Bladewatch.com

http://www.loginvsi.com/en/product-overview

Performance is one of the most important aspects of a good user infrastructure. But are you able to predict the impact of necessary updates and upgrades in advance? How do you select the SBC or VDI product that offers the best performance in your environment? Do you find out the maximum capacity of your current systems? And how do you know for sure if your new system is powerful enough for your needs?

Login Virtual Session Indexer (Login VSI) is a unique benchmarking tool to measure the performance and scalability of centralized desktop environments such as Server Based Computing (SBC) and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).

Performance and service level agreements are an important concept and consideration in managing users expectations as we move to a more virtualized and centralized desktop offering, I came across this offering from Login VSI, I’m off to read up more, do check it out.

A big thank you to Mike Laverick and the team at VMware Press for sending me this complimentary copy of his latest book titled “Administering VMware Site Recover 5.0″, I’m genuinely very pleased to have been sent it, I wish Mike and the team all the very best of luck with this latest publication.

http://www.amazon.com/Administering-VMware-Recovery-Manager-Technology/dp/0321799925 or http://www.informit.com/store/product.aspx?isbn=9780321799920

I got sent this through the post to read and review and have just started reading it, I’m excited to see what’s covered and read more up on VMware Recovery Manager. Do check it out if you’re looking for a book about VMware Site Recovery Manager, as I complete more pages, I will update more, there are some pictures below in the meantime.

As I write this there are only 8 left on amazon.co.uk, so you might want to pay a visit sooner rather than later to get a copy:

The back of the book is as follows:

BuildMyVirtual is our latest iPad and web based application for both the SMB and Enterprise space, it’s a very simple concept based on the self service model for requesting and building virtual machines.

The user selects the specification and options from the screen below (End user customizable with your logo / your color schemes etc)

User having selected everything then clicks the send button which submits the build request:

Both the drop down values and the text can be adjusted easily.

Now the shockingly cool bit.  The application in the background generates an XML file containing the values selected so that you can script it into your build mechanism whatever it is, and then emails it either to a shared mailbox like server builds, a user’s email address or even the help-desk for it to be logged and the xml as an added attachment.

A thank you/confirmation page is then displayed:

This page is called ok.html, and is fully configurable so it can do any cool things like generate xml scripts or commands to kick off the build, or simply have your team/company logo with a confirmation message and mail box or link to the server build/process documentation.

So what is the aim of the server:

• Make the virtual server provisioning process look more professional
• Remove our dependency on endless complex spreadsheets
• Move towards a centralized virtual offering – standard configurations which the user selects
• Bridge between next generation fully automated solutions and where you might be today
• Maintain control for IT to validate configurations, so it can be as automated or manual as you like.

What do you get then?

A zip file containing all the bits you need to put on a web server and host for the tool to work

The source files, the code, everything you need to start with as a template to building our your own version of the tool with the branding, the logos and the functionality you choose. You could even build it around LDAP/SSO if you wish, integrate it to your help desk tool so it allocates a call or a build request number – the possibilities are endless.

What don’t you get?

A tool that builds virtual machines – this app aims to give you the framework from which you can automate or manually provision machines with less manual paperwork, but the right level of professionalism and ability to check what the user has requested is deliverable.

When does it go live?

Soon, we’re finishing off the base product so to speak and making a version for the iPad, and then launching it for free as a template or a real tool for all to use. No tricks, unlocked source files, no debate. However if you want it customized and extended to bring new functionality, we can of course provide that.

Our Live Demo version is here for you to play with until the end of time.  At the moment it just sends me an email with what you selected, but once the code is finished we will make it ask what account you want to send it too so you can see it in action.

www.dell.com and www.dell.com/servicedescriptions

• Standardized offering provides customers with a single source for multivendor support and simplified IT management, regardless of vendor as IT providers potentially change strategic roadmaps
• Hardware support from Dell now available for customers using HP, IBM, Lenovo and Acer products
• Helps reduce customer costs by eliminating the burden of managing varied systems, contracts and warranties
• Now available In Europe, in addition to North America, with expansion plans for Asia and Latin America

Dell has extended its award-winning ProSupport service to include non-Dell systems and devices in Europe, freeing customers from the burden of managing multiple vendors, disparate systems and service contracts. With one point of contact and accountability for all support needs, customers can rely on the proven ability of Dell to manage their systems, freeing up valuable IT time and resources.

Dell has been providing Multivendor Hardware Support through custom and managed services offerings for customers in the U.S. and through Dell ProSupport™ that includes hardware break/fix, 24x7x365 phone support, escalation management and collaborative support. According to TBR’s Q1 2011 Customer Satisfaction Study, Dell ranks No. 1 among Support Providers in Overall Support Providers, and has been ranked No. 1 in 33 of the 43 reporting periods.

