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IBM SmartCloud Entry for IBM Power Systems

First impressions

Nathan Edwards([email protected])

AIX and PowerVM Specialist

Skill Level: Introductory

Date: 06 Dec 2012

IBM SmartCloud Entry for IBM Power Systems is an entry-level privatecloud offering from IBM for IBM POWER processor-based systems. When

the required software stack is installed and configured, the ability to deploy and

manage virtual machines (VMs) becomes possible through a web front end.

I recently attended the IBM SmartCloud Entry for Power Systems workshop

in Sydney, and was impressed by what I saw. The following article is my first

impression of the product, albeit with limited exposure to its full potential.

First impressions

I am a fan of the command line, so the idea of deploying a complete IBM AIXenvironment by using a graphical user interface (GUI) was something I was

interested in seeing.

After all, why would anyone become involved with the aesthetics of a GUI, when

there is the opportunity to wallow in the beauty of commands through a Secure Shell

(SSH) client?

For many years, I have been configuring Power Systems, deploying logical partitions

or LPARs (VMs), and have written fully automated Network Installation Management

(NIM) installations, including scripted post-build tasks which delivered full-fledged,

production-ready LPARs with minimum effort. However, as we work with the ever-

changing technology, I attended the workshop with an open mind, and I am very glad

that I did.

The four-day workshop was led by Red Steele from IBM, who is excellent at

conducting lectures and courses. The first two days were dedicated to configuring the

environment (Virtual I/O Serveror VIOS and VMs). The second half of the workshop

was spent installing and exploring IBM SmartCloud Entry.
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An overview of SmartCloud Entry for Power Systems

IBM SmartCloud Entry combines the virtualization features of IBM PowerVM with

a sleek web-based interface to deploy and manage VMs. The SmartCloud Entry

software utilizes IBM Systems Director and IBM Systems Director VMControl.

The high-level configuration used during our workshop looked as shown in the

following figure.

The components required for IBM SmartCloud Entry can be installed into existing

environments, and although the workshop focused on a single VIOS configuration,

dual VIOS is supported. It is possible to install both Systems Director and

SmartCloud Entry on one VM.

Installation time

Every environment is different, but as a guide, the configuration that was used duringthe workshop took 2.5 days to build and install. This included building the VIOS and

LPARs, as well as installation of the required software.

Even a basic setup provides the basis to become familiar with the product and, more

importantly, to realize just how simple and easy it is to deploy a new VM through it

without having any knowledge of VIOS, NIM, or the Hardware Management Console

(HMC).


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Ease of use

Web-based front-end interfaces are supposed to be simple, free of clutter, and

intuitive. That is exactly what IBM SmartCloud Entry for Power Systems has

managed to achieve.

Deploying a new VM is as simple as a few clicks and, when the AIX installation has

completed, you log in to the new VM. It is as easy as that.

Of course, underneath the covers, the HMC has been busy building the LPAR profile,

the VIOS has created and mapped a virtual Small Computer System Interface

(VSCSI) client disk, NIM has created and set up the required NIM resources, and

an unattended NIM Base Operating System (BOS) installation has been initiated

and completed. But if you simply want a new VM, you do not really need to care

about any of this, which is what makes IBM SmartCloud Entry for Power Systems an

excellent product.

From a purists perspective, the naming convention of virtual devices, such as VSCSI

disks on the VIOS, or the virtual adapter numbering in the LPAR profile, might be

different to what you would create yourself, but it all works very well.

The basis of building a VM is essentially deploying a MKSYSB, which, in the

SmartCloud Entry front end is called an appliance.

During testing, we attempted to capturea new appliance from a VM which had more

than one volume group (rootvg and datavg). Capturing a new appliance from a NIM

mindset can be thought of as cloning an existing VM or LPAR.

We discovered that the MKSYSB image / appliance only contained information about

rootvg, not datavg, and there did not appear the option to select multiple volume

groups when attempting the capture. Therefore, even though it is very simple to

deploy a new VM, it looks like further work would be required to assign storage to the

VM.

