QLogic Adapters & Virtualized Environments

QLogic Adapters
&
Virtualized Environments

Better Virtual Machine
Scalability & Performance

MORE VMs PER SERVER
+
MORE APPLICATIONS DEPLOYED
+
BETTER PERFORMANCE

Virtualization Resources

http://www.qlogic.com/info/virtual

2 QLogic Corporation 3/5/2012

Virtualization Supporting Documents – Public Links

http://www.qlogic.com/info/virtual

• Solution Sheets
• http://www.qlogic.com/Resources/Documents/SolutionSheets/Adapters/Solution_Sheet_Enabling_Vi
rtualization.pdf
• http://www.qlogic.com/Resources/Documents/SolutionSheets/Adapters/SolutionSheet_MaximizingD
ataCenterEfficiencywithNPAR.pdf
• White Papers
• http://www.qlogic.com/Resources/Documents/WhitePapers/Adapters/White_Paper_FC_Adapter_of_
Choice_in_VMware_Environment.pdf
• http://www.qlogic.com/Resources/Documents/WhitePapers/Adapters/White_Paper_FC_Adapter_of_
Choice_in_MS_Hyper-V_Environments.pdf
• Competitive Brief
• http://www.qlogic.com/Resources/Documents/CompetitiveBriefs/Adapters/comp_brief_Adapter_of_
Choice_for_Virtualized_Data_Centers.pdf
• Technology Brief
• http://www.qlogic.com/Resources/Documents/TechnologyBriefs/Adapters/TechBrief_VMflex.pdf


Customer Challenges─Virtualized Environments

Deployment of VMware ESX servers for mission critical applications
Increasing Virtual Machine Density & Virtual Machine Sprawl
Application performance & deployment time
Availability─business continuity & uptime
Heterogeneous data center environment
Fast-paced product development cycle
Dynamic workload management
Lack of application awareness
Managing backup and storage
Efficient server utilization
Network Congestion
Scalability


VMflexTM─NIC Partitioning (NPAR)

Multiple Virtual Adapters per physical port
NIC
8 physical functions─4 per port
NIC
Port 1 Concurrent Protocol support:
NIC
Or NIC, iSCSI, FCoE
iSCSI
NIC
Or
FCoE

NIC

NIC
Port 2
NIC
Or
Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation
iSCSI

NIC
Guarantees Provisioning Requirements
Or
FCoE
Oversubscription Capable


Use Case─Virtualized Environment

TCO Reduction
VM-0 VM-1 VM-n • Fewer adapters, cables, & fabrics!
Seamless deployment
• No change to Hypervisors
vNIC vNIC vNIC
• No dependency on fabrics!
Hypervisor
Flexible configuration
• Dynamic bandwidth allocation, sharing
• Resource management in hardware
I/O
Quality of Service
• Differentiation of Traffic
• Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation
• Guarantees Provisioning Requirements
LAN
• Oversubscription
…with NPAR


Use Case─Virtualized Environment

Requirements
VM-0 VM-1 VM-n • Multiple interfaces required
• VM Traffic (vSwitch)
vNIC vNIC vNIC • Management (Low bandwidth, High
priority)
Hypervisor
• VMotion (Backup – High bandwidth)
• Storage interface
I/O
Challenges
• Multiple adapters, cables
• Higher TCO
• Limited I/O slots in blade servers
LAN
…without NPAR


Virtualization─Why QLogic is Better

Benefits: Benefits:
• 60% Reduction in Networking
Infrastructure
• 40% Savings on Power and
Cooling LAN SAN
• Faster Server Deployment Times
IP/Ethernet
10GbE
Fibre Channel
8Gb FC
• Improved Server Utilization
• Increased Processing Density
• Guaranteed Bandwidth
• Deploy More ApplicationsVirtualized Network
within
VMs and meet SLAs (QoS / NPAR)

Virtualization Claims─Scalability and Performance

MORE VMs PER SERVER
+
+
BETTER PERFORMANCE

• The QLogic 2500 series adapter demonstrates up to 44% superior VM
scalability than the Emulex LightPulse 12000 series adapter. The QLogic
adapter continues to scale as VM workloads are increased from two to eight.

