HP Logical Server Management Best Practices

Logical servers enable a common approach to planning, deployment, adjustment, and management, whether the

server OS and workloads are hosted directly on a physical server, or on a hosted virtual machine. Logical servers are

defined by server profiles that are easily created and freely moved across physical and virtual machines. Logical

servers are based on the proven technologies such as HP Virtual Connect. Seamless integration ensures they are

viewed and managed using the existing set of exceptional tools familiar to your IT staff, such as HP Systems Insight

Manager.

Integration with the HP Storage Provisioning Manager enables the storage administrator to define a storage catalog

with storage templates and import storage array and pools (and optionally pre-provisioned volumes).Matrix OE sends

storage requests to SPM which returns appropriate storage (pre-provisioned or on-demand provisioned volumes). This

enables request fulfillment without manual storage administrator intervention, and provides the ability to perform

controlled storage operations such as changing host mode or performing LUN masking to enable visibility to a

particular server WWN, creating storage volumes, or performing SAN zoning in Brocade environments. LUN

masking is often used to facilitate OS deployment by hiding data volumes until after the OS has been successfully

installed. Enhanced CLI capabilities support creating populated storage pools, as well as exporting and importing

storage definitions for environments which prefer to script vs. use the GUI.

Following best practices for the hostnames for server blades and iLOs, as well as networks and fabrics, can ensure

clarity as logical servers are flexibly moved to respond to changing business needs. Advance definition of logical

servers (prior to the immediate need for activation), enables the system and storage administrators to collaborate and

ensure appropriate storage is defined and presented, and fabric SAN zoning enables appropriate access. Storage is

presented to the Virtual Connect HBA World-Wide Names, using the relevant storage management tool (such as

Command View EVA). Matrix infrastructure orchestration can also be used to define service templates and

automatically create the logical servers and storage pool entries (fulfilled through SPM).

Logical servers provide the ability to flexibly respond to changing needs, by migrating the Virtual Connect profile to

ensure adequate access (without involving the storage and network administrators). Use of boot from SAN enables

OS access regardless of the physical server blade hosting the logical server, and there are guidelines for how the HP

Insight Control server deployment can be used for OS deployment in such an environment.