Download VPM Technical

Veritas™ Provisioning Manager
Technical Presentation
Agenda
Challenges in Data Center Operations
 Improving Operational Practices
 Data Center Automation - Opportunities for Application
Veritas Provisioning Manager
Applying Server Build Automation
Summary and Recommendations
Veritas Provisioning Manager
2
The Expanding Datacenter
Storage
Databases
Authentication
Applications
Applications
Switches
LOB Production
Subnets
Development, Test, Q&A
Subnets
LOB Production Subnets
Veritas Provisioning Manager
3
Trends In IT Architecture
Number of “Servers” is growing

Scale out Linux/Windows = more servers

Scale up + partitioning = more instances
Definition of an “Application” is changing

Multi-tiered applications  SOA = greater complexity

More business critical applications = greater risk
Server virtualization emerging

Across all server platforms = more OS instances

Moving into production = greater exposure
Shared storage is ubiquitous

SAN/FC attached database servers = more dependencies

NAS/iSCSI attached middle tiers and web = more
dependencies and complexity
Veritas Provisioning Manager
Environment is
more distributed
Environment is
more complex
Environment is
more dynamic
4
Operational Consequences and Challenges
Reactive
 Extemporized processes
 Ad-hoc builds and configurations
• High error rates
• No baseline for support
Balkanized groups
 System, network, application, directory
administrators
 Application code from many
development teams
Every group has a tool
 Jumpstart, Kickstart, NIM …
 Scripts and more scripts and …
Veritas Provisioning Manager
• Everything takes longer
• SLAs missed
• Hard to maintain
• Impossible to integrate
• Hidden tribal knowledge
5
Why Automate Server Build, Rebuild, and Configuration?
Major source of costs, delays, errors, outages

Unmanageable environments

Frequent “out-of-band” changes = drift

Time and personnel sinks
A process to implement:
1.
Create standard system definitions and templates
2.
Capture best practices of application install and configuration
3.
Define “approved” processes for server build, migration, and changes
4.
Mandate “out-of-band” changes use standard practices and tools
5.
Implement these processes and practices as “point-and-click”
Take single-system operations to multi-system operations
Veritas Provisioning Manager
6
Automating a Process
OS Install / Config
hours
Handoff
days
Network Config
hours
Handoff
days
Database Install / Conf
hours
Handoff
days
Application(s)
hours
Veritas Provisioning Manager
Automated Provisioning and
Configuration
Select and Start
Get coffee while…
OS Install / Conf
Network Conf
Database …
Applications …
Apply revisions …
:30
7
Scaling Automating a Process
OS Install / Config
hours
Handoff
days
Network Config
WEEKS
hours
Handoff
days
Database Install / Conf
hours
Handoff
days
Application(s)
hours
Veritas Provisioning Manager
x20
Automated Provisioning and
Configuration
Select and Start
Get coffee while…
OS Install / Conf
Network Conf
Database …
Applications …
Apply revisions …
MINUTES
:30
8
Agenda
Challenges in Data Center Operations
 Improving Operational Practices
 Data Center Automation - Opportunities for Application
Veritas Provisioning Manager
Applying Server Build Automation
Summary and Recommendations
Veritas Provisioning Manager
9
VPM Functional Summary
CONFIGURE NETWORK
INSTALL/CONFIGURE
ADDTL. APPLICATIONS
INSTALL OS/APPS
IMAGE AND PERSONALIZE
DISCOVER AND PROBE
Veritas Provisioning Manager
10
Core Functions
Image-based deployment
 Image/”snapshot” unattended installs
 Personalization and configuration
Package/model-based deployment and configuration
 Applications, firmware, BIOS, device operations
 Models provide mechanism for custom configuration
Automate process of deployment and configuration of
servers
 Opscripts, jobs
 Automated rule-based deployment
Integrated VLANs operation
Veritas Provisioning Manager
11
VPM – How It Works
Managed Servers
VPM Master • Solaris
Server
• Windows
• Red Hat Linux
Web UI
VPM Agents
• Bare metal “agent” (AOS)
• OS Agent (ITAP)
• Windows, Red Hat, SUSE,
Solaris, AIX
Veritas Provisioning Manager
Repositories
Database
• Embedded, or
• Oracle 9i, 10g
• CIFS
• NFS
12
Key VPM Characteristics
Based on standard network protocols

