ALSTOM Creates a Virtual World
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Transcript of ALSTOM Creates a Virtual World
ALSTOM overview
The problem
Options
Solution
Future
ALSTOM Overview
3
Transport
Power
IT at ALSTOMRun as an internal business since 2001
ITIL processes adopted for service delivery
Delivering year on year cost reduction
Key Figures
15 Countries
37,000 Desktops
3,200 Servers
1,200 IT staff
The Problem
Server SprawlPressure to reduce operating costsMany physical locationsApplications requiring dedicated serversLow utilization of existing server estate
12% CPU utilisation across 1,300 servers in Northern Europe
Time to provision new infrastructureProcurementCommissioning
Changing business requirements
Options
OptionsDo nothing
Windows Server Datacenter edition
Server blades
Virtual servers
The Solution
Server Virtualization Solution
Infrastructure BenefitsFewer SAN connectionsFewer Network portsLess wasted disk spaceLower server costsFewer datacenter resources
Process BenefitsServer provisioning < 1hrStaff focus on value add activitiesSimplified recoveryLower costs overall
Virtualization with VMware provided demonstrable benefits following a 6 week evaluation in the UK
Now Adopted as primary x86 platform for Windows/Linux workloads
Facts and Figures503 guest virtual machines
1% SMP
26 ESX Server hosts2 x 8 CPU20 x 4 CPU4 x 2 CPU
47 GSX server hosts1 x 1 CPU Single Server38 x 2 CPU Single Server3 x 1CPU Package Cluster1 x 2CPU Package Cluster
45 virtual machines per 8 CPU host
15 to 30 virtual machines per 4 CPU host
Standard deployment in 7 countries
25 – 40% lower annual operating
costs
Server VirtualizationDatacenter Remote Sites
Lotus Notes
Active Directory
Altiris
NetIQ App Mgr
alstom.com
intranet
Citrix
LiveLink
Lotus NotesActive Directory
DHCP/DNSAltiris PS
Lotus NotesActive Directory
DHCP/DNSAltiris PSFile/Print
SAN
Central Management
(Virtual Center)
ESX ESX ServerServer
GSX GSX ServerServer
Utilisation of 8 CPU HostHP Proliant DL760
8 x 2.8Ghz XEON24GB RAMEMC Clariion
Mixed workloadApplicationsInfrastructure servers
Expect approx 60% utilizationHave run over 65 virtual machines on this platform
ALSTOM Web SitesSupporting internal and external content
40,000 internal users
Over 1M page views per month
Total environment delivered by 7 virtual machines and 1 physical
ALSTOM Web Hosting Architecture
Remote Site InfrastructureObjective to simplify the infrastructure and physical presenceSingle server/cluster running all site servicesTechnology
VMware GSX ServerHP Proliant DL380
Supporting sites of up to 300 usersFully manageable remotely
Admin and supportServer installs or rebuilds
Centralised ManagementSingle instance of virtual center across EuropeEasier access securityEasier standard OS build via shared templatesOne place for status, performance information
Challenges and ExperienceDo believe it’s reliable
385 days continuous host uptime (only restarted due to ESX Server upgrade)
Do experiment, you’ll be surprised what can be run in a virtual machine
Don’t over configure virtual machinesDo consider overall I/O, not just CPU utilization
Check ISV certification of virtual machine environmentCheck ISV licensing for virtual environments
Working TogetherMany performance problems blamed on not enough horsepower
Application tuning important
Work with the ISV to to design and test the architecture
Consider virtual machine density per host
HostingTeam
ApplicationVendorEnd
users
ApplicationSupport
The Future
Datacenter OptimizationVirtualization part of the optimization armory
Datacenter consolidation generallyReduction of managed operating systemsShared infrastructure for database, storage, servers etc.
Original options not valid nowBlades offering a valid consolidation strategy in the datacenterComplementary to or hosting VMware
Future
Extend to more countries
2005 2007
Single virtual center
console
Automated provisioning, internationally
International business continuity
Consolidated management internationally
Increased application workloads
(SMP)
2006
Q & A