This is great news, that Dell can offer its customers a holistic IT service offering extends the possibilities for Dell as a business/partnering service provider and reduces the barriers to customers getting their problems managed and resolved under one support contract, bringing further choice to the market both in terms of competition and opportunity in the multivendor support contract space. I praise the concept, I’m off to read up more about the announcement. I wonder if this might also strengthen their portfolio of services and offering?  That if I am deploying VMware on Dell servers, they might not only support my new servers but those systems which I am virtualizing or continuing to run during the transition, very cool.

There are many build solutions, many levels of automation and interactivity all aimed at emotive subject of the one click deployment, in some cases, with the right technology, the right processes and investment, we are indeed there, for many we aren’t.

For many we rely on spreadsheets and provisioning forms to meet requirements for billing and inventory management, some way of capturing for IT to know what has been requested and built that week, that month or year, inside or outside of the SLA.

When I write spreadsheet it could be something as simple as the Project Manager, the business guy logging a call or sending an email requesting a new server be built. For the moment, I’m looking at addressing the virtual server space, this is the space where we have deferred success, we can indeed build virtual servers typically in an hour or much less, however our internal processes don’t work like that, the change process, the data gathering and the cross charging mean a form of some sort has to be filled in.  I’ve made an example below.

So what am I doing, what are we working on?  Well I’ve called it buildmyvirtual. It’s a simple web based tool which works from an XML template file, the user selects from pre-determined values to select the virtual machine they want, the specification they want, when the press submit, it then generates an XML input file.

Some notes

• The input file is user editable meaning you can specify the disk sizes, the memory or operating systems your IT department supports.
• The export file contains the values selected from that file allowing you to script this into your build mechanism as a template, as an input file using whatever language you choose, Powershell, C or anything else.
• The application is distributed for the end user to use on a not for profit basis as an end user, ideally if you’re going to sell it on and make millions you would buy me a cup of tea.

So what do I provide or support?

Well it’s end user configurable, I will make sure that you can take the zip file that will be made available put it on a Linux web server or a IIS webserver with PHP support, then you can edit the html file to have your company logo, your team name and then edit the xml so it meets your corporate standards. If it breaks, then you will need to fix it or download it again. We can however put you in touch with our developer who can customize it for you.

So what is it not

It’s not a provisioning tool. It is a bridge between olden days IT processes around requesting service or compute resource and the time at which automation and your in house processes have been improved.  It’s a branding tool, one which allows you to empower the user, free them from paperwork, and at the same time streamline the provisioning process by having just the information you need as an engineer to build the virtual machine.

http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/press/1356190

Oracle today announced availability of Oracle Solaris 11, the first Cloud OS.

Oracle Solaris 11 is designed to meet the security, performance and scalability requirements of cloud-based deployments allowing customers to run their most demanding enterprise applications in private, hybrid, or public clouds.

It will be interesting to see what range of innovations are brought with version 11 to prepare it for next generation solutions including the cloud. The main concepts seem to be:

There seems to have been an emphasis on scalability, virtualization and performance, I’m off to read more about Solaris 11, do check it out.

http://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/vmw-oakhills-netapp-11-15.11.html

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Helps Oak Hills Deliver “Anytime, Anywhere” Learning to Students and Manage Explosive Data Growth

SUNNYVALE, Calif. and PALO ALTO, Calif. —Nov. 15, 2011—Public schools today must deal with increased student enrollment, ongoing state budget cuts, and limited resources, which require them to do more with less. Additionally, they need to figure out how to manage the explosive growth in mobile device and personal laptop usage by students and faculty. Oak Hills Local School District in western Ohio was faced with these challenges and realized that smart decisions made about its IT infrastructure would enable it to deliver anytime, anywhere learning to each of its high school students in light of ongoing budget and resource constraints. As a result, Oak Hills made the transition to a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to centrally manage and deliver desktops to students and educators from its data center, which is built on a NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), VMware (NYSE: VMW), and Cisco® foundation.

It’s always great to see how end users are benefiting from next the technology, not only in terms of cost (in this case approximately $1 million), it’s the agility in the end user experience and the ability to deliver services and functionality that might not previously been available due to both operational and technological barriers removed. An interesting read, do check it out.

We’re launching our FindMyFirmware application to the iPad and Android platforms in the next few days. We’ve improved the user interface and the Android includes the ability to read PDFs natively so you don’t have to download anything complicated. Its been tested on all platforms and we remain very proud of it.