No separate DHCP, tftp, or OS vendor servers required
Single web-based UI for all platforms
Bare-metal RAM OS (Active OS, Linux kernel for x86, Solaris for SPARC,
AIX for Power) for snapshot/image save/deploy/compress and bare metal
operation
ITAP agent for personalization, package deployment, server comparisons


Packages can do anything a command line or shell can do.
Plus parameterization (variables), file/registry edits, constraints…
Distributed repositories for speed and scalability
Fine-grained role-based administration
Automatic rule-driven and best-fit provisioning
Veritas Provisioning Manager
13
Why Image-based Provisioning
Image “snapshots”

Typically ~15-20 minutes
AOS (Active OS) is an architecture-specific RAM-resident OS




AOS understands volumes and file system
• File, smart-sector, sector-mode
AOS creates correct geometry, applies to new disk(s)
• Volume, partition, filesystem information
Personalization “customizes” image for new environment
• Each OS instructed to scan and reconfigure devices (implementation is OSspecific)
• Hostname, IP address, other required network information
AOS takes a snapshot in multiple layers
• Incremental snapshots
Fast, efficient, complete, portable across systems
Veritas Provisioning Manager
14
VPM Software Packages and Models
Software deployment and configuration
Complements image snapshots
Powerful basis for extensible automation
Package construct contains software, scripts, data,
Model contains variable or parameterized information for
installation instance
 Attached to package
Veritas Provisioning Manager
15
Provisioning Manager Software Packages and Models
Uses for package and models:




Install, uninstall and modify software, patches, any arbitrary entity
Repeat a common system management task
Issue any CLI commands or scripts
Perform any of the above on multiple servers simultaneously
A software package may contain:



CLI command, CLI script, executables, files
Anything you can think of
Attached Models
Models define parameters (variables) for software packages




Pre configuration commands (e.g. purge directories)
Parameters (typed and checked - INT, float, string, IP address, password, directory etc)
• Can be mandatory, defaulted, prompted
Post configuration commands (e.g. start dependent programs)
Object modification (Any file, test files, XML,INI, INF, IIS DB, and registry)
• Replaces manual edits and errors
Veritas Provisioning Manager
16
Provisioning Manager – Leveraging Automation
Console
•Operations needs to install and reconfigure three
application packages on fifty servers
Web Server
Provisioning
Manager
Servers
Repositories
Veritas Provisioning Manager
17
Provisioning Manager – Start Processes
Console
•Operator uses browser UI to select three software
packages, then select fifty servers, clicks “Start”
Web Server
Provisioning
Manager
Servers
Repositories
Veritas Provisioning Manager
18
Provisioning Manager – Parallel Execution Begins
Console
•VPM automatically assembles task list and begins
process on fifty systems
Web Server
Provisioning
CMD: “Deploy Packages XYZ”
Manager
Servers
Repositories
Veritas Provisioning Manager
19
Provisioning Manager – Unattended Management
Console
To fifty servers, in parallel:
•READ packages XYZ
•Perform edits
Web Server
•Perform configuration
•Perform commands
Provisioning
Manager
SW
SW SW
SW
Servers
Repositories
Veritas Provisioning Manager
20
Capturing Processes in VPM
OpScripts and jobs
 GUI created sequence of commands
• Created by architect or administrator, used by operators
• No coding or scripting!!
 Can be auto-triggered:
• Date and time
• A VPM Event (Like “Start Up Server Successful” or “New Server Autodiscovered”)
• An SNMP Trap
• Combine with provisioning policies
Veritas Provisioning Manager
21
VPM Major Components
Managed
Assets
VPM Server
Web Browser
Web-based Console
Logic
Repository
Database
Execution and Logging
Repository
ITAP
Agent
SPARC
(Solaris)
ITAP
Agent
ITAP
Agent
PowerPC
x86
(Windows/Linux) (AIX)
Veritas Provisioning Manager
Switches
22
Agenda
Challenges in Data Center Operations
 Improving Operational Practices
 Data Center Automation - Opportunities for Application
Veritas Provisioning Manager
Applying Server Build Automation
Summary and Recommendations
Veritas Provisioning Manager
23
Test and Development Operations
Problem:
 Constantly changing software configurations
• Systems need to built and rebuilt continually
 High sysadmin requirements to meet needs
 Manual operation leads to high error rates
 Lack of responsiveness impacts productivity
VPM functions:
 Fast, simple, automated build and rebuild
• Reduces admin workload for standardized tasks
• Reduces errors and improves supportability
• Increases developer productivity
Veritas Provisioning Manager
24
VPM in Disaster Recovery Repurposing Operations
Problem:


