SolarWinds Federal User Group 2016 - Optimizing SolarWinds Orion
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In this 2016 online Federal User Group presentation Kevin M. Sparenberg, Product Manager – Online Demos, SolarWinds, discusses his recommendations for optimizing SolarWinds Orion installations. Kevin has completed nearly 100 Orion installations, and he reviews the best practices he’s developed over the years. Topics include: planning, prepping the system for SolarWinds Orion, configuring the web server and using the installation and configuration wizards.
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SolarWinds Federal User Group 2016 - Optimizing SolarWinds Orion
- 1. OPTIMIZING SOLARWINDS® ORION® 2016 FEDERAL USER GROUP KEVIN SPARENBERG PRODUCT MANAGER SOLARWINDS RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FIELD
- 2. • Product Manager for SolarWinds online demo • Experience • 10+ years experience with Orion • thwack® MVP • Managed network and critical applications in a global environment • PowerShell™ enthusiast and “accidental” DBA • Finding me online • Twitter®: @KMSigma • Thwack: https://thwack.solarwinds.com/people/KMSigma • Blog: http://blog.kmsigma.com/ ABOUT ME & HOW TO FIND ME © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 3. • Prerequisites: • Have a basic knowledge of… • Windows Server® operating systems • Microsoft® Internet Information Services (IIS™) • Recommendations: • Servers • Windows® 2012 R2 for all servers • Remote Microsoft SQL Server® (2014 SP1) • Schedule a change management window • Changes will require service or server restarts – plan ahead • Vocabulary: • Role - noun: one of the installation types for SolarWinds Orion; being Main Polling Engine, Additional Polling Engine, or Additional Web Engine • Disclaimer: these are recommendations – not all may be applicable RECOMMENDATIONS & PREREQUISITES AND VOCABULARY AND A DISCLAIMER © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 4. Will Building servers for each Role Optimizing each Role General guidelines for SQL Server General guidelines for virtualization WHAT WILL/WON’T WE COVER? Won’t Polling limits Multiple product installations SQL Server buildout Stress testing servers Server virtualization pros/cons Licensing © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 5. • Roles are the installer types for Orion • Orion Server/Main Polling Engine (MPE) • Additional Polling Engine (APE) • Additional Web Engine (AWE) • Simply put: each installation performs node polling, serving the web pages, or both ORION ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEW ROLES WITHIN SOLARWINDS ORION Main Polling Engine Web Site Polling Engine Add’l Polling Engine Polling Engine Add’l Web Engine Web Site © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 6. • Remember that the web engine and polling engine both operate on the Main Polling Engine • Take the recommendation metrics from the web engine and polling engine and add them together for your Main Polling Engine REMEMBER! MAIN POLLING ENGINE = WEB ENGINE + POLLING ENGINE © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 7. • Pre-existing: verify everything works correctly • Make backups of all changed files! • Verify services & websites are working correctly post-change • Verify that polling is taking place as expected ONE LAST WORD …BEFORE WE GET STARTED © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 8. • For each Role, we’ll cover • Server specification – specifically disks • Required Windows features • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 (NET-Framework-Core) PS C:> Add-WindowsFeature -Name Net-Framework-Core -Source D:Source • Installation process • Pre-install checklist • Installation • Post-install configuration • We’ll be using Network Performance Monitor (NPM) with unlimited license PLANNING BUILD THE SERVER RIGHT THE FIRST TIME © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 9. Disk ID Purpose Size R/W Ratio I/O Type C: Windows O/S 40 GB 50/50 Random D: Page File RAM + 25% (5 GB) 50/50 Random E: Programs 40 GB 75/25 Random F: Web Site 10 GB 75/25 Random G: Web Cache 10 GB 90/10 Random H: Logs 50 GB 25/75 Sequential writes PLANNING – WEB ENGINE (DISKS) SIZING APPROXIMATIONS & I/O TYPES Notes: • Configure Page File prior to SolarWinds installation • Configure Programs location during installation • Configure Web Site location during Configuration Wizard Size CPU 4.0 GHz RAM 4 GB © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 10. Disk ID Purpose Size R/W Ratio I/O Type C: Windows O/S 40 GB 50/50 Random D: Page File RAM + 25% (5 GB) 50/50 Random E: Programs 40 GB 75/25 Random H: Logs 50 GB 25/75 Sequential writes PLANNING – POLLING ENGINE (DISKS) SIZING APPROXIMATIONS & I/O TYPES Notes: • Configure Page File prior to SolarWinds installation • Configure Programs location during installation Size CPU 8.0 GHz RAM 4 GB © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 11. Disk ID Purpose Size R/W Ratio I/O Type C: Windows O/S 40 GB 50/50 Random D: Page File RAM + 25% (10 GB) 50/50 Random E: Programs 40 GB 75/25 Random F: Web Site 10 GB 75/25 Random G: Web Cache 10 GB 90/10 Random H: Logs 50 GB 25/75 Sequential writes PLANNING – MAIN POLLING ENGINE (DISKS) SIZING APPROXIMATIONS & I/O