Welcome to the Microsoft Architect Forum

Part 3

Avanade: Virtual Server Avanade: Virtual Server notes from the fieldnotes from the field Avanade: Virtual Server Avanade: Virtual Server notes from the fieldnotes from the field

David MillerDavid MillerSolution Director – Data Centre Optimisation Solution Director – Data Centre Optimisation Infrastructure & SecurityInfrastructure & SecurityGlobal Market DevelopmentGlobal Market DevelopmentAvanade Inc.Avanade Inc.

Avanade is the leading technology Avanade is the leading technology integrator specialising in the integrator specialising in the Microsoft platform.Microsoft platform.

Our people help customers Our people help customers around the world maximise their around the world maximise their IT investment and create IT investment and create comprehensive solutions that dive comprehensive solutions that dive business results.business results.

Additional information can be Additional information can be found at www.avanade.comfound at www.avanade.com

AgendaAgenda

Why virtualise?Why virtualise?

Planning for virtualisationPlanning for virtualisation

Identifying candidates for virtualisation?Identifying candidates for virtualisation?

The process of virtualisingThe process of virtualising

““Gotchas” & hints for virtualisationGotchas” & hints for virtualisation

Case studiesCase studies

Why virtualise?Why virtualise?

Increased server utilisationIncreased server utilisationTypically 80% as opposed to 5-15%Typically 80% as opposed to 5-15%

Reduced data centre costsReduced data centre costsBeyond server hardware to space, power, network, cooling etc & licensingBeyond server hardware to space, power, network, cooling etc & licensing

Increased efficiency/reduced administrative costsIncreased efficiency/reduced administrative costs::

Quicker server provisioning/deploymentQuicker server provisioning/deployment

Backup simplificationBackup simplification

The next step in server consolidation:The next step in server consolidation:Support for multiple operating systemsSupport for multiple operating systems

Increased security over traditional consolidationIncreased security over traditional consolidation

Ideal target for development/testing environments:Ideal target for development/testing environments:Patching and upgrade validationPatching and upgrade validation

Security segregationSecurity segregation

Planning for virtualisationPlanning for virtualisation

Don’t underestimate planning, commitment and upfront Don’t underestimate planning, commitment and upfront investment investment

Address organisational challenges: internal business Address organisational challenges: internal business customers may envisage losing ownership of servers - customers may envisage losing ownership of servers - benefits communication and buy-in is essentialbenefits communication and buy-in is essential

Plan to treat virtual servers the same as physical serversPlan to treat virtual servers the same as physical servers

Planning must be completed tightly with networking and Planning must be completed tightly with networking and storage teamsstorage teams

Pay specific attention to security and managementPay specific attention to security and management

Look at testing and administration environments first to gain Look at testing and administration environments first to gain experience and confidence before considering production experience and confidence before considering production systemssystems

Plan to control and manage virtual server “sprawl”Plan to control and manage virtual server “sprawl”

Identifying candidates for virtualisation?Identifying candidates for virtualisation?

Understand and measure performance characteristicsUnderstand and measure performance characteristicsSystem Center Virtual Machine ManagerSystem Center Virtual Machine Manager

Server management tools – MOM (or other)Server management tools – MOM (or other)

Windows PerfMonWindows PerfMon

Avoid high I/O and CPU intensive systemsAvoid high I/O and CPU intensive systems

Consider support on virtual platform of application vendorConsider support on virtual platform of application vendor

Balance with standard server consolidation in production Balance with standard server consolidation in production Typically SQL Server better addressed by “farm” consolidation Typically SQL Server better addressed by “farm” consolidation

Exchange & AD servers scale!Exchange & AD servers scale!