Full replicated DR site is expensive
Building DR failover “on-the-fly” is slow and unreliable
VPM function:


Re-use your Test/Dev resources for DR.
Document and capture your best deployment practices, then on demand:
• Snapshot current Test/Development suite
• Deploy base production snapshots
•
•
•
•



Use VPM restore, SAN or NAS for application install
Attach to SAN, NAS, replicated mirrors, etc for volatile data
Go …
Many designs / scenarios are possible
Avoid replicated hardware suite costs
Improve response time and SLAs
Reduce errors and improve supportability
Veritas Provisioning Manager
25
Operational Challenges in Redeploying Applications and
Servers
Problem:

Moving applications from server to server is tedious, slow, error prone

Migration of data centers or deployment of new servers magnifies problem

Almost impossible to ensure ALL characteristics of an application are captured
and replicated
VPM function:

Pick up a snapshot and drop it on a different / new platform

Imaging technology + platform personalization + parameter-based customization
= simple and complete re-deployment
• Imaging is dramatically faster than script/media-based alternatives
• Accuracy and completeness of migration
• Reduce errors and improve supportability
Veritas Provisioning Manager
26
Deploying or Reconfiguring Large Numbers of Applications
Problem:
 What if you have 200+ SAP applications you need to keep updating?
 Or constantly changing content that needs to be pushed to a hundred
servers?
 Slow, unresponsive, error prone, consumes resources…
VPM function:
 Standardization and automation of deployment
• Speed deployment, cut errors, reduce costs, improve
supportability, improve responsiveness, meet SLA goals
Veritas Provisioning Manager
27
More examples:
Create standardized “golden” server build and push to subsidiary
sites
 Known characteristics = supportable
 Simple deployment = time saved
Rebuild 20 servers with X OS + Y patches + Z applications
 Select and go
Q&A engineer needs to test:
 OS version A, Service Pack B, Database C, Application D
 Selects free asset, relevant snapshots and packages, click “go”
Test needs to run destructive test of multi-tiered application:
 Snapshot all servers
 Run tests
 Restore snapshots
 Minimal hands-on
Veritas Provisioning Manager
28
Summary:
Current server build and configuration is:
 Too complex, resource-intensive, slow, error-prone, no control / audit
Process, practice, tools exist to remediate server build and
configuration problems
•
Examine process and practice, formally document them
Applicable VPM capabilities:
 Image-based provisioning for speed and accuracy
 Software packages and models for flexibility and customization
 Opscripts and jobs for capture of best practices as process
 Integrated VLAN control for single-step provisioning
Veritas Provisioning Manager
29
Recommendations:
1.
Implement simple snapshot provisioning and reprovisioning
•
2.
VPM uniquely suited for quick implementation
Begin embedding processes in VPM operations
1. Architect specifies process
2. System administrator puts process in VPM using GUI tools
3. Operator uses VPM in day-to-day operation
The Result:
Fast, low-overhead, efficient server build and configuration
Fixes the problem you have, not the theory
Avoids the overhead and failures of “lifecycle management”
Veritas Provisioning Manager
30
Practical Centralized Automation
Databases
Middleware
Applications
One Interface to All Platforms
Simple to Implement
Automated Provisioning
Fast and Accurate
Flexible and Extensible
Network
Veritas Provisioning Manager
No Additional Specialized
Servers Required
Storage
Servers
Virtual Machines
31
Thank you