TYPES Notes: • Configure Page File prior to SolarWinds installation • Configure Programs location during installation • Configure Web Site location during Configuration Wizard Size CPU 12.0 GHz RAM 8 GB © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 12. • Configure disks • Configure Page File • Install required Windows features • On servers hosting the Web Engine: • Remove default website • Configure IIS logging (server-level) • Configure logging to H: drive PREPARATION – ALL ROLES PREPPING THE SYSTEM FOR SOLARWINDS ORION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 13. PREPARATION – ALL ROLES PREPPING THE SYSTEM FOR SOLARWINDS ORION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 14. • Configure disks • Configure Page File • Install required Windows features • On servers hosting the Web Engine: • Remove default website • Configure IIS logging (server-level) • Configure logging to H: drive • Configure .NET Framework compilation temp directory location • C:WindowsMicrosoft.NETFrameworkv4.0.30319Configweb.config • Configure [tempDirectory] to use G: drive PREPARATION – ALL ROLES PREPPING THE SYSTEM FOR SOLARWINDS ORION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 15. • Configure disks • Configure Page File • Install required Windows features • On servers hosting the Web Engine: • Remove default website • Configure IIS logging (server-level) • Configure logging to H: drive • Configure .NET Framework compilation temp directory location • C:WindowsMicrosoft.NETFrameworkv4.0.30319Configweb.config • Configure [tempDirectory] to use G: drive • Run Windows Update, patch and reboot • Repeat until no new updates • Disable indexing for drives where it’s not needed PREPARATION – ALL ROLES PREPPING THE SYSTEM FOR SOLARWINDS ORION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 16. PREPARATION – ALL ROLES PREPPING THE SYSTEM FOR SOLARWINDS ORION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 17. • Content compression recommendations • Done at the server-level • Move the directory for compressed content to your web cache drive • Bump the amount of disk space to be used (1024 MB) • Drop the minimum size of any compressed file (2048 bytes) • This can cause increases in CPU usage for servers in certain situations • Monitor closely after the change and tweak as needed LAST TWEAKS TO THE WEB SERVER MAKING IIS WORK FOR YOU © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 18. LAST TWEAKS TO THE WEB SERVER MAKING IIS WORK FOR YOU © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 19. • Content compression recommendations • Done at the server-level • Move the directory for compressed content to your web cache drive • Bump the amount of disk space to be used (1024 MB) • Drop the minimum size of any compressed file (2048 bytes) • This can cause increases in CPU usage for servers in certain situations • Monitor closely after the change and tweak as needed Note that these settings are recommended based on my environment. Please test and validate within your own environment. LAST TWEAKS TO THE WEB SERVER MAKING IIS WORK FOR YOU © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 20. • During the Installation Wizard… …redirect the software installation location to the “Programs” drive INSTALL & CONFIG WIZARD – ALL ROLES USING YOUR OPTIMIZED DISK LAYOUT © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 21. INSTALL & CONFIG WIZARD – ALL ROLES USING YOUR OPTIMIZED DISK LAYOUT © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 22. • During the Installation Wizard… …redirect the software installation location to the “Programs” drive • During the Configuration Wizard… …redirect the website location to the “website” drive INSTALL & CONFIG WIZARD – ALL ROLES USING YOUR OPTIMIZED DISK LAYOUT © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 23. INSTALL & CONFIG WIZARD – ALL ROLES USING YOUR OPTIMIZED DISK LAYOUT © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 24. • During the Installation Wizard… …redirect the software installation location to the “Programs” drive • During the Configuration Wizard… …redirect the website location to the “website” drive • Important notes • The Installation Wizard can only be run on first installation • If you miss this step, you’ll have to uninstall Orion and try again. • The Configuration Wizard can be run at any time INSTALL & CONFIG WIZARD – ALL ROLES USING YOUR OPTIMIZED DISK LAYOUT © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 25. • If you don’t need logs, use the LogAdjuster program to disable all logging CONFIGURING LOGS – ALL ROLES POST-INSTALLATION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 26. • If you don’t need logs, use the Log Adjuster program to disable all logging • Warning: Very advanced-level changes – make backups! • Run the SolarWinds Diagnostics before changes. • Run the SolarWinds Diagnostics after changes. • Validate that new log location is captured. CONFIGURING LOGS – ALL ROLES POST-INSTALLATION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 27. CONFIGURING LOGS – ALL ROLES POST-INSTALLATION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 28. • If you don’t need logs, use the Log Adjuster program to disable all logging • Warning: Very advanced-level changes – make backups! • Run the SolarWinds Diagnostics before changes. • Run the SolarWinds Diagnostics after changes. • Validate that new log location is captured. • Change SolarWinds service logging location • Example: ${InstallDir}OrionConfigurationWizard.exe.config • Change file “value” (a.k.a. “Path”) to your log drive • Not every log can be moved out of the application data path CONFIGURING LOGS – ALL ROLES POST-INSTALLATION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 29. CONFIGURING LOGS – ALL ROLES POST-INSTALLATION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Original Log Location New Log Location
