Getting VMs in Shape with data-driven workflows in CA Process Automation

World®
’16
Getting VMs in Shape With Data-Driven
Workflows in CA Process Automation
Keith Sturkie - Sr. Operations Engineer - Unum
MFX156S
MAINFRAME AND WORKLOAD AUTOMATION

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Abstract
Virtual machines (VMs) that have been over provisioned with too many CPUs or too much RAM
can be big and slow and really drag down your virtual environment. VMs that are under
provisioned cause stability issues and headaches for the customer. Finding the right size for your
VMs can be difficult and time consuming. At Unum, our VMs have hit the gym to get in shape
and perform at their best with automated VM rightsizing. Using CA Process Automation, we
have developed orchestrations to tie together monitoring systems, approvals, VM maintenance
and reporting to make a lean, mean rightsizing machine. But not only are the VMs more
efficient, but also the workflows themselves have been engineered to be efficient. By allowing
the data to drive the workflows, we are able to leverage workflows only when they are needed
and sprint to the finish. Utilizing this process, Unum has seen tremendous savings within our
virtual hosting environment, consistency and accountability with server ownership, and reliable,
repeatable and agile automation. Join us to learn how you can realize savings and increase
density though the optimization of your virtual environment through VM rightsizing. Using data
to drive workflows allows for smaller, more efficient workflows that can shorten the time of a
process, perform just-in-time work and create flexibility with your processes
Keith Sturkie
Unum
Sr. Operations Engineer

Agenda
WHAT IS VM RIGHTSIZING?
THE PROCESS OF VM RIGHTSIZING
USING DATA-DRIVEN WORKFLOWS
REAPING THE REWARDS
1
2
3
4
Q & A5

Why VM Rightsizing?
Too Big
• Inflated total cost of ownership
• Reduced efficiency in hosting environment
• CPU Ready and other performance issues
Too Small
• Performance and stability issues

The Process of VM Rightsizing
Driven by CA Process Automation
Collect the Data
Review and Approve
Process Changes

§ Get data from external sources (Foglight and SCOM)
§ Parse the data and load into database
§ Apply rightsizing data (exclusions, reboot?, scheduling)
§ Start review and approval processes
Collect the Data

§ Operations Engineer reviews all recommendations and selects
which ones to proceed with
§ Server owner reviews recommendation and scheduling
§ Server owner provides final approval
Review and Approve

§ More than just adding or removing resources
– Setting Maintenance window in monitoring
– Closing change tickets
– Notifying server owner when it starts and completes
§ Verifying the changes and notification of errors
§ Communication
Process Changes

§ Timing
– From data collection to processing can be around 2 weeks
– Having HA applications remain HA
§ Quantity
– Processing of hundreds of servers
– Managing the load placed on VM hosting environment
§ Data-driven workflows to the rescue!
Managing the Process

Using Data-Driven Workflows
§ Three different types of processes
– Data gatherer
– Processor
– Monitor
§ Process execution determined by data not by timing
CA Process Automation

Example: Rightsize 60 Servers in 3 20 Server Batches
§ Time-driven
– All processes start at the
beginning of the rightsize
workflow
– When timing is correct,
continue the process
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Number of Processes
Number of Processes

Example: Rightsize 60 Servers in 3 20 Server Batches
§ Data-driven
– Single process executes to see
if there is work to be done
– When work is ready, processes
are started and finish
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Number of Processes
Number of Processes

§ Reduction in the number of concurrent processes
§ Agility
– Code
– Processing
– Data
Realizing the Benefits

Reaping the Rewards
VM Rightsizing and Data-Driven Workflows
§ Rightsizing
– Servers processed: 1223
– vCPUs recovered: 1525
– GB RAM recovered: 345
§ Single-size server
provisioning
§ Reporting and history
§ Data-driven workflows
– Process 60 rightsizes in an
hour while governed
– Reduction in concurrent
processes
– Process and data agility

Questions?

Experiences
The sizing of VMs to their
needs and not a customer’s
wants creates a healthy
environment.
Key Topics
VM Rightsizing
Data-Driven Workflows
Findings
Data-Driven workflows allow
the processing of CA Process
Automation processes on an
as-needed basis. This creates a
great reduction in concurrent
processes and adds agility to
your workflows.
Summary
A Few Words to Review

Thank you.
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