Evaluate host & guest clustering versus standard server Evaluate host & guest clustering versus standard server clusteringclustering

The process of virtualisationThe process of virtualisation

Approach is generic (applicable to physical and virtual): Approach is generic (applicable to physical and virtual): Establish a baselineEstablish a baseline

Rapid build – virtualisation allows copying VMs (VHD and VMC files) Rapid build – virtualisation allows copying VMs (VHD and VMC files)

Configuration and refresh – automate (MSI packages and scripts)Configuration and refresh – automate (MSI packages and scripts)

““Safe State” the environment – virtualisation allows differencing disksSafe State” the environment – virtualisation allows differencing disks

Test automation (scripted)Test automation (scripted)

Consider Physical to Virtual (P2V) toolsConsider Physical to Virtual (P2V) toolsMicrosoft VSMT, Microsoft SCVMM, Platespin, LeoStreamMicrosoft VSMT, Microsoft SCVMM, Platespin, LeoStream

Many pre-P2V tasks that must be completed prior to performing any Many pre-P2V tasks that must be completed prior to performing any migration – key step in all P2V work is planningmigration – key step in all P2V work is planning

In reality, you will have to do some work on a small percentage of In reality, you will have to do some work on a small percentage of your conversions due to the configurations on your source serversyour conversions due to the configurations on your source servers

Remember the old saying, Junk in – Junk Out applies with P2VRemember the old saying, Junk in – Junk Out applies with P2V

Often “new build” and data migration is the best approachOften “new build” and data migration is the best approach

““Gotchas” & hints for virtualisationGotchas” & hints for virtualisation

Exclude VM files from Antivirus real time scans Exclude VM files from Antivirus real time scans .vhd .vud .vsv .vfd .vmc.vhd .vud .vsv .vfd .vmc

The faster the disk, the faster the Virtual Environment The faster the disk, the faster the Virtual Environment Consider dedicated disks per VMConsider dedicated disks per VM

Use multiple disks or ideally SAN storageUse multiple disks or ideally SAN storage

Use NTFS compression for the filesUse NTFS compression for the filesIt seems writing a big chunk to disk is slower than first compressing It seems writing a big chunk to disk is slower than first compressing the chunk and then write it to disk. Additionally the files are around the chunk and then write it to disk. Additionally the files are around 30% smaller on the hard disk30% smaller on the hard disk

/3GB should not be used on the host/3GB should not be used on the host This setting increases the user memory space at the expense This setting increases the user memory space at the expense

of of

Kernel space. Virtual machines use more kernel memory than user Kernel space. Virtual machines use more kernel memory than user memory – so enabling this switch on the host will decrease the memory – so enabling this switch on the host will decrease the amount of virtual machines that you can launamount of virtual machines that you can launchch

““Gotchas” & hints continuedGotchas” & hints continued

VS 2005 runs smoother when selecting Best performance for VS 2005 runs smoother when selecting Best performance for “Background Services” and selecting Memory Settings to “Background Services” and selecting Memory Settings to Optimize for “System Cache”Optimize for “System Cache”

Using Gigabit Ethernet network interface cards can improve Using Gigabit Ethernet network interface cards can improve overall performanceoverall performance

Even though the guest OS emulates a 100Mb connection, when you Even though the guest OS emulates a 100Mb connection, when you have multiple VMs running, the performance increase will be have multiple VMs running, the performance increase will be noticeablenoticeable

Use Use DDifferencing disksifferencing disksDifferencing disks offer the ability to create a base .vhd (including just Differencing disks offer the ability to create a base .vhd (including just an OS, for example), and then write all differences to a new virtual an OS, for example), and then write all differences to a new virtual disk. The differencing disk might contain alternate applications or disk. The differencing disk might contain alternate applications or configurations. By doing this you can safe spaceconfigurations. By doing this you can safe space

““Gotchas” & hints continuedGotchas” & hints continued

Always make sure the latest Virtual Machine additions are Always make sure the latest Virtual Machine additions are installedinstalled

Always have the VMs connected to a network – even if it is Always have the VMs connected to a network – even if it is the “internal only”the “internal only”

Use RDP to connect to your VMsUse RDP to connect to your VMsYou can copy and paste data into the virtual machine You can copy and paste data into the virtual machine

