Server virtualization technologies for x86-based HP BladeSystem and HP ProLiant servers, 3rd edition

10
Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager
Built on the Virtual Connect architecture integrated into every BladeSystem enclosure, VCEM is a
separate application that provides a central console on a CMS to perform efficient administration of
LAN and SAN connections. VCEM provides group-based management that enables administrators to
rapidly configure, assign, move, and failover server-to-network connections and their workloads for up
to 150 BladeSystem enclosures (2400 servers). Administrators can logically link separate domains
and move server profiles between Virtual Connect domains, as long as the servers are physically
connected to the same networks and part of the same Virtual Connect Domain Group.
Together, Virtual Connect and Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager create a change-ready
infrastructure that allows system administrators to add, replace, and recover servers across the data
center in minutes without impacting LAN and SAN availability. This flexible infrastructure also
provides foundation capabilities for the logical server management and other capabilities delivered
with HP Insight Dynamics-VSE.
For more information about Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager refer to: www.hp.com/go/vcem.
Logical servers
Logical servers are a new class of abstracted servers that allows administrators to manage physical
machines and virtual machines using the same management construct. A logical server is defined by
a server profile that can be created and migrated across physical and virtual machines. Migrations
are limited to like-to-like as of this writing (V2V or P2P). Over time, migrations and moves will be
made as seamless as possible.
5
A logical server profile includes the definition of the system services
and resources—everything that the OS and application stack for a given workload require to
operate—whether these services and resources are virtual, physical, shared, or unshared. The logical
server profile can be managed centrally by means of a CMS using the Logical Server Manager
viewer within the HP Insight Dynamics – VSE suite, (described in the following section). The profile
can be applied to a virtual machine using software-layer abstraction (hypervisor technology as the
VM host) or to a physical machine using physical-layer abstraction (HP Virtual Connect technology as
the PM host).
The logical server approach lets administrators plan, deploy, migrate, adjust, and manage server
instances in their environments regardless of how the logical server is created. The logical server
allows flexibility and adaptability within the application/OS workload, minimizing any impact to
shared network and storage domains (Figure 6).
5
Currently the implementation of logical server migrations within Insight Dynamics – VSE must be like-to-like P2P or V2V. P2V
and V2P migrations are available by means of an escape from the ID-VSE console to Server Migration Pack.