Introducing logical servers: Making data center infrastructures more adaptive

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Introducing logical servers: Making data center

infrastructures more adaptive

technology brief, 2

edition

Abstract.............................................................................................................................................. 2

Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 2

Overview of logical servers................................................................................................................... 3

Why use logical servers?...................................................................................................................... 5

Logical servers in an HP BladeSystem environment................................................................................... 5

Comprehensive management ................................................................................................................ 6

Managing logical servers using HP Insight Dynamics – VSE software ......................................................... 7

Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................... 8

Appendix: HP Virtual Connect technology .............................................................................................. 9

For more information.......................................................................................................................... 11

Call to action .................................................................................................................................... 11

Summary of content (11 pages)

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Introducing logical servers: Making data center infrastructures more adaptive technology brief, 2nd edition Abstract.............................................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 2 Overview of logical servers.......................................................................
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Abstract This technology brief describes the HP strategy and long-term vision for logical servers to make a data center infrastructure more adaptive. Products based on logical server technology will be implemented in stages and released at the right time for the market. Logical servers are a new class of abstracted servers that allows administrators to manage physical machines and virtual machines using the same management construct.
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servers, HP enables IT administrators to significantly accelerate their speed of change for greater flexibility. Overview of logical servers A logical server is a management abstraction that simplifies and optimizes the provisioning and re-provisioning of servers. Because a logical server is abstracted from the underlying platform, it makes those underlying resources anonymous to the application/OS stack (Figure 1).
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Figure 2 illustrates how a logical server could be created from a physical resource pool using HP Virtual Connect (VC) modules to form a VC domain. The logical server can be created from and moved to any compatible resources in a domain; or it can remain as an inactive profile without any defined resources. The ability to move the logical server profile requires sharing of resources 3 at all levels, including shared storage solutions for the OS boot image, the application image, and the application data.
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managing logical servers with procedural, structured processes. The software includes capabilities to determine ideal placement of logical server workloads. Why use logical servers? Because logical servers are abstracted or decoupled from the underlying platforms, the underlying hardware takes the identity presented by the logical server profile. An administrator will be able to move a logical server from one physical machine to another or from a virtual machine to another in a matter of minutes.
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result of the broadened resource pool boundary, administrators will have a simplified workflow process for a much greater number of resources. • Enables bulk provisioning of network resources, whether connected to physical machines or virtual machines. • Exists side-by-side with virtual machines to provide abstraction and mobility for the widest range of server resources and applications.
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Managing logical servers using HP Insight Dynamics – VSE software The logical server management functionality included in HP Insight Dynamics – VSE software provides an integrated manager for all logical servers, whether they are created using physical or virtual machines. The logical server management interface provides a graphical view of the system topology, allowing administrators to easily visualize and manage all servers, their connectivity, and unique server attributes.
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Figure 3. Example user interface for managing logical servers HP Insight Dynamics – VSE leverages the already shipping software, Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager (VCEM), which allows administrators to seamlessly manage up to 1600 c-Class server blades (up to 100 c7000 enclosures) using a single console application.
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Appendix: HP Virtual Connect technology Historically, an industry-standard server was bound individually to specific network connections as indicated by the black lines on the left-hand side of Figure A-1. This meant that every time a server was moved, added, or changed in the network, network administrators had to account for associated MAC address changes. Similarly, storage administrators would have to update SAN fabric zoning to account for WWN changes. Figure A-1.
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Figure A-2.
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For more information For additional information, refer to the resources listed below. Source Hyperlink HP BladeSystem www.hp.com/go/bladesystem/ HP Insight Dynamics – VSE www.hp.com/go/insightdynamics HP virtualization solutions www.hp.com/go/virtualization Call to action Send comments about this paper to TechCom@HP.com. © 2008 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.