The application allows you to type in a server model and display product information on screen without having to go the vendor site or vendor support site.  The application as ever has been written without involvement of the vendor.  I’m still debating about charging for the application, we have spent over $2000 getting it developed, tested and validated for these platforms in an effort to extend it’s reach and help fellow engineers, sales guys or people that are interested in server models and specifications.

If you have any recommendations about the application do get in touch.

I’m hoping to start work on version 2.1 shortly to make it a more interactive experience, and we are looking to engage the vendors to see if they have any suggestions to help the user experience, but we need to finish our virtualization app first.

After using both the HP MicroServer and the Fujitsu MX130 S1 with Windows 2008 for a few weeks, (I’ve just published the articles) some thoughts then.

The HP MicroServer is very well designed, I have a few hesitations:

• The DVD drive needs to be standard – yes you can get around without it possibly. But I can imagine if I shipped one to dad, the first thing he’d say is where’s the DVD where do I put in my Windows CD? In future you might get away without it, or if you’re network booting it or using ESX it’s not essential, handy nonetheless.
• 1GB RAM isn’t that much these days, we should be looking at 2GB these days.
• Fitting memory isn’t particularly easy due to form factor – but then how often were you planning to do this?
• VGA video – should we be thinking about DVI these days? I had to look around for a vga screen

The Fujitsu is equally well designed though I have a few hesitations:

• No hard drive on the entry edition – something should really be standard, even if it’s 200GB enough to get started
• Questions over scaling up additional storage in terms of internal neatness
• DVI video port – shouldn’t it be VGA -but then an adaptor is included so I can’t really complain
• Is it a re-badged desktop? Do I care?

The winner then – the FUJITSU MX130 S1

If you’re wanting an all round starter server, something to get you going as much as it pains me saying this (I am afterall a massive HP fan), get the Fujitsu, get a hard drive, get Windows 2008, a monitor (if you can’t borrow one) and you’re set.  I can sense my colleagues talking about expansion and the ability to neatly add more drives, but for the average SMB that I and colleagues meet, where the server sits under Jenny’s desk, occasionally has server guy reboot it once a month or patch it, the Fuitsu is ideal, for a number of reasons:

• DVD drive is standard
• Keyboard as standard (in the box shipped to us from reseller)
• Form factor is familiar – it’s like servicing a desktop
• DVI to VGA adaptor standard – so you can use either type monitor
• More powerful cpu – fine for a file server it’s not entirely necessary but it makes Windows just that little bit smoother or it certainly feels that way
• 2GB RAM, so out of the box it will run Windows and your anti virus software nicely

I don’t know if it’s a perception thing or of perceived value, it’s the feel of the Fujitsu, the nice easy to recycle cardboard box which felt like it contained everything. In the box I had:

• Spare hard drive SATA cables (as there was no hard drive in the unit we ordered in it’s defence)
• Keyboard – really a keyboard? But then the company recognizes that you might need one
• Manuals, driver dvds and instruction booklets.

It felt like the Fujitsu guys had thought “right we’re shipping our customer their first server what will they need?” Something that no doubt HP did, but they then thought did you need/want a DVD drive? Did you want 2GB RAM, and I take it you have a keyboard? They’re giving you scalability, but does the target market want that?

It’s often the little things that matter, the keyboard, the DVD, all designed just to make life that little bit easier.

A colleague had got into a long debate with me comparing the two as I ordered both in the same week. He praised the custom nature of the MicroServer, the attention to detail they had made with the design, with the form factor, pointing out that the Fujitsu had a silly name, that it was just a desktop with an old processor with server written on the case. “Indeed” I replied, “indeed, but I think you’re missing something. The spec is actually quite good, the form factor is fine, it’s not massive in size, and I’d argue it’s form factor is something of a benefit in some respects.”

Many times in the past working with remote clients, sites asking them to ‘fit a new hard drive in the server’ resulted in unnecessarily complex “oh a server you say, Bonnie is a desktop engineer, she doesn’t do servers” conversations, sending them something that looks like a desktop might have made that life for me just that little bit easier. Asking them to fit a replacement disk and network boot it might not seem as scary as a thing on the front with a key and many drive bays.

Is it scalable, is it a server in it’s industrial strength and purest form?

No, but as a device to bridge between Ken’s desktop being the server, and having a ‘server’ and following the server mindset, it really is good enough.  Lights out? Well it’s invaluable but then if I were deploying these in bulk, I can live without it, there will typically be someone that I can phone allowing me to ascertain if it’s game over or power cycle it type activities to restore service.

