VMware GSX ServerCluster-Based Solution

Denis Archambault, VM6 Inc.Claude Goudreault, VM6 Inc.

IntroductionTaken from a customer case, we will show you how our GSX Server cluster-based solution enabled us to:

Improve IT service delivery in terms of capacity, availability, and continuityDeliver recurring savings of $500,000 a year

Content

Solution conceptSolution architectureITIL IT service deliveryLive demonstrationSolution benefits

Solution Concept

Using Virtual Machine EXTransform GSX Server virtual machines into cluster resourcesManage the virtual machines as cluster resources over a clustered farm of GSX Server hosts

Solution Architecture

Solution Architecture

ITIL IT Service DeliverySolution designed using ITIL best practices in terms of:

Capacity management (provisioning)Availability management (uptime)Continuity management (recovery)

Our live demonstration will show you how we meet these best practices

- Live Demo -

Capacity managementCluster-based solution makes it simple to:

Create new virtual machines from templatesTransform virtual machines into cluster resourcesOptimize hardware resources between virtual machines

- Live Demo -

Availability managementCluster-based solution makes it simple to:

Monitor availability and performance of virtual machinesMove production virtual machines across multiple GSX Server hostsProvide service redundancy Use GSX Server in a high availability environment

- Live Demo -

Continuity managementCluster-based solution makes it simple to:

Backup and restore cluster-based virtual machinesMove virtual machines from one physical location to anotherDuplicate cluster environments

- Live Demo -

Perform a hardware crash (killing one node)Recover all running services (e.g., virtual machines) on the other node

Solution BenefitsIncreased IT service delivery performanceReduced the number of physical servers from 130 down to 60Increased hardware usage over 75%Reduced recurring costs by $525,000

Server maintenance costs ($225,000 / year)Server related labor costs ($300,000 / year)

Conclusion Our VMware GSX Server cluster-based solution delivers:

Easy, rapid provisioning of IT servicesHigh availabilityFull redundancyLow costsWorld class IT Service Delivery standards