Building the Dynamic Data Center: Topics

Server Virtualization: Beyond Consolidation

2008 marks the year of choice in virtualization solutions for commodity hardware and operating systems. Over the past few years, x86 server-based server virtualization has spread like wildfire throughout organizations and has enabled a wave of system consolidation in an effort to stem the tide of growing business demands. The next step in server virtualization is beyond consolidation, where high availability and dynamic systems management enables virtualization to be the new operating system for the enterprise. However, roadblocks stand in the way, including vendor licensing practices mired in the static unmovable past as well as lack of standards. Movement in these areas will enable the next huge value proposition of the virtualized dynamic enterprise to be realized. Key areas explored include:

• Licensing practices that enable virtualization
• Virtualization mobility, automation, and orchestration
• Virtualization high availability
• Virtual machine monitoring, detection, and security
• Charge-back in a virtual world

Storage for the Virtual Data Center

The dynamic data center requires the mobility of IT resources that are decoupled from the constraints of physical systems. The integration of server and storage virtualization enables dynamic resource allocation and movement for both applications and the storage they require. This topic explores what happens when virtual worlds – servers and storage -- collide. Choices in storage virtualization enabled by lower cost iSCSI Storage Area Networks (SANs), increased choices in Network Attached Storage (NAS), and the improvement in global file systems is paving the way for improved virtual storage support of server virtualization platforms. However, the lack of standardized storage management interfaces and protocols has slowed the adoption of low-cost, virtualized storage and threatens to create vendor lock-in. Key areas explored include:

• Integration of server virtualization and storage
• Storage virtualization trends
• File virtualization and global namespaces
• iSCSI vs. FCoE
• Storage management standards
• Storage technologies required by the Dynamic Data Center

Data Center Management Automation

As IT organizations seek to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs through IT services, management automation and orchestration of all data center systems – both physical and virtual -- is required to achieve the dynamic data center. Service providers and enterprises require new management techniques, systems and tools such as those based on SOAP/XML or CIM to replace aging SNMP, RMON, and related management platforms. Integration of management domains across the enterprise, including federation of CMDBs and systems interface standardization efforts enables orchestration across the enterprise. Continued improvements in instrumentation and incident management systems promise more rapid problem diagnosis. While a common heterogeneous enterprise wide management system does not exist, customers can take steps towards reducing the number of disparate management systems through logical integrations while applying ITIL and ITSM principles. Key issues discussed include:

• IT automation and orchestration for the Dynamic Data Center
• Virtual machine interoperability: OVF and DMTF
• ITIL and ITSM in a successful service-oriented IT organization
• Securing the management and orchestration system
• Management standards efforts: on the clock
• Getting to the bottom with improved diagnostics and troubleshooting

Data Center Efficiency: Energized, Miniaturized, and Highly Available

Data center expenditures have become top-of-mind for CIOs and IT administrators. Global competition and eCommerce are driving the phenomenal growth of data and systems. As a result, data centers are running out of power and space. Also, a 24x7 operation demands a resilient, dynamic data center to service the needs of international customers. Energy efficiency, space, and uptime requirements are driving data center technology advancements including virtualization, server and storage density, and increased availability. Data centers are built with power redundancy, advanced thermal dynamics, and business continuity in mind. Attendees will gain insight into the technological evolution of new hardware designs in blade servers and compute nodes, efficient and resilient facilities infrastructure, and high availability design for business continuity. Key technologies and trends discussed include:

• Energy efficient data center design
• Energy saving storage techniques
• Miniaturization of data center systems
• Standards for measuring IT processing efficiency
• Business impact analysis: the keystone to successful continuity solutions
• Disaster avoidance: bypassing the traps