Automating the Next Generation Datacenter

Josh Atwell

Cloud Architect, SolidFire

Connecticut VMUG UserCon

#CTVMUG @Josh_Atwell

Automating The Next Generation Datacenter

[email protected]

@josh_atwell

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…

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

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

DataPath

Protocol Endpoint PE

vSphereVirtual Volumes

Storage Container

Vendor Provider (VASA)

Control Path

Control Path

VASA Provider

Capability Profileenables SPBMv1

(Dynamic vs Tags)

Block Device

Storage DRS

(Report

Yes/No)

IO Stats

Events

Alarms

VASA v2

vSphere 6.x

Non-VVOLs

VASA v2

vSphere 6.x

VVOLs

VASA v1

vSphere

5.5

VVOLs Profile

VVOLs Management

SPBM v2

Unmap

VMFS VVOLs

VASA Provider Evolution

SPBM – Dynamic Capabilities

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