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Leverage the power of cloud computing using your existing IT infrastructure

Building a cloud infrastructure in smaller IT environments while optimizing cost with tiered storage

Special guest John Arrasjid Principal Architect & VCDX with VMware

April 10, 2012

hosted by Mario Blandini @ Drobo

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§  Session Abstract •  Enabling IT as a service through cloud computing gives you a more

efficient, flexible and cost-effective model

•  The IT team in a smaller organization is often just 1 or 2 people, and they already have some investment in virtualization

•  This episode discusses the latest architectures for building a cloud infrastructure in smaller IT environments, and present valuable tips on increasing service levels and optimizing cost with tiered storage

§  Background on Expert Guest – John Arrasjid •  VMware is the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, and

delivers customer-proven solutions that accelerate IT

•  John has nearly 3 decades of experience as a consultant, IT manager, and architect, is author of several USENIX publications on Cloud Computing, and is Principal Architect in Solution & Services Engineering @ VMware

Abstract & Background

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Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided as a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network

Virtualization is the essential catalyst for cloud computing

§  Private, Public, Hybrid. Always over Internet?

§  IT responsiveness and agility = competitive edge

•  For SMBs, also means management efficiencies

•  Can enable lower cost delivery of infrastructure and services

Cloud Computing for SMBs

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Basic Architecture – What You Will Need §  Physical servers for running applications in your private cloud §  Two or more SAN storage devices for tiering

§  VMware vSphere, vCenter, and vCloud Director •  What is vCAT and how does it apply to SMB?

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§  Approach 1 = Multiple storage devices at price points

•  Use Storage Profiles technology built-in to vSphere 5.0

•  Define storage capabilities and apply to storage profile

§  Approach 2 = Tiering within a storage system

•  Use automated tiering in the storage to move between SSD, SAS, and SATA storage

•  Most solutions are based on learning access patterns and intelligently placing storage on the right tier

Approaches to Tiering Primary Storage

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§  SMBs

•  Often need HA but cannot afford Enterprise Tier 1

‣  Can tier inside the box, or use 2 lower-cost devices

§  Remote Office

•  Often a subset of apps or smaller apps

‣  Can be one device, and leverage “cloud” storage at primary site

§  Test / Dev

•  Often cannot afford the right capacity for budget

‣  Can use Tier 2 storage with same capabilities

Storage Price / Performance elsewhere

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§  Top concerns

•  Implementation and Migration

•  Security & Control

§  Addressing Those Concerns

•  Fast Provisioning ‣  Using VMware’s unique Linked Clone technology, rapidly clone

base vApps into children vApps by only storing changes made by children and reading all other data from the base.

•  Infrastructure Service Catalog ‣  Deploy & consume pre-configured infrastructure + application

services, such as virtual appliances, virtual machines, & operating system images with the click of a button

•  vShield Security Technologies

Leveraging vCloud Director

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§  Disk-based replication has historically been too costly for SMBs or departments within larger companies

§  Software-based replication is a better fit for SMBs

Comparing approaches to Replication for DR

Software-Based Replication SAN Appliance Disk-to-disk

Replication

Recovery Point Near real-time (e.g. 15min)

Near real-time - real time

Near real-time - real time

Recovery Time <1hr - ~30min <1hr – instantly <30min - instantly

Scalability Good Very Good Very Good

Management Per server or Centralized Centralized Per array

Entry Cost $ $$ - $$$ $$$ - $$$$

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New in vSphere 5.0 & SRM 5.0

§  VMware vSphere v5 Standard Edition licenses or greater •  SRM w/ vSphere Replication not currently available for Essentials or Essentials Plus kits

§  VMware SRM Standard Edition licenses (up to 75 VMs) - $195 per VM •  Minimum qty is 25 @ $195 ea, or $4,875

§  Drobo 12-bay SAN Storage for Business, model B1200i – MSRP $11,999 with 12TB •  For recovery site complementing existing SAN at protected site, or for both sites

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Putting It Together – vCloud for SMBs

§  VMware vCloud Director - $3,750 (Includes a license for 25 managed virtual machines) §  VMware vCloud Director requires VMware vSphere Enterprise & vCenter Server Standard

§  Drobo SAN Storage for Business §  Drobo B1200i as Tier 1 or Tier 2 depending on performance requirements §  Drobo B800i for Tier 2 or Tier 3 optimized for capacity

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§  Top Questions •  After how many VMs should I start looking at vCloud?

•  How highly available does my storage need to be at each tier?

§  Key Takeaways •  Cloud computing gives you a more efficient, flexible and cost-

effective model for infrastructure

•  Small teams with even 1 or 2 people already have some investment in virtualization so they are underway

•  Drobo is great storage for a tiered architecture for cloud infrastructure in smaller IT environments

Questions & Key Takeaways

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Thank You For Participating! Additional information @ http://www.drobo.com/vcloud

+ a special THANK YOU to our listeners

and to expert guest John Arrasjid

http://www.twitter.com/vcdx001 http://www.vmware.com/go/vcat

April 10, 2012

hosted by Mario Blandini @ Drobo