IBM Smarter Systems for a Converged Network

This posting is a two part experiment.
Part one is this is my first posting trying out the BlogPress tool for my iPad, making a posting from a cafe.
Second part of the experiment is that the posting is pretty much my unedited, raw notes from the session.
I'd really like the feedback from my readers to know if getting this format is of value, because in future this will get the blog posted almost immediately. Or would you rather wait a few days for me to format more and pretty it up?
Let me know!


On Apr 26, 2011 I attended this IBM session, marketed for Infrastructure managers with an eye towards data centre consolidation and infrastructure convergence. I noted low attendance at 09:35, the Tuesday after Easter might have been an off date? Anyhow below are my notes taken during the session for whatever value you might all find from them.

Need for a converged infrastructure
Matthew Eastwood, group VP, IDC global platform research
The Research was dated Jan 2011, but statistical data was from Jan 2010.
What's happening at the edge that's reshaping the data centre?
Belief is that customers are looking to achieve more and additional business benefits from IT.
Over 60% of all data centre workload is on x86 platforms, but most data centres have a mixture of platforms at about 38% unix and other.
Rack is the fastest growing format, currently holding 63% of the x86 Market share, blade is at 21%, tower at 16.
Server spend on enterprise caliber data centres is down 12 pts, SMB and Mega DC are up.
Trends, efficiency, complexity, elastic scaling, off premise.
Data growth, transactions (8.4 x growth), and 10G ports (12.4x) growth by 2013 from 2005.
Customer surveys show customers feel that convergences means server and storage and virtualisation.
Average virtualisation rate is 30%, expect 50% in 12 months
Numbers of VM hosts not increasing, but number of VMs is increasing quickly year over year, ergo, new systems being deployed are being deployed as virtual, not physical.
Server hardware spending is being optimised as CapEx, but OpEx spending is getting out of control due to lack of Virtual system management. Same message we heard from Microsoft 2 weeks ago.
Consider 25 servers per admin, 35 VMs per admin
increased focus on automation and optimisation
Industry is beginning to move from consolidation focus to assured computing, and not yet ready for the maturity required for private cloud, 80% of customersbare working in these areas, only 5 in private cloud.
CMDB required to move to assured computing
Gaps in tools are, migration, capacity planning, dynamic load optimisation, application matching, power management, chargeback. Should have systems backup, health monitoring mature and in place.
Consolidate, virtualised, automate, provision...

Server workload topology
VALUE 38%
BPM: ERP, CRM, OLTP, batch
Decision. Support: data warehousing, data mining, analysis
App dev:
VOLUME 81%
IT infrastructure

convergence is the reigning idea, and will continue to be until IT shops are able to provide more transparent services to other business units
Scale matters in driving efficiencies
Volume economics count across the entire DC ecosystem, systems, facility, operations... Processing workload per kilowatt
Responsiveness to business drivers is more important to IT than lowering costs.
Last week, AMAZON cloud failures highlight the onus being on those who have outsourced their applications to do so responsibly. You get what you pay for, and you need to understand what you're buying and how it affects your service delivery.
Server hardware $52b, networking $62b, storage $32b
Sweet spot in the Market is convergence points between these, the application space, the SaaS space, converged infrastructure space.
Data centre needs for tomorrow
Evolutionary approach avoiding forklift upgrades
Integrated physical and virtual fabric switch management
DC convergence requiring process and management
Long term, dcs being discrete computing units.

Improved asset uptime
Faster time to Market
Flexible capacity planning
Bigger databases
Improved densities
Reduced operating costs

Pay attention to time, money, and people
Workloads are the critical pivot point for cloud and convergence decisions
increase collaboration and device usage versus traditional siloed approaches

Meastwood@IDC.com

Thinking differently about x86 and infrastructure convergence
Harsh Kachhy WW Product mrkting Mgr, IBM Blade Centre

Want to move staff to being value add instead of operational costs
Workload thinking, what's the best way to deploy any workload
Shared pools of resources, improve overall utilisation
Independent scaling of resources, just what we need, when we need it
Automated management of workloads

Virtual and physical convergence leads to increased management and automation, which leads to optimisation with integrated service management

