Overcoming the challenge
of virtual blindness
Colin Richardson
on365 Ltd
Average IT utilization across all size Data Centers
Source: Schneider Electric study
Virtualization – why even bother?
CPU efficiency
Server consolidation
Floor footprint
Disaster recovery
Labor cost
Fast server deployment
Customers having a “Virtualization First” strategy
Source: IDC, Michelle Bailey, 2010: "The Changing IT Landscape: Virtualization, Cloud Computing and New Datacenter Requirements"
…however Virtualization is no
Silver Bullet either!
Typical
Virtualization
Misunderstandings
#1:
Virtualization is only the
concern of an IT group!
WRONG!
Your virtualization installation will –
like any IT equipment you bring into
your DC – impact the physical
infrastructure of your DC
The challenge is still here!
Facility
IT
• Responsible for critical power and cooling
supplies
• Responsible for IT operations
Applications/Services/Virtualization
Compute Power/Storage Space/Network Access
Servers/Storage Units/Networking Equipment
Critical Power & Cooling
Building/Security/Physical Space
Business Value
DEMAND
SUPPLY
Virtualization
Management
DEMAND
SUPPLY
DEMAND
SUPPLY
Applications
Virtual Machines
Hypervisor
IT hardware
Data Center Infrastructure
Building
Utility
Data Center
Infrastructure
Management
(DCIM)
Virtualization impact on PUE and true
energy savings
Source: Schneider Electric WP118: Virtualization and Cloud Computing: Optimized Power, Cooling, and Management Maximizes Benefits
#2:
Virtual Machines are free!
WRONG!
Each VM started is associated with a
cost of energy as a minimum
Virtualization Sprawl
• Starting new virtual machines is so easy, but…
– Who controls if a VM are ever used?
– Who verifies if power and cooling requirements
are still met?
• A VM running idle does consume energy!
• Each kW in a DC costs £10-15k to build and
£1000 per year to run
Server power consumption
VM impact on idle power
50%
Server Idle
1
2
3
4
Number of VMs
5
#3:
My VM management SW helps
me optimize my energy usage
WRONG!
Your VM management SW is focused
only on balancing the IT resources
(CPU, Memory, Storage)
Scenario 1: Initial State
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
Server #2: 200 Wh
VM
Server #3: 210 Wh
Server #4: 200 Wh
VM
VM
VM
Server #1: 200 Wh
VM
Server #5: 200 Wh
VM
VM
Server #6: 190 Wh
Total Consumption: 1200 Wh
Scenario 2: 1st consolidation
Server #1: 230 Wh
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
Server #2: 230 Wh
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
Server #3: 230 Wh
VM
VM
VM
VM
Server #4: 200 Wh
Server #5: 0 Wh (off – restart 5 min)
Server #6: 0 Wh (off – restart 5 min)
Total Consumption: 890 Wh
Scenario 2: 2nd consolidation
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
Server #1: 240 Wh
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
Server #2: 240 Wh
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
Server #3: 240 Wh
Server #4: 140 Wh (idle – real time ready)
Server #5: 0 Wh (off – restart 5 min)
Server #6: 0 Wh (off – restart 5 min)
Total Consumption: 860 Wh
Dilemma: The Virtualization Jigsaw
Its time to
take off the
blindfold…!
...and bridge the gap between
Facility & IT
Case Study: Power Chain Losses
13413 BOE
4254 tons CO2
10730 BOE
3401 tons CO2
8048 BOE
2551 tons CO2
6438 BOE
2041 tons CO2
PUE
5161 BOE
1633 tons CO2
45
45racks
racks@
@10kW
8kW
Siloed systems are the means to an end!
Facility Management
IT Management
IT Tickets
CMDB
Server
Management
VM Management
Cooling Control
Power
Management
BMS
Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM)
Business Value
Applications
Virtualization
Management
Virtual Machines
Hypervisor
IT hardware
Data Center Infrastructure
Building
Utility
Data Center
Infrastructure
Management
(DCIM)
Making IT Facility-Aware
DCIM
Power
Cooling
Space
Network
…
•Server placement
•Server health
•Power capping
•Power dependencies
•Cooling dependencies
•Event impact
•…
Virtualization
Management
CPU
Memory
Storage
VM Allocation
…
VM Operator
Making Facility IT-Aware
DCIM
Facility Mgr
Power
Cooling
Space
Network
…
Virtualization
Management
•Server power draw
•Server configuration
•VM allocation
•Idle Servers
•…
CPU
Memory
Storage
VM Allocation
…
DCIM becomes the centerpiece for
operational efficiency
DCIM
Facility
Management
(BMS, Power
Management,
Cooling control,
etc.)
Capacity Planning
Analytics
Simulation
Optimization
Data Management
Reporting
Data collection,
meters, sensors, etc.
IT Systems,
VM
Management,
Etc.
Try it yourself…
Thank You!
Colin Richardson
Colin.Richardson@on365.co.uk
+44 1509 261100
“According to IDC analysis and buyer
perception, Schneider Electric is an IDC
MarketScape Leader worldwide.”
IDC, Katherine Broderick, Jan 2012: “IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Datacenter
Infrastructure Management (DCIM) 2011 Vendor Analysis”