Josh AtwellCloud Architect, SolidFire

DFW VMUG UserCon#DFWVMUG @Josh_Atwell

Automating The Next Generation Datacenter

Josh.Atwell@SolidFire.com@josh_atwell

SolidFire Booth #35 1:1530 Copies

VMUG – End of Day10 Copies

Back in my day…• Smaller server:admin ratios• More manual processes• Limited scripting/automation tools• Minimal automation targets• Fewer Layers

Physical Hardware

Operating System

AppApp

In the beginning…

.bat

.vbsbashexpect

Physical Hardware

Operating System

AppApp

Virtualization

Operating System

vCenter Server

Then there was…

.bat

.vbsbashexpect

Physical Hardware

Operating System

App

VirtualizationVAAIVAIOVASA

NSXACI

vCenter Server

vRealize Suite

Automation Orchestrator Log Insight Business

Operating System

App App

VIO

3rd Party Tools

3rd Party Tools

So Many Thing

s

Today’s Talking points• Infrastructure Extensibility• Policy based management• The Software Defined Datacenter• New Tools/Methods• Will we stop scripting?• Tomorrow’s Skills

Infrastructure Extensibility

Infrastructure Extensibility• APIs and SDKs to manage• Integration with common tools• Agility to change programmatically• Maximum feature availability

Policy Based Management

Policy Based Management• Policies define identity and behavior

Policy Based Management• Policies define identity and behavior• Policies can be one to many

Policy Based Management• Policies define identity and behavior• Policies can be one to many• Consistent and flexible• Control and monitor configuration drift

For Example…

Granular Control

OSBasic

Performance

QoS ProfileMin: 1000Max: 2000Burst: 5000

QoS ProfileMin: 3000Max: 5000Burst: 10000

QoS ProfileMin: 3000Max: 8000Burst: 15000

AppHigher

Performance

Data/DBSpecific

Performance

Storage Policy Based Management

• Software component developed by Storage Array Vendors

• ESX and vCenter Server connect to VASA Provider

• Provides Storage awareness services

• Single VASA Provider can manage multiple arrays

• Supports VASA APIs exported by ESX

• VASA Provider can be implemented within the array’s management server or firmware

• Responsible for creating Virtual Volumes

SAN / NAS

Virtual Datastore

DataPathProtocol Endpoint PE

vSphereVirtual Volumes

Storage Container

Vendor Provider (VASA)

Control Path

Control Path

VASA Provider

VASA Provider Evolution

VASA v1vSphere

5.5

VMFS VVOLs

Capability Profileenables SPBMv1 (Dynamic vs Tags)

Block Device

Storage DRS (Report Yes/No)

IO Stats Events Alarms

VASA v2vSphere

6.xNon-VVOLs

VASA v2vSphere

6.xVVOLs

VVOLs ProfileVVOLs Management

SPBM v2

Unmap

VVOL/SPBM Management Workflow

Virtual Disk

Storage Container(s)

Storage policies

Virtual Volumes

Virtual Machines

VASAProvider

Virtual Volume

Storage presents capabilities of the storage container to VASA Provider

Capabilities are used to build

storage policies

User selects available storage

policy at provisioning

Virtual Volume is provisioned

through VASA provider

Virtual disk resides on Virtual Volume

aligned with storage policy

Administrators can monitor

policy compliance

1

23

4 5

6

Storage Policy Based Management (SPBM)Storage Capabilities via VASA

Pros• Leverages storage capabilities provided

by VASA provider.• Fully dynamic.• vCenter can query Volume/LUN to

validate compliance.

Cons• Can NOT be used to directly compare

platforms.• Limited to what storage vendor

presents through VASA.

Storage Policy Based Management (SPBM)vSphere Tags

Pros• Widest range of definitions.• Define custom rules.• Can assign policies to any datastore that

contains required tags.• Could conceivably be used to compare

platforms.

Cons• Not a dynamic process.• Requires manual work or automation

through PowerShell or vRO.• Administrators must maintain policies

and tags.

vRealize Automation

Desired State Tools• Create identity for application, server, or

infrastructure.• Configuration drift management• 1:1 and 1:Many deployments

DSC

Software Defined • IT as a Service - SLAs• Requires infrastructure

extensibility• Leverages policies• Adapts based on active

conditions

For Example… • Virus identified• VM tagged as high risk• VM Network policy changes

to protect• Once sanitized it can return

to normal policy• Or you can kill it and create a

new VM

New Tools and Methods• DevOps Culture• Disposable app instances• Containers• Cloudy stuff• Version Control

New Challenges to automate!!

Version Control

Version Control• GitHub (Git)• BitBucket• CodePlex• Subversion• FlowGrab (vRO)

DO IT!!

Keep on Scripting• Increased extensibility = more scripting• Bridge to Software Defined• Gather info not presented in tools• Ad-Hoc FTW!

Next Generation Skills• Must understand all the application needs• Work to enable self-service• DevOps is not tools, it’s culture• Rise of the Infrastructure Developer

Thank You!• @josh_atwell• vTesseract.com• Github/joshatwell

• Good luck on the scavenger hunt with the VMUG App!