Convergence realities and critical considerations
Interoperability with existing infrastructure.
Scaling without rip and replace or forklift upgrades
FCOE, 10GbE readiness
Single vendor lock in
Best of breed solutions
Secondary effects on my infrastructure

plugged IBM Systems Director and Tivoli as delivery a tightly integrated single pane of glass view to provide the insight into systems needed to get through consolidation and into the cloud.
A managed environment can save up to 40% in management costs.
VMControl free plugin to IBM systems Director, supports VMWare, KVM, HyperV, or Xen.
Link physical alerts to Vmotion, automatically migrate VMs from the failing server
Active Energy Manager
Open Fabric Manager, for blade chassis I/O configuration and failover management
Plugged Tivoli for automated provisioning and image management.
Private cloud using Tivoli tools, IBM Bladecentre Foundation for Cloud ( IaaS), or IBM cloudburst which provides self service portal. Curious about if you can select where the data is kept and or processed...
Talk turned to hardware
eX5 technology available in blade or rack format, claims to be the only x86 platform that delivers the memory tech that allows IO boosts, claim is 22% less expensive for virtualisation. Compared 1 HX5 + MAX5 against 2 HP BL490c

IT optimisation assessment benefit, no obligation to purchase anything, but complete audit of all systems, apps, and approach to virtualisation and consolidation.


BNT, an IBM company - importance of System Networking
Shailesh Naik, NA System x Networking, IBM System and Technology Group

Claim is that networking is the key to service simplification, virtualisation and automation, converged and virtual fabrics, high density computing, and reduced costs.
TCO can be lower with 2nd vendor instead of being dependent on just one, up to 20%
IBM is re-entering the network business by acquiring Blade Network technologies
BNT RackSwitch Portfolio in use by Akami, NYSE, and others.
Claims lowest latency, power consumption, compared favourably against Cisco
Claims twice the functionality, at half the price
Virtual fabric; 20Gb per server on a 10Gb connection to the rack
Appears to be a management layer ontop of your existing management. NMotion technology converged fabric management over Ethernet.
Presenting as a FCoE solution.


Future Vision of Blades
Harsh Kachhy

Described the purpose of the group Blade.org

Blade.org Panel Discussion
Brent Mosbrook, Emulex
Ken Pierrehumbert, APC
Matt Eastwood, IDC

Discussed trends their respective companies are planning to bring to Market in conjunction with IBM.
10Gb on the MB for blades, moving the fabric closer to the processing.
APC plugged in-row cooling, and scalable power supply UPS, plus complete automation to feed the SPoG in tools like Tivoli
General DC trends from Matt, shifts in workload communication and collaboration, proliferation of more mobile computing p,affirms tethered more tightly to business networks. Forces outside of the dc increasing pressure to optimise, virtualise, consolidate, and increase efficiency of processing. Workload becomes more spiky and difficult to predict. Shift from code optimisation to data access and processing optimisation.

When it comes to server virtualisation, we are ahead of the global curve for densities, but in the top group in Vancouver/Canada. Claim is that few are using VMotion technology, used as plug for "NMotion"
PUE brought up to discuss with the small group. Made the point that as you increase virtualisation but don't scale back cooling or energy supply you are not improving your PUE.

Modular data centre concept brought up by Matt.






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

To the Cloud! No! Wait! Come Back! Crap!

My Thoughts and Notes from attending:
Microsoft Align IT Tour 2011: Real World Strategies for Infrastructure Managers

here are all the relevant links & addresses for the session.

Www.Microsoft.Ca/alignit

www.Microsoft.ca/alignitresources

www.Blogs.technet.com/itmanagers

Alignit@Microsoft.com

Twitter: #alignit

www.Microsoft.ca/itpodcast

First, I noticed they are using Dell laptops, prominently placed. Also, the event was streaming video live. Kind of cool.

IT as a Service, Cloud Services

Ruth Morton, technology advisor; @ruthm

Ruth started by quoting Nicholas Carr about how IT matters, how it is becoming a commodity utility.

Cited as an example of how is our world changing for IT Infrastructure Managers, the convergance of consumer technologies and enterprise applications: An Xbox Knect used in a Toronto hospital, so that prior to surgery scrubbed surgeons can interface with patient records using hand gestures. Kind of cool.

Some stats we've likely all heard before:

50% of business devices are expected to be Smart phones by 2014

84% of organisations today have a remote workforce

85% of data centre capacity on average is idle

Because we build for peak capacity but rarely hit it, but can't miss when we need it to empower the business.

70% of IT budgets is spent maintaining data centre operations. I'd challenge that stat applied here, but open for discussion!

Expectations are changing

IT is needed to be a business and productivity enabler (not new). IT is desired to partner to drive revenue, design new solutions, be a proactive business asset, and focus on best practices. Sure, OK.

