forecasts and recommendations on best practices

Includes invaluable four-page reference guide, A Taxonomy of Virtualization To purchase the complete research report, or to learn more about Enterprise Management Associates’ portfolio of services: Telephone: On the Web at EMA Research Report -- Virtualization And Management: Trends, Forecasts And Recommendations Are Available Now!

Thank You For Attending! Achieve IT Management Success with Guidance from EMA