Building a Resource Pool for

Virtualization
A Guide to Planning, Preparation, and
Implementation
 Introduction
• Virtualization is a key strategy for optimizing IT
infrastructure. This presentation explores planning,
building, and managing a resource pool effectively.
• Once analysis is complete, the next step is creating
a resource pool.
• Careful planning is required for virtualization.
• Key considerations: networking, storage, and
server infrastructure.
• Testing is essential before full implementation.
 Planning and Preparation
• - Determine what to virtualize first.
• - Assess existing network, storage, and server
infrastructure.
• - Create a testing environment before full
implementation.
• Planning & Preparation
• Inventory and assessment of servers.
• Identify what to virtualize and in what order.
• Start small and expand gradually.
• Varies based on organization size:
– Small (fewer than 50 servers): Cost-effective
infrastructure, minimal redundancy.
– Medium: More robust infrastructure.
– Large: High-availability systems with latest
technologies.
• Budget and business needs dictate choices.
• Not all hypervisors are the same; selection
impacts virtualization strategy.
• Often, organizations use multiple hypervisors.
• Political and organizational factors influence
selection.
• Homogeneous infrastructures are easier to
manage, but hybrid environments exist.
 What to Virtualize?

• Most server workloads can be virtualized.

• Challenges include:
– Servers with >8 CPU cores.
– High-resource utilization (>85% of physical
resources).
– Servers requiring custom hardware (e.g., USB
dongles, modems).
• Solutions exist to overcome these challenges.
 What to Virtualize
• - Most server workloads can be virtualized.
• - Servers using more than 8 CPU cores may
need adjustments.
• - High-resource servers (85%+ utilization) may
require careful planning.
• - Servers with custom hardware may present
challenges but can be addressed with specific
solutions.
 Virtualization Prioritization

• Start with:
– Frequently reconfigured servers (e.g., test/dev
environments).
– Low-utilization workloads (e.g., file/print servers, web
servers).
– Legacy applications that cannot be upgraded.
• End with:
– Complex workloads (e.g., email, database, clustered
servers).
– Mission-critical applications.
 Implementation Methods
• - Self-Implementation: Learn, test, and implement.
Learn, choose a platform, phased approach.

• - Partner Support: Gain assistance from vendors.

Jump-start programs for initial guidance.

• - Full Outsourcing: Third-party management of

virtualization deployment. External experts handle
everything.
 Network Layer Considerations
• - Assess network bandwidth for virtualization
needs.
• - Implement VLANs for segmentation and
performance.
• - Assign dedicated NICs for management and
migration traffic.
• - Use NIC teaming for redundancy and high
availability.
 Virtual Networking Components
• - Virtual Network Switches (VNS) manage
communication.
• - Types of Virtual NICs:
• - External: Connects VMs to the host and
external network.
• - Internal: Allows VM-to-VM and host
communication.
• - Private: Restricts communication to VMs
only.
 Virtual Networking Considerations

• NIC Teaming: Aggregation for redundancy and

high availability.
• Hypervisor Virtual Switches:
– External Virtual NIC: Connects to external
network.
– Internal Virtual NIC: Host-to-VM communication
only.
– Private Virtual NIC: VM-to-VM communication
only.
 Choosing a Hypervisor
• - Hypervisors vary in features and
performance.
• - Consider factors like budget, scalability, and
compatibility.
• - Hybrid environments may require managing
multiple hypervisors.
 Conclusion
• - Start with smaller workloads and gradually
scale up.
• - Plan network and storage infrastructure
carefully.
• - Use the right tools and hypervisors for
efficient management.
• - Ensure proper documentation and
monitoring.
Storage Preparation for Virtualization Subtitle: Ensuring
a Robust and Scalable Storage Infrastructure

• Introduction
• Storage is a critical component of
virtualization.
• Proper planning ensures performance,
availability, and scalability.
• This presentation covers storage types, best
practices, and considerations.
Types of Storage for Virtualization
• Direct Attached Storage (DAS): Locally connected
to servers, cost-effective but limited scalability.
• Network Attached Storage (NAS): File-based
storage, accessible over the network.
• Storage Area Network (SAN): Block-level storage
for high-performance needs.
• Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI): Combines
compute, storage, and networking for flexibility.
 Selecting the Right Storage Solution

