Minneapolis / St. Paul Computer Measurement Group – Spring Virtual(ization) Reality Check James (Jim) Vence Technical Solutions Manager IBM Global Services May 18, 2006

2 Discussion Points IT Optimization Approaches Brief History of Virtualization Intel Virtualization Case History Lessons Learned

3 About The Presenter

4 Standard Disclaimer Time My views do not necessarily reflect those of my employer (even though I am often right about these things !!!)

5 Logical Consolidation / Shared Servers Systems Rationalization Physical Consolidation / Virtualization Three approaches to IT Optimization Do you really need six separate accounting systems? These are not mutually exclusive! Reduce server images, optimal use of HW Reduce physical server footprints, environmentals

6 Physical Consolidation / Virtualization Virtualization adds a layer of abstraction between the applications and the hardware. HTTP C++ DB Hardware Op Sys Virtual OS / Firmware

7 Logical Consolidation / Shared Hosting With “stacking” of applications, applications are closer to the hardware, your server has more cycles to spend on running programs than context switching operating systems. HTTP C++ DB Hardware Operating System

8 A Brief History of Virtualization 1967 – IBM System /370 with Virtual Memory Support 1972 – First release of VS1 – Virtual Memory Operating System 1974 – VM/CMS – First release of “Hypervisor” based OS 1988 – Mainframe PR/SM (Processor Resource/System Manager) 1999 – User-Mode Linux Project started 1999 – Adoption of Storage Area Networks (Storage Virtualization) 1999 – VMWare Workstation Released (later known as GSX) 2001 – VMWare Enterprise Server (ESX) Released 2001 – IBM / HP Support for Logical Partition on Unix technology 2001 – HP support for vPAR (soft partition) technology 2002 – Sun Solaris Container Technology 2003 – IBM SAN Volume Controller Technology

9 Intel Virtualization is in the spotlight Floor Space(*) Intel / VMWare Isolation HW utilization (*) Intel/VMWare: Commodization of HW, Windows and Linux prevalence, VMWare technololgy breakthrough. Isolation: Still provides lines of business with a “my server” feel – easier adoption in the enterprise. HW Utilization (*): Better use of available processor and memory, and I/O for systems with low/moderate I/O requirements. Floor Space(*): Energy, HVAC, Footprint. * While logical consolidation provides the potential for better utilization in these areas, virtualization tends to have a “good enough”, and more favorable to implement benefit.

Minneapolis / St. Paul Computer Measurement Group – Spring Physical (Partitioning, Interconnections) Application Container vm Mgmt Hypervisor Level 2 (Host OS) Level 1 (no Host OS) Para-Virtual CPU Virtualization market for Intel/AMD Servers VT (Vanderpool) Intel Pacifica AMD VMware ESX VMware Server (GSX) Microsoft Virtual Server Sun Solaris Containers Virtuozzo (SWsoft) Xen XenSource IBM Scalability (x445, x460) Virtual Iron (Infiniband) VMware VirtualCenter Virtual Iron Virtual Iron 3 Virtuozzo ESXRanger Higher Mgmt Backup, HA, P2V PlateSpin PowerConvert/Recon Symantec LiveState Veritas VCS VMware P2V IBM VMM HP VMM IBM TSM, TPM, RDM

11 Case History Engaged by financial institution to consolidate server infrastructure and migrate servers to an IBM data center in Southbury, CT. The Server Consolidation project began in March 2004 and will be completed in May 2006.

12 Technologies Used IBM HS20 and HS40 Blade Center IBM HS20 and HS40 Blade Center VMware ESX server 2.5 VMware ESX server 2.5 Virtual Center with VMotion Virtual Center with VMotion Application Stacking Application Stacking IBM Enterprise Storage Solution IBM Enterprise Storage Solution XSeries Servers 445, 360 XSeries Servers 445, 360 pSeries 650 (8-way), 570 (16-way), 520 pSeries 650 (8-way), 570 (16-way), 520

13 Initial Server Environment 700 physical Windows servers/images 700 physical Windows servers/images 30 physical Unix servers and 32 Unix images 30 physical Unix servers and 32 Unix images

14 Consolidation Utilize Blade Center technology, VMware ESX server, and application consolidation to achieve overall server environment consolidation. Utilize Blade Center technology, VMware ESX server, and application consolidation to achieve overall server environment consolidation. Results for Windows: Results for Windows: – Physical Consolidation: 4 to 1 – Logical Consolidation: 2 to 1 Results for UNIX Results for UNIX – Physical Consolidation: 6 to 1 – Logical Consolidation: 2 to 1

15 Application Stacking Application stacking was able to achieve: Application stacking was able to achieve: – A 4 to 1 consolidation of a Citrix Farm – A 3 to 1 consolidation of a Databases – A 2 to 1 consolidation of other Applications – And a 20% reduction of database instances

16 Benefits of the Consolidation Significant reduction in operating cost Significant reduction in operating cost Significant reduction in software license cost Significant reduction in software license cost Less space and facilities costs required Less space and facilities costs required Environment easier to manage Environment easier to manage Improved availability. Improved availability. Fewer Break/Fix problems for applications. Fewer Break/Fix problems for applications.

17 Lessons Learned Processors are seldom the tipping point Processors are seldom the tipping point – Memory, I/O, 32-bit limitations (e.g. file descriptors) Horizontal scaling / n-tier architectures prevalence Horizontal scaling / n-tier architectures prevalence – Vertical scaling and stacking within tiers possible. Consider capacity slush funds: Consider capacity slush funds: – If you virtualize, have an exit plan to standalone – If you consolidate, exit plan for a de-consolidation. – Consider support implications Configuration Management Databases and Systems Configuration Management Databases and Systems Collaboration with application staff (optimize applications) Collaboration with application staff (optimize applications)

Minneapolis / St. Paul Computer Measurement Group – Spring Thank You Jim Vence Certified IT Architect IBM Global Services