Another aspect we were unable to test during the workshop was how the VSCSI

disk mappings would be handled under a dual-VIOS configuration. We assumed

that under a dual VIOS configuration, disks from each VIOS would be shown in

SmartCloud Entry, so that one disk from each could be associated with the new VM.

However, I would like to see this for myself, to see how it really behaves.

Possible uses for IBM SmartCloud Entry for Power

Systems

The self-service aspect of the solution means that it would fit very well into

environments where requests for new VMs are common, as deploying a new VM

using IBM SmartCloud Entry for Power Systems is quick and easy, allowing technical

staff to spend more time in other areas, on projects, for example.


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Another example is where end users or consumers are charged for resources

(processor, memory, disk) that are consumed by the VM whilst it is operating. It is

possible to configure IBM SmartCloud Entry for Power Systems with the metering or

billing functionality. System resource utilization is collected and calculated in either

units or monetary terms, for chargeback purposes. Monetary values are configurable

to suit the requirements of individual organizations.

Considering that the software creates the LPAR profile and virtual adapters, manages

the mapping and assigning of VSCSI disks, and installs AIX through non-prompted

install, it can be said that the product is not limited to self-service, and can easily

become the default means to deploy every VM, due to ease and consistency.

Granted, some posttasks are likely to be required, such as assigning additional disks

for othervolume groups, but SmartCloud Entry is definitely taking care of a fair chunk

of the work in VM deployment.

SummaryIBM SmartCloud Entry for Power Systems provides a streamlined approach to deploy

and manage VMs, and the web-based front end is intuitive and easy to use. Even

though it became clear during tests conducted at the workshop that further work

would be required by technical staff to present storage to the VM for use with other

volume groups after it was deployed, a considerable part of building a new VM is

taken care of by the software.

Chargeback capability becomes possible by the metering, charging, and billing

options available with SmartCloud Entry, and the administrator has the ability to

configure automatic expiry of newly created VMs. New accounts can be configuredwhich can be assigned to separate projects, under which new VMs can be created

and managed.

Unfortunately, one area that we were unable to test during the workshop was a dual-

VIOS configuration. Therefore, we were unable to confirm whether VSCSI disks

could be assigned to the VM from both VIOS instances during deployment, that is,

one disk from VIOS1 and one disk for VIOS2, and then mirrored on AIX across the

two disks for resilience. However, dual-VIOS is a supported configuration.

From my limited exposure to the product, I would not say that it is a one-stop-shop

solution to a fully configured VM, because although it is possible for someone with

limited SmartCloud Entry training (and no AIX or IBM PowerVM knowledge) to create

a VM, technical skill is required to further configure additional disks and volume

groups.

Since October 2012, AIX Enterprise Edition includes IBM SmartCloud Entry Bundle,

which means that the software is ready to use.


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After seeing the product in action during the workshop, I would highly recommend

evaluating SmartCloud Entry for Power Systems to realize its potential within your

organization.

Resources

For further reading and information on SmartCloud Entry for Power Systems, refer to

the following links:

IBM SmartCloud Entry for Power Systems

IBM SmartCloud Entry: Reliable, secure and easy-to-use

IBM AIX Enterprise Edition Overview
http://public.dhe.ibm.com/common/ssi/ecm/en/pod03076usen/POD03076USEN.PDFhttps://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/iwm/web/signup.do?source=stg-web&S_PKG=500025663http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/power/solutions/cloud/smartcloudentry/index.html


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About the author

Nathan Edwards

Nathan Edwards is an IBM AIX and IBM PowerVM specialist based inMelbourne, Australia. His experience with virtualization of AIX began

with the introduction of IBM POWER4 processors in 2001, continuing

through to the latest high-end POWER7 processor architecture.

Copyright IBM Corporation 2012

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ibm smartcloud entry for ibm power systems

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