- 30. • If you don’t need logs, use the Log Adjuster program to disable all logging • Warning: Very advanced-level changes – make backups! • Run the SolarWinds Diagnostics before changes. • Run the SolarWinds Diagnostics after changes. • Validate that new log location is captured. • Change SolarWinds service logging location • Example: ${InstallDir}OrionConfigurationWizard.exe.config • Change file “value” (a.k.a. “Path”) to your log drive • Not every log can be moved out of the application data path • If you change the above, you must create an additional entry in your diagnostics file • ${InstallDir}OrionOrion.Diagnostics • If you neglect to do this the SolarWinds Diagnostics will not get all of your logs CONFIGURING LOGS – ALL ROLES POST-INSTALLATION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 31. CONFIGURING LOGS – ALL ROLES POST-INSTALLATION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. New Entry Original Entry ${InstallDir}OrionOrion.Diagnostics
- 32. • If you don’t need logs, use the Log Adjuster program to disable all logging • Warning: Very advanced-level changes – make backups! • Run the SolarWinds Diagnostics before changes. • Run the SolarWinds Diagnostics after changes. • Validate that new log location is captured. • Change SolarWinds service logging location • Example: ${InstallDir}OrionConfigurationWizard.exe.config • Change file value to your log drive • Not every log can be moved out of the application data path • If you change the above, you must create an additional entry in your diagnostics file • ${InstallDir}OrionOrion.Diagnostics • If you neglect to do this the SolarWinds Diagnostics will not get all of your logs • Stop and start running Orion services and verify service logging to new directories • Run SolarWinds Diagnostics and verify that new files are captured correctly CONFIGURING LOGS – ALL ROLES POST-INSTALLATION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 33. • Abide by the Microsoft SQL Server best practices • Virtualized environments for SQL Server • Consult Microsoft and VMware® best practices for virtualizing SQL Server • If you choose to virtualize SQL Server, reserve all memory and CPU resources • Avoid using any RAID5-based disk layouts • Instead use RAID10 with multiple hot spares • Keep SQL read disk I/O under 20 ms • When virtualizing Orion servers, reserve at least 50% of CPU and memory SQL SERVER & VIRTUALIZATION JUST A FEW QUICK RECOMMENDATIONS… © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 34. Primary Data Center SOLARWINDS ON SOLARWINDS ORION HOW WE’VE SCALED ORION FOR PERFORMANCE Add’l Web Engine Main Polling Engine Add’l Polling Engine Location 2 Add’l Polling Engine Location 1 Add’l Polling Engine © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Monitors Local Environment Monitors Local Environment Monitors Local Environment Only Monitors APE’s
- 35. • Performance tuning for web servers • http://bit.ly/PerfTuneWeb • Performance testing tools for SQL Server • http://bit.ly/SqlDiskspd • My Blog & Scripts: FedSWUG • http://blog.kmsigma.com/tag/fedswug/ REFERENCES PLACES TO GET MORE INFORMATION © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 36. QUESTIONS? POST THEM TO OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THWACK® GROUP AT: HTTP://THWACK.COM/GOVERNMENT OR EMAIL FEDERALSALES@SOLARWINDS.COM © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 37. • Stay Connected: • Join the Federal and Government Group on thwack: http://thwack.com/government • Follow us on LinkedIn®: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solarwinds- government • Call: 877-946-3751 • Email: federalsales@solarwinds.com • Learn More: • Visit our Federal website: http://www.solarwinds.com/federal • Watch a short demo video: http://www.solarwinds.com/sedemo • Download a free trial: http://www.solarwinds.com/downloads/ STAY CONNECTED & LEARN MORE © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 38. THE SOLARWINDS AND SOLARWINDS & DESIGN MARKS ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC, AND ITS AFFILIATES, ARE REGISTERED WITH THE U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE, AND MAY BE REGISTERED OR PENDING REGISTRATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES. ALL OTHER SOLARWINDS TRADEMARKS, SERVICE MARKS, AND LOGOS MAY BE COMMON LAW MARKS, REGISTERED OR PENDING REGISTRATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR IN OTHER COUNTRIES. ALL OTHER TRADEMARKS MENTIONED HEREIN ARE USED FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY AND MAY BE OR ARE TRADEMARKS OR REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPANIES. © 2016 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.