• DAS: Suitable for small-scale deployments,

cost-effective.
• NAS: Ideal for file-sharing, mid-range
scalability.
• SAN: High-performance applications,
enterprise-level.
• HCI: Simplifies management, software-defined
storage solutions.
 Storage Performance Considerations

• IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second):

Determines workload performance.
• Latency: Low latency improves VM
responsiveness.
• Throughput: Essential for data-intensive
applications.
• RAID Levels: Ensures redundancy and
performance balance.
 High Availability and Redundancy

• Replication: Copies data across multiple

locations.
• Snapshots: Captures point-in-time copies for
quick recovery.
• Failover Clustering: Provides seamless
transition during failures.
• Multipathing: Ensures continued access if one
path fails.
 Storage Virtualization

• Abstracts physical storage into logical pools.

• Thin Provisioning: Allocates storage on
demand, reducing wastage.
• Deduplication: Eliminates duplicate data to
save space.
• Automated Tiering: Moves frequently
accessed data to faster storage.
 Backup and Disaster Recovery Strategies

• Snapshot-based backups: Quick recovery but

requires storage space.
• Incremental & Differential Backups: Reduces
backup size and time.
• Offsite & Cloud Backups: Protects against site-
wide failures.
• Replication & Failover Sites: Ensures business
continuity.
 Storage Best Practices

• Plan for future growth and scalability.

• Separate storage traffic using dedicated
VLANs.
• Implement monitoring tools for performance
insights.
• Regularly test disaster recovery plans.
 Conclusion

• Proper storage planning is key to virtualization

success.
• Select the right storage type based on
workload requirements.
• Implement redundancy and high availability
measures.
• Continuously optimize and monitor storage
performance.
 Preparing Host Servers: Best Practices and
Considerations
• A comprehensive guide to setting up and
optimizing host servers
 Introduction
• • Define what a host server is and its role in IT
infrastructure
• • Importance of proper server preparation for
performance, security, and reliability
• • Brief overview of the key areas to be
covered
 Understanding Server Requirements
• • Identify business needs (e.g., web hosting,
database management, cloud computing)
• • Determine hardware specifications: CPU,
RAM, storage, network bandwidth
• • Consider workload demands and scalability
options
 Choosing the Right Operating System
• • Discuss popular server OS options (Linux,
Windows Server) and their use cases
• • Comparison based on security, performance,
and compatibility
• • Licensing and cost considerations
 Server Hardware Setup
• • Importance of selecting high-quality
hardware components
• • Ensuring redundancy with RAID
configurations
• • Power supply and cooling system
considerations
 Network Configuration
• • Setting up IP addresses, DNS, and DHCP
• • Configuring firewalls and network security
policies
• • Ensuring reliable connectivity with proper
bandwidth allocation
 Security Measures
• • Implementing access controls and
authentication mechanisms
• • Regular updates and patch management
• • Firewall and intrusion detection/prevention
system deployment
 Storage and Backup Solutions
• • Different storage options: SSD vs. HDD, NAS
vs. SAN
• • Importance of regular backups and disaster
recovery planning
• • Cloud backup solutions for reliability
Server Virtualization and Cloud Integration

• • Benefits of virtualization for cost and

resource optimization
• • Using tools like VMware, Hyper-V, or KVM
for virtualization
• • Hybrid cloud solutions for flexibility and
scalability
 Performance Optimization
• • Load balancing strategies for efficient traffic
distribution
• • Monitoring tools to track performance
metrics (e.g., Nagios, Prometheus)
• • Routine maintenance practices to prevent
server slowdowns
 Conclusion
• • Recap key points on server preparation best
practices
• • Emphasize the importance of continuous
monitoring and updates
• • Final thoughts on ensuring long-term server
efficiency and security