HP Logical Server Management Best Practices

Figure 1: HP logical server technology

The logical server can be activated either directly on a physical server blade (using Virtual Connect) or on a virtual

machine (VM). Logical servers are easily managed through the Matrix Operating Environment interface integrated

with HP SIM. Logical servers can be defined using a software wizard, or created through the import of an existing

server blade or virtual machine. Logical servers can be deactivated or moved as appropriate to support the IT

infrastructure adapting to changing needs.

Logical servers simplify routine administrative operations and processes and make the data center more efficient.

Logical servers with boot from SAN enable flexibility and adaptability of server workloads without impacting shared

network and storage domains. For example, a physical server can be moved for maintenance in 5 minutes without

coordination between several IT administrators, thus saving the entire IT department significant amount of time and

resources. The specifics of logical servers are covered in the documentation referenced, and this white paper focuses

on best practices for IT environments utilizing logical servers as a component of their converged infrastructure.

Naming conventions

The various components of the management solution for your c-Class blade environment enable you to provide names

and descriptions. For example, you can provide names for SAN fabrics, logical server storage pool entries, and

logical servers. In addition, the system administrator will specify hostnames for the various components (server blades,

iLO remote management interfaces, virtual machine hosts and virtual machines). This section provides best practices

for those names. They serve as guidelines, and system administrators are not required to follow these suggestions.

Logical server management abstraction

Logical server

(container) layer

Software

abstraction layer

Physical

layer

LANLAN

RDMARDMA

Physical layer—hardware abstraction

(Virtual Connect domain)

Hypervisor

SAN

SANSAN

SAN

Hypervisor

Server Server

Server

Cluster

network

Storage

network