• MSFT Hyper-V─The QLogic 2500 series 8Gb Fibre Channel adapter offers up
to 48% higher IOPS and throughput compared to the Emulex LightPulse
12000 series adapter.
• Sequential Read Operations: 48% higher
• Sequential Write Operations: 18% higher
• Sequential Read/Write Operations: 40% higher


Virtualization Claims─Scalability and Performance

MORE VM’s PER SERVER
+
+
BETTER PERFORMANCE

• Virtual Machine Scalability. The QLogic 2500 series 8Gb FC adapter is 54%
faster than the Emulex LightPulse 12000 series adapter. The Emulex product
I/O
• VMware─For data centers deploying virtualization for server consolidation
with VMware, the QLogic 2500 series 8Gb FC adapter offers up to 22%
higher IOPS and throughput compared to the Emulex LightPulse 12000
series adapter.
• Sequential Read Operations: 22% higher
• Sequential Write Operations: 13% higher
• Sequential Read/Write Operations: 14% higher


QLogic vCenter Plug-in

• Manage QLogic adapters from
within VMware vCenter
• Available for VMware vSphere 4.x
and 5.0
• Supports QLogic FC, 10GbE and
Converged Network adapters
• Key Features─Adapter Properties
• Adapter Firmware Upgrades
• Partition 10GbE ports into network
partitions (NPAR)
• Dynamic management of QoS
parameters for Network Partitions


Maximizing Data Center Efficiency─QLogic Technology

• QLogic adapters require fewer CPU cycles
• QLogic delivers superior workload scalability
• Hyper-V & VMware: more VMs per server
• Proven performance
• Infrastructure is more suited for growth
• Faster online maintenance
• Server deployment times reduced
• Backup and restore in less time
• Converged Networking─ConvergeFlex, simultaneous
protocol support
• 30% greater FCoE performance efficiency (IOPS/CPU%)
• Faster Network throughput─15% faster TR at 1500MTU


End User Benefits

• Enable More Applications to be Virtualized
• Improved Service Level Agreement (SLA) Delivery
• Enhanced Productivity─VM growth & scalability
• Protocol Neutrality─Heterogeneous Environments
• Improved Server Deployment Times
• QoS Implementation Advantages
• Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation─improves maintenance times; simplified
management
• Guarantees Provisioning Requirements─higher customer satisfaction
• Oversubscription─more efficient use of bandwidth (lower cost)


Advanced Virtualization Features

Industry standard I/O Virtualization support
• VEB, VEPA, VNTag
“Switch agnostic” NIC Partitioning (NPAR)
• Create up to four virtual ports per physical port
 Virtual ports can be NIC, FCoE, or iSCSI
• Allocate guaranteed bandwidth to each virtual port
 Configuration via pre-boot utilities, QCC, or OS tools
• Works with any 10GbE switch (QLogic unique capability)


The Business Need for VMFlex, NPAR and QoS

"ESG research indicates that just over 30 percent of server virtualization users cited that they will soon have 25 or
more VMs per physical host, dramatically increasing I/O traffic," said Bob Laliberte, senior analyst for ESG. (1)

If not properly managed, I/O can negatively impact application performance and limit the number of virtual
machines (VMs) deployed. I/O bottlenecks and memory performance issues can be reduced by giving VMs
direct access to hardware I/O devices, eliminating the overhead of embedded software switches and improving
system performance (1)

With the ability to create multiple partitions--each supporting TCP/IP, FCoE or iSCSI--and take advantage of
flexible bandwidth provisioning on our 10GbE converged network adapters(1)