So now we move the focus to Cloud Computing, the ANSWER TO ALL!! (or maybe not so much, but it makes good marketing hype)

Definition of Cloud Services

Benefits and concepts behind Cloud Computing

• On demand self service
• Discussed illustration of private cloud for quickly provisioning test systems
• Ubiquitous network access
• Location transparent resource pooling
• Note that MS Azure (their cloud solution) does allow regional specification but not site specific
• Rapid elasticity
• Accommodating peak Usage periods on demand Measured service with pay per use
• Move business infrastructure from CapEx to OpEx
• Hold third party responsible for management of Infrastructure (hmmmm...)

Recent research in Canada by CTRC noted a shortage in specific IT skills in Canada, companies are encouraged to invest in skills base of IT folks to close the gap.

Skills deficits: cloud services architecture, virtualisation, SoA

Cloud Architect skill set: look at a biz app, determine if it makes sense to move it to the cloud, are there architectural app changes needed for cloud compatibility, provide recommendations to the organisation on best biz decisions PHP, .net, and other languages are cloud ready Systems Centre is cloud aware.

Charting a path to a vNext environment

Damir Bersinic Sr. Platform Advisor

@Damirb

Damirb@Microsoft.com

Target stores moving 15k virtual machines to MS HyperV SCVMM 2012 announced; it manages VMware, HyperV, and Zen

For the live demo, Damir was RDP'ed into SCVMM console in Toronto.

He showed the conversion utility to move VMs from other hypervisors to HyperV. Converts SCSI boot drive to IDE. Creates a conversion script that you can leverage via PowerShell for bulk migrations taking 25-30 minutes each.

Discussed high availability architecture design, spreading clustered services across multiple virtual and physical hosts.

Executed queries while vm was being moved between nodes to illustrate no downtime during move, but that is dependent on correct architecture to start with.

A recommended best practice is to create a library of templates to speed provisioning of basic machines with standard configuration. But we need to be cautious of VM sprawl; when it is too easy to create hosts, they get created and not organised or retired.

You need process, tools, and education to manage VMs within best practices. Physical host best practices should apply to VMs.

"Virtualisation without management is more dangerous than not using virtualisation in the first place."

Tom Bittman, Gartner researcher

Self-Service Portal

Self service is a new paradigm where Infrastructure Services doesn't control who makes new VMs, they create the templates for systems, and enable the "customers" to create their systems, by setting the rules under which other groups can create VMs, and being the gateway to approve the creation of that system.

Interesting ideas that are incorporated:

• Charge back model built in
• Set start and finish dates
• Launches jobs within VSSC

Question asked, "what's the business case for business users creating their own VMs?"

Answer given: It's a question of definition and semantics. Should really only be technical users.

Private cloud server platform leverages (needs) nearly the whole Systems Centre portfolio to be managed correctly. Start with standardising your directory services Virtualised with a hypervisors Standardise and automate data centre management Enable self service with a portal Evaluate what needs to be on a private cloud versus public cloud

Visual Studio 2010 contains Azure simulation platform (emulator) for developing and testing web apps without actually deploying to the cloud

Platform, database, fabric controller (middleware, service bus, access control) data sync functions in SQL Azure allows data synchronisation between private and public cloud hosts

Security and privacy in the cloud were noted by some (including me!) as a concern, the assumption seems to be made that "because it's on Azure, it's secure." David McLaren president & CEO at VRX Studios didn't actually state this, instead he told us all that his business isn't based on privacy legislation. That I can see...I specifically asked the question about how do they deal with privacy legislation concerns. All three panelists "answered" the question by saying, in effect, "don't put that kind of app or data in the public cloud." I got the feeling that these guys aren't here to answer the tough questions, either technical or business oriented. I was particularly disappointed with David as a panellist because i felt he had little of value to offer the audience and started his answer to each question with a plug for his business. Very off-putting.

Dave Kawula from TriCon consulting was able to sell the concept of private cloud self service, automation, orchestration, and governance. He was very clear on the point that you really need to architect the solution for data latency concerns, privacy, and data protection. I felt Dave had the most value to add to the conversation. He kept the conversation at a high level, but was able to provide realistic direction to the questions without getting bogged down into technical details.

How is back up and data retention managed in the cloud? Bottom line, it is your responsibility to architect a cloud solution that provides that, the public cloud doesn't provide any such service de-facto. Consider latency around replication for near-real time replication so you generally want systems in the same DC.

Question came up of performance for users comparing Office365 and traditional remote desktop technologies. The answer was yes, it will likely be a little slower. :-|

Hand-Held Systems Management

Not the management of hand-held systems, although that sounds like a good topic too (future post!), but more so management of your systems from hand-held computing devices.