You can share data between your host and virtual machine directlyYou can share data between your host and virtual machine directly

You can share access to your host's printerYou can share access to your host's printer

The smaller (and less fragmented) the VHD files the fasterThe smaller (and less fragmented) the VHD files the fasterIn the VM run defragIn the VM run defrag

Run the VM precompactorRun the VM precompactor

““Gotchas” & hints continuedGotchas” & hints continued

Create the VHD as fixed size disk Create the VHD as fixed size disk The space is allocated as one big chunk – more fragments will slow The space is allocated as one big chunk – more fragments will slow down the systemdown the system

If you have to copy files from the host to the Guest, use the If you have to copy files from the host to the Guest, use the shared foldersshared folders

Copy with drag and drop is 50% slower & copy through network is Copy with drag and drop is 50% slower & copy through network is only 16 % of the performance of shared foldersonly 16 % of the performance of shared folders

Make sure the VMs have sufficient RAM allocated to themMake sure the VMs have sufficient RAM allocated to themTypically the “working set” from the Typically the “working set” from the measured performance measured performance characteristicscharacteristics

This avoids the need to swap too much memory as this is HD This avoids the need to swap too much memory as this is HD intensiveintensive

Case study: AllstateCase study: Allstate

Problem:Problem:Allstate had ~ 3,500 serversAllstate had ~ 3,500 servers

The number of servers in its data centres was increasing quickly The number of servers in its data centres was increasing quickly

Vast majority of its servers were using less than 10% CPU Vast majority of its servers were using less than 10% CPU

Time required to acquire a new server was from six to eight weeksTime required to acquire a new server was from six to eight weeks

Virtual Server 2005 used for test & development environment:Virtual Server 2005 used for test & development environment:Improved h/w efficiency by reducing server growth and associated costsImproved h/w efficiency by reducing server growth and associated costs

Reduced demand for more data centre floor spaceReduced demand for more data centre floor space

Increase server utilization to 35 to 50 percent during the peak shiftIncrease server utilization to 35 to 50 percent during the peak shift

Eliminated server acquisition timeEliminated server acquisition time

Reduced server operating system deployment times from between 1 to 3 hours, Reduced server operating system deployment times from between 1 to 3 hours, to 5 or 10 minutesto 5 or 10 minutes

Time savings increased administrator productivityTime savings increased administrator productivity

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=53154

Case study: AccentureCase study: Accenture

Problem:Problem:Test a hosted service offering that included a new third-party desktop Test a hosted service offering that included a new third-party desktop management applicationmanagement application

Engineers had four weeks to build the environmentsEngineers had four weeks to build the environments

Neither purchasing nor leasing new servers/workstations was a cost-effective Neither purchasing nor leasing new servers/workstations was a cost-effective option as the systems were only required for a few monthsoption as the systems were only required for a few months

Virtual Server 2005 & Virtual PC 2004 environment:Virtual Server 2005 & Virtual PC 2004 environment:Virtual Server: Windows Server 2003/Windows 2000 Server for Active Directory & Virtual Server: Windows Server 2003/Windows 2000 Server for Active Directory & SQL Server 2000 SQL Server 2000

Virtual PC: Windows NT Workstation 4.0/Windows 2000 Professional/ Virtual PC: Windows NT Workstation 4.0/Windows 2000 Professional/ Windows XP Professional/Red Hat LinuxWindows XP Professional/Red Hat Linux

Met goal ahead of schedule, enabling more extensive testingMet goal ahead of schedule, enabling more extensive testing

Significantly reduced its total cost of ownership (accelerated the setup of model Significantly reduced its total cost of ownership (accelerated the setup of model environments by more than 200%, streamlined system administration, improved environments by more than 200%, streamlined system administration, improved IT responsiveness with a smaller staff, and enabled more robust testing of IT responsiveness with a smaller staff, and enabled more robust testing of products and service offerings)products and service offerings)http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=1000004028

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