Among enterprises currently implementing virtualization, business-critical applications are now beginning to come into
the spotlight. Enterprises are most willing to virtualize Web, database and email applications. But more than
one-third of them are planning to implement virtualization within the next year for business-critical applications
such as HR, accounting and ERP, showing that they are becoming more used to the technology. (2)

(1) http://ir.qlogic.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=85695&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1622450&highlight=
(2) https://www4.symantec.com/mktginfo/whitepaper/Virt_and_Evolution_Cloud_Survey_060811.pdf


A Simple View of the Evolution of Virtualized Environments

Physical Consolidation Physical Consolidation Physical Consolidation Enable VMFlex
of Tier 4 Servers of Connectivity of Connectivity, NPAR, NPAR QoS
(QLE256x) FC, Ethernet FC, iSCSI, Ethernet (QLE82xx)
(QLE81xx) (QLE82xx)

Lower Operating Cost Continued Lower Operating Cost Continued Lower Operating Cost
Adding Tier 3 and Tier 2 servers to mix Adding Tier 1 servers to mix
More focus on SLA’s, Response
Times, Serviceability


What Does Quality of Service Mean?

Basically, Quality of Service (QoS) is
The ability to control and enforce the distribution of finite resources among different entities

The concept of QoS is employed in both network and storage technologies to apply to the distribution of
adapter port bandwidth access among Virtual Machines
 NPAR QoS:
A technology that distributes NIC bandwidth among VMs or applications through NPAR NIC Functions according
to configured parameters
 ETS - Enhanced Transmission Selection:
Allocates Bandwidth on DCB-enabled Ethernet
ETS is Configured at the Switch

• NPIV QoS:
A technology that distributes SAN bandwidth among VMs attached to storage through Fibre Channel or
FCoE, according to configured parameters
• SR-IOV QoS:
A technology that distributes NIC bandwidth among VMs or applications through SR-IOV NIC PFs and
VFs, according to configured parameters


Ecosystem Without NPAR or NPAR QoS

QLogic 8200 CNA without NPAR or NPAR QoS
Scenario:
Six Virtual Machines sharing two single Port
CNA adapters
There are only two NIC Functions for all of
the VMs to share
− No VM has a dedicated NIC Function
− Bandwidth is only available to the VMs
QLogic 8200 CNA
on a first come first serve basis (Single Port)

− There is no guarantee of any portion of
NIC bandwidth being available to any
of the VMs
10GE Switch Datacenter 10GE Switch
Network
This configuration allows for any
of the VMs to be starved of
bandwidth.
FC Storage


Ecosystem With NPAR and NPAR QoS

QLogic 8200 CNA with NPAR and NPAR QoS
Scenario:
Six Virtual Machines sharing two single Port
CNA adapters
There are now six NPAR enabled NIC
Functions available

NPAR provides Additional NIC Functions
Min Min Min Min Min Min
Over Subscription 0% 5% 20% 0% 20% 20% Guaranteed Bandwidth
Max Max Max Max Max Max
20% 40% 100% 20% 40% 40%

VMs can have dedicated NIC Functions QLogic 8200 CNA

NPAR QoS allows each of the NIC Functions to (Single Port)

be guaranteed a user assigned minimum
bandwidth

With oversubscription each of the NIC Functions 10GE Switch Datacenter 10GE Switch
will, if needed, dynamically utilize any bandwidth Network
which is currently unused

A business can now guaranteed an appropriate portion of
bandwidth to a VM to meet SLA’s and Response Time
requirements.
FC Storage

19 QLogic Corporation February 3/5/2012
15, 2012

Putting it into Perspective

To add Tier 1 Applications like ERP, Databases, OLTP and more will require predictably and
consistency.

