Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Virtual Server Terms: Virtual Host Server – Physical Hardware running Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 DatacenterEdition X64 with Virtual Server 2005 R2 X64 application installed. Virtual Guest Servers – Servers running various operating systems on the Virtual Host Server. Each Virtual Guest Server is usually comprised of 3 – 4 files. ISO - An ISO image or .ISO file is a computer file that contains the complete contents of a CD or DVD. ISO images are often created to backup a CD or distribute CD's over the Internet or other network. They can be used by Virtual Server 2005 as a mounted CD or DVD within a Virtual Guest Server. Terminal Services Client – Utility built into XP and an add-on to Windows 2000 to access remote servers or virtual guest servers for administration. PCAnywhere – Third-party utility for remote control administration of server or virtual guest servers Virtual Machine Remote Control Client – A Microsoft utility for remote control administration that allows BIOS level access to virtual guest servers.

Virtual Server Terms:

Virtual Host Server – Physical Hardware running Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 DatacenterEdition X64 with Virtual Server 2005 R2 X64 application installed.

Virtual Guest Servers – Servers running various operating systems on the Virtual Host Server. Each Virtual Guest Server is usually comprised of 3 – 4 files.

ISO - An ISO image or .ISO file is a computer file that contains the complete contents of a CD or DVD. ISO images are often created to backup a CD or distribute CD's over the Internet or other network. They can be used by Virtual Server 2005 as a mounted CD or DVD within a Virtual Guest Server.

Terminal Services Client – Utility built into XP and an add-on to Windows 2000 to access remote servers or virtual guest servers for administration.

PCAnywhere – Third-party utility for remote control administration of server or virtual guest servers

Virtual Machine Remote Control Client – A Microsoft utility for remote control administration that allows BIOS level access to virtual guest servers.

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Introduction: There are a number of reasons for considering Virtual Servers as a solution to the growing number of Windows machines in the data center. A few of these are: Better utilization of hardware A reduction in the number of physical servers and supporting hardware Greater Flexibility and Fault-Tolerance Reduced overall cost and speed to implement servers It is important to remember that while Virtual Servers provide significant hardware cost savings, there is still a requirement to license all application and operating system software.* * As of October 2 nd 2006 All Virtual Guest Servers running on a Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition host are free.

Introduction:

There are a number of reasons for considering Virtual Servers as a solution to the growing number of Windows machines in the data center. A few of these are:

Better utilization of hardware

A reduction in the number of physical servers and supporting hardware

Greater Flexibility and Fault-Tolerance

Reduced overall cost and speed to implement servers

It is important to remember that while Virtual Servers provide significant hardware cost savings, there is still a requirement to license all application and operating system software.*

* As of October 2 nd 2006 All Virtual Guest Servers running on a Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition host are free.

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Better Utilization of Hardware: The Servers proposed for the virtual server environment typically use only a small portion of their processor and memory. Examples: Typical Test Server or production Web Server may use 1% – 3% of their CPU at peak times. Memory utilization for most servers is a fraction of the standard 1GB – 1.5GB of RAM. By bringing these servers into a virtual environment and sharing resources from the virtual host system, these servers will better utilize the virtual host hardware and potentially provide better overall performance for the virtual guest server.

Better Utilization of Hardware:

The Servers proposed for the virtual server environment typically use only a small portion of their processor and memory.

Examples:

Typical Test Server or production Web Server may use 1% – 3% of their CPU at peak times.

Memory utilization for most servers is a fraction of the standard 1GB – 1.5GB of RAM.

By bringing these servers into a virtual environment and sharing resources from the virtual host system, these servers will better utilize the virtual host hardware and potentially provide better overall performance for the virtual guest server.

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Reduction in the Number of Physical Servers and Supporting Hardware: Current Virtual Host hardware will support between 10 and 14 servers (DL380 G4, Dual 3.4GHz Processors, 8/12GB RAM, 300GB Data Drive) Supporting infrastructure hardware is reduced KVM switches (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) PDU (power distribution unit) Racks Reduction in Power requirements Reduction in BTU output Reduction in Noise

Reduction in the Number of Physical Servers and Supporting Hardware:

Current Virtual Host hardware will support between 10 and 14 servers (DL380 G4, Dual 3.4GHz Processors, 8/12GB RAM, 300GB Data Drive)

Supporting infrastructure hardware is reduced

KVM switches (Keyboard, Video, Mouse)

PDU (power distribution unit)

Racks

Reduction in Power requirements

Reduction in BTU output

Reduction in Noise

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Greater Flexibility and Fault-Tolerance Flexibility: Backups Shadow copy can take a snapshot of entire virtual host data drive in a matter of minutes. Short period of application downtime needed Restores - Potential to restore complete servers from any previous day in a matter of minutes instead of hours/days Single file restores can be handled in various ways Undo Options A test server or second test server can be created by shutting down the current virtual guest server, copying files, and remounting those files as another server Increase virtual guest resources in the time of a reboot (RAM, Number of NICs, etc.)