Being the iPad advocate that I am, I'm going to focus this posting on the iOS platform.

Have I mentioned how much it annoys me (network engineer by trade) that Apple used iOS? Sigh.

So you're a network admin, you have an iOS device, and an IP network of servers, network gear, printers, and other appliances to manage. "Easy, pretty much everything has a web interface, I'll just browse to it, create a shortcut on my iPad, and BAM, I'm done."
I won't argue that is one way to do it, but I won't agree it's the best.

To start with, what is your management platform? Are you a shop running HP SiteScope management software? You're in luck - download the free SiteScope app for your iPad or iPhone. It's an iPhone app, so it'll work on the iPad, but doesn't take advantage of the bigger real estate afforded by the iPad (yet?). So there's your portable network/sys admin view into the current status of your systems.

Not a SiteScope user? Hmm, well there's other options...

Most ESMs (Enterprise Service Management Applications) have a web interface, you can shortcut that to the tablet; but likely the scale/layout will be designed for a PC screen, not a tablet so you will have to (if allowed that flexibility) create a custom dashboard for tablets.

So there's your high-level view into things, but when you really want to roll up your sleeves, here's some iPad apps I use and find practical:

IP Calculator - simple intuitive interface. Not for IPv6, but that's not a big problem for me (yet...)

VTrace - handy for troubleshooting routing situations in wide-area networks.

WinAdmin - RDP client to access those pesky Windows servers. Solid and reliable, easy to use. Even easier if you get a Bluetooth keyboard for your iPad.

MyRouters Pro - console management of multiple Cisco devices (you know, the real IOS?).

gUnit - being Canadian, I frequently have to make metric/imperial conversions; this tool is excellent at that.

Dropbox - my number one way to move files between my laptop & iPad.

Note Taker HD - have to take quick hand-written notes in a technical meeting, or sketch up network diagrams on the fly? This tool works fantastically for me (best with a stylus though).

I'm using all these apps on iOS 4.2.1 using the original iPad hardware.

HPSWU EMEA Update #1

Last night in Barcelona at the Vivit Worldwide chapter leaders dinner, Dr. Andreas Birk accepted the volunteer of the year award for his work in establishing and growing the TQA Special Interest Group.

Karen Semonsen, President of Vivit Worlwide, presented Dr. Birk with the award to a round of applause from his peers.



It was a fantastic evening of dining and fellowship at the 7 Portes restaurant. The Vivit Board of Directors hosted notable Vivit chapter and SIG leaders from across the EMEA region who braved the near whiteout conditions across North & West Europe to travel to the dinner the night prior to the EMEA HP Software Universe event, here in Barcelona.

Also honoured by special mention was Olli Laiho from Finland for his work on the TQA SIG. All the Vivit volunteers in EMEA and around the world are sincerely appreciated for their tireless efforts and personal sacrifices to share knowledge, build community, and promote advocacy in application and operations management software and best practices. If you are interested in connecting with HP Software users in your region/country/city, stop by the Vivit booth (B06) on the HPSWU Barcelona show floor (right beside the Demo Theatre) and ask one of our great team members for more information.

Prior to last nights festivities, the Vivit Board of Directors had spent two long work days sequestered in a board room to prioritise and assign the tactical workload that will make the Vivit strategic vision into reality. Future updates on the Vivit site will announce some of the results of this work, but it was the most productive board meeting I've personally attended, and the directors seemed to all leave surprisingly energised for a group suffering from jet lag.

If you're in Barcelona, and want to get an idea of some of the exciting things Vivit is planning for 2011, please make sure you stop by the booth, or look for any of the board members or chapter leaders wearing FC Barcelona jerseys under their suit jackets - and stop by the booth for you chance to win your own authentic FC Barcelona jersey. Boy, are we glad they won last night!

Building a Career in IT

I've been asked a few times "how do I get a job like yours?" which reminds me how fortunate I am to have had the professional experiences I've had which have gotten me to where I am today; but is also a reminder that there's lots more to do yet.

Build a Plan
The number one way I've gotten to where I have so far; and intend to continue on further, is by building a plan. I've always had 5 year strategic personal & professional plans, and 1 & 3 year tactical plans that roll over and are built on the over-all goal. Basically, I sit down and say to myself, "what do I want to have achieved in 5 years?" Something realistic, achievable, and measurable. The big goal for the next 5 years. Or goals, of course - why limit yourself to one? :-)
The big strategic goals can be as varied (professionally speaking) from starting your own business, to achieving a certain level of leadership, to becoming internationally renown in your field.