Delivering demanding Response Time and Service Level Agreement commitments in rapidly
evolving conditions will require more than a Faster Pipe.
 Determining VM’s Performance Profile
 Understanding Network bandwidth demand is dynamic in nature
 VM’s Service Level Agreement will be dependent on Network Bandwidth

Business must be able to flexibility to dynamically shift network bandwidth to
Where it is needed
When it is needed


NPAR QoS Building Blocks

Min & Max QLogic 8200 CNA with NPAR and NPAR QoS

Oversubscription:
Allows the total Maximum Bandwidth to exceed the
iSCSI NIC
physical port’s actual bandwidth
Guaranteed
FC Bandwidth
Min Min Min Min
5% 20% 20% 20%
Maximum Bandwidth setting ~30%
Max
20%
Max
50% ~1%
Max
80%
Max
80%
Determines the Maximum allowable bandwidth to a NIC
Function

Over Subscription
Minimum Bandwidth setting
The sum of all the Minimum settings for the NIC Functions
of a physical port must be less than or equal to 100%
Network
10GE
ETS - Enhanced Transmission Selection
Allocates Bandwidth between CNA and Ethernet Switch
ETS is Configured at the Switch

FC Storage


Scenario 1: Backup Server, Corner Case Examples

Scenario:
This backup Server has two single Port QLE3200 IEA
adapters, each with 4 NIC functions.
Each 10GE pipe is all dedicated to Ethernet Traffic.
A B C D 1 2 3 4
Consider the following conditions: Min Min Min Min Min Min Min Min
0% 0% 0% 10% 25% 25% 25% 25%

Group A,B,C,D: Max Max Max Max Max Max Max Max
20% 20% 40% 100% 30% 30% 30% 30%
The Minimum Bandwidth (Min) is 0% so there are no
Guaranteed Bandwidth allocations, VM’s could be starved.
QLogic 3200 IEA or
If A, B, C are not transferring D may use all the Bandwidth; QLE8200 CNA
(Single Port)
it’s Max 100%., No wasted Bandwidth
If A, B, D are not transferring, C may use up to it’s Max which
is 40% the Bandwidth, leaving 60% wasted.
Group 1,2,3,4: 10GE Switch Datacenter 10GE Switch
The Minimum Bandwidth is 25% so each is Guaranteed up Network

to at least ¼ the pipe.
If 4 does not use it’s bandwidth, the other NPAR Nic’s may
use up to their Max, 30%, leaving 10% wasted.
NAS Storage


Scenario 1: Backup Server, Practical Example

Scenario:
This backup Server has two single Port QLE3200 IEA
adapters, each with 4 NIC functions.
Two 10GE pipes that are fully dedicated to Ethernet Traffic.
A B C D 1 2 3 4
Items to Consider: Min Min Min Min Min Min Min Min
25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25%
 Backups usually occur at the same time, each pipe is
Max Max Max Max Max Max Max Max
currently configured with a Guaranteed equal percentage 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40%
of the bandwidth.
 Should one or two NIC slow the others are Over QLogic 3200 IEA or
Subscribed and can use the freed bandwidth. QLE8200 CNA
(Single Port)
 Monitor the usage of the ports to tune and improve
performance.
QLogic Advantage:
 OS and Switch Agnostic 10GE Switch Datacenter 10GE Switch
 Guaranteed Bandwidth & Over Subscription to fill pipe Network

 Dynamic Adjustment to optimize performance
 Easy to use OS based Tools

NAS Storage


VMWare Says:

Issues with many 1GbE NIC’s per Server Moving to 10GE
In today’s virtualized datacenters networking is typically While the use of a 10GE solution greatly simplifies the
based on large numbers of 1GbE physical connections networking infrastructure there are a few challenges that still
that are used to isolate different types of traffic flows and need to be addressed.
to provide sufficient bandwidth.
Large numbers of GbE network adapters have a number 10GE eliminates 1Gb flow restrictions.
of shortcomings: QLogic’s OverSubscription VM’s are now able to use as
 Limited bandwidth much as 10GbE.
 Excessive complexity Provides a means of optimizing the 10GbE network
 Higher capital costs bandwidth by traffic flows.