Greater Flexibility and Fault-Tolerance

Flexibility:

Backups

Shadow copy can take a snapshot of entire virtual host data drive in a matter of minutes. Short period of application downtime needed

Restores

- Potential to restore complete servers from any previous day in a matter of minutes instead of hours/days

Single file restores can be handled in various ways

Undo Options

A test server or second test server can be created by shutting down the current virtual guest server, copying files, and remounting those files as another server

Increase virtual guest resources in the time of a reboot (RAM, Number of NICs, etc.)

Greater Flexibility and Fault-Tolerance Flexibility (Continued): Increase of disk space without purchase of new drives Movement of virtual guest servers to another virtual host server in minutes Movement of virtual guest to balance resource allocation of various virtual hosts Virtual Host can house virtual guest servers on internal network and DMZ simultaneously Shorter timeframe between server Approval and Implementation Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC

Greater Flexibility and Fault-Tolerance

Flexibility (Continued):

Increase of disk space without purchase of new drives

Movement of virtual guest servers to another virtual host server in minutes

Movement of virtual guest to balance resource allocation of various virtual hosts

Virtual Host can house virtual guest servers on internal network and DMZ simultaneously

Shorter timeframe between server Approval and Implementation

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Greater Flexibility and Fault-Tolerance Fault-Tolerance: Virtual Host Server Redundant Power Supplies Mirrored System Disks EVA attached RAID 5 Data Disks 3 NICs available for Virtual Guest Servers (4 total) Fault-Tolerant Design Virtual Guest Servers can be moved to an alternate Virtual Host Server if eminent failure of host is detected If a complete failure of the Virtual Host Server occurs, EVA attached Disks can be redirected to a functioning host and brought back online in a short period of time.

Greater Flexibility and Fault-Tolerance

Fault-Tolerance:

Virtual Host Server

Redundant Power Supplies

Mirrored System Disks

EVA attached RAID 5 Data Disks

3 NICs available for Virtual Guest Servers (4 total)

Fault-Tolerant Design

Virtual Guest Servers can be moved to an alternate Virtual Host Server if eminent failure of host is detected

If a complete failure of the Virtual Host Server occurs, EVA attached Disks can be redirected to a functioning host and brought back online in a short period of time.

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Reduced Overall Cost to Implement Servers: Reduction in cost of physical server hardware for lower resource intensive applications Approx cost of Standard DL360 G4 = $3500 Approx cost of a DL380 Virtual Host server = $12,000 3.5 virtual guest servers to cover cost of entire virtual host server. Reduction in power requirements Reduction in cooling requirements Reduction of physical space requirements Virtual Guest Server licensing costs (OS*, SQL, etc.) would remain the same * As of October 2 nd 2006 All Virtual Guest Servers running on a Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition host are free.

Reduced Overall Cost to Implement Servers:

Reduction in cost of physical server hardware for lower resource intensive applications

Approx cost of Standard DL360 G4 = $3500

Approx cost of a DL380 Virtual Host server = $12,000

3.5 virtual guest servers to cover cost of entire virtual host server.

Reduction in power requirements

Reduction in cooling requirements

Reduction of physical space requirements

Virtual Guest Server licensing costs (OS*, SQL, etc.) would remain the same

* As of October 2 nd 2006 All Virtual Guest Servers running on a Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition host are free.

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Systems Proposed to move to Virtual: Tier A Test and Development servers POL North/South Test IDX Web Framework South Test Low/Medium resource Infrastructure servers Web Servers MSDE or certain low transactional SQL servers . Tier B Low/Medium resource Application servers Web Servers Various Low/Medium resource vendor applications. Tier C Low/Medium resource Application servers MSDE or certain low transactional SQL servers.

Systems Proposed to move to Virtual:

Tier A

Test and Development servers

POL North/South Test

IDX Web Framework South Test

Low/Medium resource Infrastructure servers

Web Servers

MSDE or certain low transactional SQL servers .

Tier B

Low/Medium resource Application servers

Web Servers

Various Low/Medium resource vendor applications.

Tier C

Low/Medium resource Application servers

MSDE or certain low transactional SQL servers.

