Developing a truly virtual infrastructure :

What do you need to consider ?

Welcome!

Andy EcclesEnterprise Solutions Architect

aeccles@iscnet.co.uk

Todays ObjectivesAgenda

Don’t just virtualise, optimise

Server Virtualisation

Virtual Desktop

Application Delivery

Assessment Offer

Optimise!More than just a buzzword

Today’s businesses are demanding more for less

Almost everything can be ‘virtualised’ – but is it a good idea?

A hybrid approach is becoming common with solutions from different vendors being integrated together

Agility is critical, don’t design yourself into a corner

Server VirtualisationFewer and fewer important considerations What servers can be virtualised?

So many Windows/x86 servers run at only peak 5% CPU!

Consolidation has significant benefits for these servers

Some services do deserve their own hardware But the agility of virtual servers is a very

useful attribute Don’t expect a quart from a pint pot, sizing

is important

Limitations Some hardware components can be

difficult (GPU, etc) Very heavy I/O can suffer virtualisation

overhead

Server VirtualisationHypervisors and storage Hypervisors and Management

Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer, VMware ESX

It’s the management and infrastructure that matter

Using appropriate storage is essential Yes, you can use local storage in

Virtualisation Infrastructure But enterprise-class storage is essential for

full flexibility Performance High Availability Snapshots Replication Deduplication

Application DeliverySo many choices... What’s the point of all of this?

To get applications to your users

Terminal Services, Virtual Desktop, all very good but... Connectivity is a significant part of the

requirement Don’t forget about the humble desktop, you

might need some!

Limitations of Server-Based Computing App support... Bear in mind that some can

be worked around.

Getting the applications onto the servers or desktops Stream apps from a central single instance

where possible

Traditional Desktop PC!How does it look?

Virtual DesktopHow does it look?

Terminal Services / XenAppHow does it look?

Basic SBC flowchartHelp to give an initial indication of what to use A rough guide

Some of the ‘rules’ can be broken

ISC always tailor designs, no one-size-fits-all approach

Third-party products can help to bypass some SBC limitations

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APPLICATION DELIVERY DECISION FLOWCHART.VSD

1 : 5 1

Enterprise Solutions Group : Application Delivery

Server-Based Computing – Basic decision flowchart

Are the applications graphically intensive, such as

rendering in CAD?

Does the user requirea Desktop operating system

for some reason?

Blade PCs accessedvia RGS

Virtual Desktop

(VMware VDM orCitrix XenDesktop)

Supporting Information

Citrix Presentation Server remains the delivery mechanism with lowest TCO for most scenarios

VMware VDM2 has one specific limitation;It relies on Microsoft RDP which is not as capable as Citrix ICA, particularly at latency of over 100ms; relatively common over Internet VPN.

VMware may be addressing this in the next release of VDM which rumour has it may support other protocols including Teradici (hardware GPU-based graphics acceleration) and HP RGS (software-based acceleration), and potentially other protocols.

RGS is a protocol owned by HP and is currently only available for connection to HP’s own servers/ desktops.HP are currently testing RGS for licensing usage with non-HP hardware – in the future it may be available for other hardware vendors

Virtualisation/Streaming of applications is available using Microsoft Softgrid (App-V (due for release Q4 ’08)), Citrix Streaming as a component of Presentation Server or Thinstall (Recently renamed ThinApp since being acquired by VMware)

Virtual Desktop requires an implementation of either VMware Virtual Infrastructure or Citrix XenServer. If a customer would like to implement VDI, the initial implementation cost is likely to seem high due to storage and server system prerequisites.

Does the user needaccess to Windows system

files/ services or admin rights? (developers, etc)

Does the user requiresole access to the Windows

operating system?

Does the user need toregularly be able to access

CDs or watch DVDs?

Is it importantto the customer that data

must remain in the datecentre?

Does the user requirespecific hardware

(like Modems)?

Does the userrequire access to applications when working disconnected/

roaming?

No

No

No

No

PC or LaptopApplications are

virtualised/ streamed where possible

No

Are the applicationsespecially processor or

RAM intensive?

No

Yes

Yes Yes

Citrix Presentation Serveror

Terminal Services

Are the applicationssupported by the vendor in Terminal Services/ Citrix?

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

See Supporting Information Box

When is SBC the wrong tool?The challenges and considerations Link latency must not be excessive

Over 100ms can be difficult for RDP 400ms or more for Citrix ICA with tuning

Satellite BB is a bit of a challenge

If you can’t rely on consistent connectivity for your users

Heavy graphics and some multimedia are a challenge today Wyse, HP, Citrix, Microsoft even Qumranet

are helping

Peripherals can be a pain to connect and manage

Certain connectivity requirements can be difficult (IPSec VPN)

Take a hybrid approachMy idea of an ideal deployment Use Terminal Services with XenApp where

required for best value

Use full desktop PCs where SBC just doesn’t fit

Implement a good SSL VPN to provide web-based users with a desktop from anywhere, any time, on any device...

Use VDI for the ‘others’ - and make the most of single-instancing

Virtualise applications where possible, or deliver some of the applications seamlessly into the virtual desktops using TS/XenApp!

Ensure you work with a qualified and experienced partner for design and implementation

How we workin the ISC Enterprise Solutions Group

We are a team of subject-matter experts who also understand the impact of our subject on infrastructure as a whole

Our strength is in integrating technologies, possibly from different vendors, to provide a coherent solution

We don’t use a one-size fits all template for infrastructure, each scenario is analysed independently

ISC Solutions Architects are funded internally to provide balanced advice to customers, not commissioned to sell

Analysis Offerwith the ISC Enterprise Solutions Group We offer no-obligation assessment/analysis

meetings

Our subject-matter experts are available at no cost

These meetings typically take between one and two hours

We are flexible with proposing new solutions or development of existing infrastructure

There are boxes on your feedback forms to tick if you’d like to take the opportunity of meeting our people Application delivery, desktop and application

virtualisation Server virtualisation, consolidation and

agility Storage consolidation, flexibility and

protection.

Questions and Answers

Thankyou!

Andy EcclesEnterprise Solutions

Architectaeccles@iscnet.co.uk