Make the Plan Do-Able
Next up, take that (those) goal(s) and break them down into smaller, achievable tactical pieces. Any major goal you set for your five year plan should be able to be broken into smaller pieces that build upon each other to get you to that goal. Undoubtedly, this will take some time, and take some thought. A key way I've been able to determine these achievable short-term goals is by finding a mentor who has achieved either that 5 year goal I've set for myself, or something similar. Build a relationship with that person, and allow them to coach you on what key pieces must be in place for over-all success.

Measure & Manage
So your five-year goal is set; you've also broken it into key milestones that must be successfully completed in order to reach that goal. Now you need to set yourself metrics so that you know if you're on track. Metrics such as: "I must have passed this specific certification exam by this specific date." While this is simply an example of a technical milestone, it shows that you have broken your goal into achievable peices, you've set a date for when you must have achieved that milestone, and helps keep you focused on a tangible reality, instead of a fluffy, feel-good goal with no substance. And hey, when you DO pass the exam, it's a reason to celebrate you being that much closer to your over-all goal. Equally important you need to have a management methodology for actions to take if you are veering off-course of those milestones. If you miss a date, what will you do? If you fail the exam, then what? Think this through, talk it over with your mentor, and make sure you know how to set yourself up for success.

Any of this is achievable, you just need to allow a reasonable amount of time, break it into do-able steps, set metrics to measure your progress (and determine how to correct if you're veering off-course), and keep focused. The timelines I've given are simply the ones I like to use; they don't have to be yours. But whatever you do keep the steps achievable, and seek out mentorship. That's a recipe for success.

Day in the Life - July 29, 2010

Normal start for a Thursday; drive 30 minutes from my house to the Skytrain, ride the Skytrain for 30 minutes to Science World station, and then walk along the False Creek seawall (behind the Athlete's Village, under the Cambie St bridge, to Leg-in-Boot & the marina) and up the hill to my office at VGH to start the day.

During my walk I check my Blackberry for any urgent e-mails and notice I've continued to get messages once an hour from our pilot remote temperature sensor project indicating that a data closet has been at 34-35 C all night. Certainly not ideal, but shows that the pilot project is working excellently and that we have the objective information we need to bring to the facilities team to find a solution.

On the plus side, that's really the only email of significance so far today; that'll change but at least there's no emergencies this morning.

A review of my calendar and to-do list has me getting focused for the day ahead, and it's only just after 07:30.

Next thing to be working on is the Incident Management Working Group documentation; I need to review this in advance of the meeting I'll be attending with that working group on UBC campus later this morning. That also means I'll need to plan my time so I have the 30 minutes in advance to catch the shuttle from VGH to UBC. But for now, heads-down in to the documentation to make sure I'm ready. Although undoubtedly there'll be some other distractions before I walk to the shuttle...

Got to campus, attending the meeting, came out with progress and results; feeling good about that one. Shuttled back to my office and got heads-down into some paper-work that needed my attention. Got through that, and moved on to catching up with some of my team working nearby to find out what they are up-to today.

Back to the office, fielded some vendor phone calls, and got back to work reviewing documentation prepared by the team, provided feedback to senior management on other initiatives, and getting my team's incident & project management stats up-to-date.

Wrapped the day with a meeting with the Health Authorities to discuss some network gear status and developed a short action plan to deal with that, and then headed back to the skytrain for the trek home. Along the way home picked up more email on the blackberry and reviewed more network & process documentation.

And that's an average day - well, a little lighter on meetings than a truly average day, but pretty close!

In retrospect on the day, it's good to look at how I used my time, and determine how/where I can use it more wisely moving forward. I also have been reviewing my communications and trying to see where I can improve those. Always room for improvement, always lots to learn.

HPSWU 2010 Part 1 - Behind the Scenes with Vivit

Thursday morning, my last day at the HP Software Universe, and after a quick breakfast with Jim Murphy from Pepperweed Consulting I'm covering the Vivit showcase floor booth until my team-mates finish their breakfast and start their shifts.

So I feel like I've been in D.C. forever at this point, as I flew in last Friday and have now been here almost a full week. While the conference only started in earnest on Tuesday, my arrival so much in advance was to attend the Vivit Board of Directors meetings all-day Saturday & Sunday.

What happens at these mysterious meetings is mostly a lot of getting organised for the year ahead, and making sure that the most important operational issues of managing an international users group are identified, prioritised, and assigned; and when we can, get action items with due dates!

One of the other big benefits is getting time with the HP executives and making progress on our relationship between the user community and the software giant.