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC List of Current and Proposed Virtual Servers: DH318 WINS - Primary 10 A DH338 Profile Server 10 A DH509 Patient Online South Web Server 10 A DH517 Referring Physician MBE 10 A DH518 REX 10 A DH521 CodeMaster 10 A DH530 Cerner File Server 10 A DH532 Cerner 10 A DH545 HPA/APC Server 10 A DH567 Paging System MDR1 10 A DH571 Ansos 10 A DH588 Patient Online North Web Server 10 A DH593 Central Sterile 10 A DH615 Pedi-Neo Server 10 A

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Backup Strategy: Multi-tiered Backup Scheme Virtual Server COM Object Scripting Efficient use of Tape Library Backup Daily, Weekly and Monthly restores Simple and Easy Disaster Recovery

Backup Strategy:

Multi-tiered Backup Scheme

Virtual Server COM Object Scripting

Efficient use of Tape Library Backup

Daily, Weekly and Monthly restores

Simple and Easy Disaster Recovery

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC DEMO: Administration Web Console Virtual Machine Remote Control Client Virtual Server COM Object Programming Capabilities VSBrowser - Patrick Dyke Shadow Copy Backups – Terry Ball

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC What did it Cost?: Break-down of Hardware and Software savings over deploying a standard physical server.

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Tier of Guest Servers Virtual Host DL380 G4 Cost Disk Array/EVA Usage Cost Backup Infrastructure Usage Cost Number of Server Per Virtual Host Average Cost of Server if it were on New Physical Hardware Hardware (A Only) Cost if New Hardware Were Purchased Cost Minus Hardware Investments One-Time Saving of Hardware Per Virtual Guest Server** Tier A/B $12,000 $0 $0 10 $3,500 $35,000 $23,000 $2,300 Tier A $12,000 $0 $0 14 $3,500 $49,000 $37,000 $2,643 Tier of Guest Servers Virtual Host DL585 Cost Disk Array/EVA Usage Cost Backup Infrastructure Usage Cost Number of Server Per Virtual Host Average Cost of Server if it were on New Physical Hardware Hardware (A + B) Cost if New Hardware Were Purchased Cost Minus Hardware Investments** One-Time Saving of Hardware Per Virtual Guest Server** Tier B $22,500 $10,000 $0 17 $4,500 $76,500 $44,000 $2,588 Tier A/B $22,500 $10,000 $0 28 $4,500 $126,000 $93,500 $3,339 Type of Virtual Host W2K3 R2 Datacenter Edition Licensing Cost Per Processor (EA) Number of Processors OS Licence Cost Per Server Number of Guests Cost of Guest OS (EA) OS License Cost for Guest Servers License Savings of Host OS Minus Guest OS One-Time Saving of Hardware and Software Per Virtual Guest Server** Virtual Host DL380 G4 $1,869.12 2 $3,738.24 10 $660.00 $6,600.00 $2,861.76 $2,586.18 Virtual Host DL380 G4 $1,869.12 2 $3,738.24 14 $660.00 $9,240.00 $5,501.76 $3,035.84 Virtual Host DL585 $1,869.12 4 $7,476.48 17 $660.00 $11,220.00 $3,743.52 $2,808.44 Virtual Host DL585 $1,869.12 4 $7,476.48 28 $660.00 $18,480.00 $11,003.52 $3,732.27

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Disadvantages/Risks of Virtualizing More complex hardware with a large price tag. Larger amount of data to backup due to fixed disk configuration Virtual Host System failure could mean a large number of servers down at once. Balancing the load of all guest servers can be tricky and requires ongoing performance monitoring of the virtual host systems. Infrastructure applications can cause problems with your virtual hosts. i.e. Symantec scheduled scans 20% CPU resource hit against 12 servers adds up to a number well about 100% No physical server to walk up to. There is no need to do this, but those responsible for the application on the server are used to having something physically in front of them. Is the virtualization layer making my application run incorrectly? Most likely No, but maybe.

Disadvantages/Risks of Virtualizing

More complex hardware with a large price tag.

Larger amount of data to backup due to fixed disk configuration

Virtual Host System failure could mean a large number of servers down at once.

Balancing the load of all guest servers can be tricky and requires ongoing performance monitoring of the virtual host systems.

Infrastructure applications can cause problems with your virtual hosts. i.e. Symantec scheduled scans 20% CPU resource hit against 12 servers adds up to a number well about 100%

No physical server to walk up to. There is no need to do this, but those responsible for the application on the server are used to having something physically in front of them.

Is the virtualization layer making my application run incorrectly? Most likely No, but maybe.

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Where do we go from here? Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 – New Features Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager Virtual Servers at the hardware level. Hardware partitioning. Partitioning physical resources to servers.

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Common Virtual Server Technologies: Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/software/default.mspx VMWare http://www.vmware.com/products/server/ XenSource http://www.xensource.com/ Virtuozzo http://www.swsoft.com/products/virtuozzo/

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC Other tools: Automated Deployment Services http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/ads/default.mspx Virtual Server Migration Toolkit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/evaluation/vsmt.mspx Volume Shadow Copy Service SDK 7.2 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0B4F56E4-0CCC-4626-826A-ED2C4C95C871&displaylang=en

Virtual Server Design and Implementation at DHMC QUESTIONS?