What would I like to see? HP/Fujitsu and Dell go the extra mile and bring me ‘their Genius’

With the extra attention to detail Fujitsu have made, it’s a compelling offering and I think HP need to pay attention, I wonder if they need at the same time to establish if the MicroServer is for the server guy lab, for Gerald to let him have his garage back, or if it’s for the millions of micro businesses around the world that might want their own in house Active Directory, file server or even baby intranet/application server where the economics might lead to cloud but where the confidence, where the comfort is still in having a box under the desk which they reboot ‘every now and again’ or when ‘Fred comes in’.

A small business starter bundle – server + hard drive(s) +Windows + Anti Virus or HP MicroServer + DVD + 2 or 4GB RAM + Windows + Anti Virus each with a free keyboard and mouse as a non cost option again with or without monitor, for around the £400 price mark. Businesses will pay for something that helps them, you need to illustrate the value, whilst there can I also highlight the anti virus updates for three years please, or don’t bother, as my brother had said to me 90 days anti virus is like someone giving you Office and neglecting to give you the license key, almost useful.

Most of all I’d like to see a server as a service, £65 a month gets you a version of Marjorie or a Bernard with everything you need and a guy once a month to turn up, check it looks ok, check there’s no errors, no weird disk type noises and that the back up as a service is working as the lord intended it so. What vendors forget is fix the problem first and everything else later, can I have a ‘Genius on the road’ that pops in for a tea, biscuits and checks that Bernard is working, checks if I need anything else and then goes off. Think of the opportunities, assistance with social media, with blogging, with a website or ecommerce, with the desktop with the laptops or even thin clients? Own the offering is owning the customer – it’s what Apple have in such an effective way, when my Mac makes me emotional, the phone dials Apple, I then turn up speak to Matthew who helps me and makes ever so polite hints that my MacPro from 2007 may be getting a little bit old and I should consider a new one, white possibly, but let’ me continue seeing how long I can keep a computer for, record with G5 was five years….

At this point I can sense any number of my colleagues eager to jump in to say virtualization, cloud, application or infrastructure as a service, indeed, absolutely, but for the car mechanic down the road, the estate agents or the mini PR company, who at the moment runs his email, browses the web and runs his apps on the one ultra cheap five year old PC cranking along, to offer a cheap device where he can store the database,  contacts, keep the invoices independent of the PC and then have them backed up to the web is an incredible exciting concept. Of course moving them to the cloud is the ideal goal for many, but let us all individually operate in our comfort zone, if that’s cloud great, if it’s our first server great, and if it’s a virtual infrastructure down a wire, there’s plenty of opportunity, capacity and choice for all of us. Let us not forget that as we journey along the IT road that is discovery.

http://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/vmw-cisco-vmworld-083011.html

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Aug. 30, 2011 — Today at VMworld® 2011, VMware and Cisco announced new technology innovation and enhancements to their combined virtualization solutions that help customers accelerate their journey to the cloud. Expanding on a strategic relationship and engineering collaboration that spans more than four years, the companies, in conjunction with industry partners, unveiled a breakthrough in network virtualization that will broaden the mobility range of virtual machines across multiple datacenters and cloud environments. The companies also announced enhancements to several desktop virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions designed to boost scalability, security and performance.

Key Facts:

VXLAN: Network Virtualization Breakthrough

• Virtual Extensible Local Area Network, or VXLAN, is the next major step in the path towards logical, virtual networks that can be created on-demand, enabling enterprises to utilize computing and storage capacity for mission critical applications — wherever it’s available.
• For applications running in the cloud, IT managers need to control every user’s access to data and applications with logical networks for each instance of the application.  VXLAN will scale to meet the millions of logical networks required to run applications in the cloud with efficient utilization of network resources.
• VXLAN will also support applications running in hybrid clouds where compute capacity is delivered from pools of resources that may span across private and public clouds, VXLAN will offer a network encapsulation technique with segment identifiers for creating millions of logical networks and for enabling workloads to seamlessly move across datacenters and cloud infrastructures.
• These networking segments will support cloud infrastructures that support multi-tenants that require segmentation for added security and compliance.
• VXLAN, which has the support of multiple industry leading vendors, has been submitted for standardization at Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and a draft of the VXLAN specification is available on the IETF website.
• VMware demonstrated the VXLAN technology during today’s VMworld general session keynote delivered by Steve Herrod, VMware CTO and senior vice president of R&D.  Additionally, during today’s Cisco Super Session, Soni Jiandani, senior vice president Server, Access and Virtualization Technology, will highlight benefits from this cloud innovation.

Anything Cisco and VMware can do to extend the possibilities of the virtual infrastructure, further convergence and platform agility or efficiency has to be good for the end user and industry alike. I’m off to check out the announcement.