 Lower utilization QLogic’s Minimum Bandwidth ensures that latency-sensitive
and critical traffic flows can access the bandwidth they
need.

VMware® Network I/O Control: Architecture, Performance and Best Practices
http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/techpaper/VMW_Netioc_BestPractices.pdf


VMware Network I/O Control: Performance and Best Practices

Before deployment, Assess Applications to be deployed.
 Are there Service Level Agreement requirements?
 Determine Peak Bandwidth Usage
 Determine Maximum Acceptable End User Response Times to gauge Minimum Guaranteed Bandwidth

Provision Typical Deployment of VMWare feature NIC Bandwidth

Below are typical bandwidth values with ESX 4.x
Network Traffic NIC Bandwidth Provisioning
Management Traffic 2Gb
Virtual Machine Traffic 2–4Gb
*vMotion Traffic 1Gb
FT Traffic 1Gb
iSCSI Traffic 2Gb
*NFS Traffic 2Gb
*These applications’ performance are highly network
dependent, have very dynamic network bandwidth demands, and
greatly affect SLA delivery.


Scenario 2: VMWare, based on typical deployment

Scenario: QLogic 8200 CNA with NPAR and NPAR QoS
Five Virtual Machines sharing two single Port CNA adapters utilizing both FCoE
and Ethernet Bandwidth A C D E B
Two VMs have SLAs and need a minimum guaranteed bandwidth of 2Gb
Three VMs are industry Apps with no SLAs
MG VM FT

NPAR enables Multiple Virtual NICs for assignment
Typical Bandwidth Allocations:
NPAR QoS allows Max of the NIC functions to be
NPAR Min
each
Max Bandwidth
guaranteed
NIC
Function an%assigned minimum bandwidth
% 5Gb (50/50) FC 1 2 3 FC 4 5 6
1 VMWare B have required guaranteed bandwidth
VMs A and 40 40 2Gb QLogic 8200 CNA
VMWare services have typical bandwidth allotments
Mgmt
VMWare
(Single Port)

With Vmotion 10 60 each.5/6Gb NIC Functions will, if
2
oversubscription of the
needed, dynamically utilize any bandwidth which is
3 VM-A 40 100 2Gb
currently unused 40
4 VM-C,D,E 20 2Gb

5
Configuration40 100 adjusted without rebooting
VM-B can be 2Gb
VMWare Network
QLogic FT
6 Advantage:
20 20 1Gb
OS and Switch Agnostic
Guaranteed Bandwidth & Over Subscription to fill pipe
Dynamic Adjustment to optimize performance
Easy to use OS-based Tools FC Storage


NPAR QoS

Key Benefits
 Ensures critical applications are never starved of NIC bandwidth
 No Wasted IO Resources
• Allows dynamic distribution of NIC bandwidth among applications
Supports the ability to enforce SLAs
• Minimum and Maximum bandwidth work to guarantee IO accessibility
Provides independent configuration for each physical port
OS and Switch Agnostic


Summary

Operating System and Switch Agnostic
No Vendor Lock-in

Guaranteed Reserved Bandwidth
and Over Subscription for
Maximum Bandwidth Access

Live Dynamic Adjustment
No Reboot Required

Easily Accessible Operating System Integrated
Tools


Solution in Action – Enterprise Database Warehouse


Contact Us

For more information, contact solutions@qlogic.com

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© 2012 QLogic Corporation. Specifications are subject to change without notice. All rights reserved worldwide. QLogic, the QLogic logo, VMflex, ConvergeFlex, and FlexOffload are registered
trademarks of QLogic Corporation. Brocade is a registered trademark of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. Emulex is a registered trademark of Emulex Corporation. Microsoft and Microsoft
Exchange are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. VMware and vMotion are registered trademarks of VMware, Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners. Information supplied by QLogic Corporation is believed to be accurate and reliable. QLogic Corporation assumes no responsibility for any errors in this
presentation. QLogic Corporation reserves the right, without notice, to make changes in product design or specifications.


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