Resource Orchestrator can be used to create L-Servers which define the logical specifications (number of CPUs, memory capacity, disk capacity, number of NICs, etc.) for servers (with storage and networks).
Resources can be allocated to an L-Server according to defined specifications. An L-Server with allocated resources can perform the same operations as a normal physical server and a virtual machine.
In addition, configured physical servers and virtual machines can be managed by linking them with L-Servers.
To operate the server, L-Server users only need to be aware of the specifications defined for the server, and not the resources allocated to it.
The following advantages are gained by using L-Servers:
Simple and rapid server configuration
The ideal server can be configured simply and quickly by automatically allocating resources from resource pools according to the L-Server defined specifications.
Reduced management costs
L-Server users do not need to manage the resources allocated to the server. Moreover, resource management is performed by an infrastructure administrator, reducing overall management costs.
Integrated operation of physical servers and virtual machines
L-Servers can be created for both physical servers and virtual machines.
An L-Server created using a physical server is called a "physical L-Server".
An L-Server created using a virtual machine is called a "virtual L-Server".
After creating L-Servers, operations can be performed without differentiation between physical servers and virtual machines.
Information
Resources from resource pools can be automatically allocated or specific resources can be manually allocated to an L-Server.
L-Server Creation
By specifying server specifications (number of CPUs, memory capacity or model type), storage capacity, operating system image, and network connections, Resource Orchestrator quickly creates a practical L-Server using the applicable resources from resource pools. It is possible to choose from two operational methods: (1) only create the configuration definition of an L-Server. In this case, resources are allocated to it when it is powered on for the first time; (2) create an L-Server with resources allocated. In this case, the L-Server will be ready for use after creation.
Resources can be selected using the following two methods:
Automatic assignment
Specifying resources or resource pools by each user
L-Server specifications can be specified by the following two methods.
Selecting an L-Server template
For details on how to create an L-Server using an L-Server template (with L-Server specifications pre-defined), refer to "16.1 Creation Using an L-Server Template" of the "User's Guide for Infrastructure Administrators (Resource Management) CE".
Manually specifying each L-Server specification without using an L-Server template
For details on how to create an L-Server individually (without using an L-Server template), refer to "16.2 Creation of Physical L-Servers Using Parameters" or "16.3 Creation of Virtual L-Servers Using Parameters" of the "User's Guide for Infrastructure Administrators (Resource Management) CE".
Basic operations, such as startup, shutdown, and delete, can be performed for an L-Server in the same way as for a typical server. L-Server users do not require detailed knowledge of the resources allocated to the server in order to operate it.
The following operations can be performed:
Changing of L-Server configurations
Configurations of resources to allocate to the L-Server can be changed.
Refer to "17.2 Modifying an L-Server" of the "User's Guide for Infrastructure Administrators (Resource Management) CE".
Moving an L-Server between servers (migration) (For virtual L-Servers)
The function that moves a virtual L-Server to another VM host without stopping it.
For details, refer to "17.7 Migration of VM Hosts between Servers" of the "User's Guide for Infrastructure Administrators (Resource Management) CE".
Snapshot (For virtual L-Servers)
The function that saves the content of the system disk and data disk of a virtual L-Server disk at a certain point of time.
For details, refer to "17.6.1 Snapshot" of the "User's Guide for Infrastructure Administrators (Resource Management) CE".
Backup (For physical L-Servers)
The function that saves the system disk of a physical L-Server.
For details, refer to "17.6.2 Backup and Restore" of the "User's Guide for Infrastructure Administrators (Resource Management) CE".
Figure 2.2 L-Server Creation
Selection location of an L-Server
The resource pool and the server (server pool and physical server when VM pool, VM host, and physical when virtual) that disposes L-Server are specified by any following methods.
When L-Platform is made, only the resource pool can be specified.
Resource pool automatic selection
It is a method that neither the resource pool nor the server are specified, and this product selects automatically. The priority selected when L-Server is made can be set to the resource pool.
When two or more pools that can be accessed exist, this product decides from the resource pool where the priority is high (Give priority by the value small) disposing ahead. When two or more pools of the same priority exist, it is selected at random.
After the resource pool is decided, the server is selected from among the resource pool automatically.
Resource pool specification
The server is selected from among the specified resource pool automatically.
Server specification
L-Server is disposed to the specified server.
The server disposition ahead should meet the following requirements.
The VM host is powered on
Monitoring status is "normal"
Maintenance mode is not set
For details on maintenance mode, refer to "Appendix C Maintenance Mode" in the "User's Guide for Infrastructure Administrators (Resource Management) CE".
The maintenance mode of the server virtualization software is not set (For virtual L-Server)
The condition of specifying it when L-Server is made is satisfied.
When the VM host disposition ahead is selected in the VM pool automatically by virtual L-Server is created, the VM host is selected in addition to the terms and conditions above as follows.
When using L-Server templates
The VM host on which another L-Server that was created from the same L-Server template is placed is searched for, and then the L-Server is created.
If there is insufficient space on the VM host, a VM host that has more capacity is searched for, and then the L-Server is created.
As a result, uselessness is prevented VM host's free space's fragmenting among VM hosts, and being generated.
When not using L-Server templates
A VM host that has more capacity is searched for, and then the L-Server is created.
Simplifying of setting by cloning
The cloning is a function to distribute the cloning image made from the content of the system disk of one server to other Physical L-Server.
When a cloning image is created, network-specific settings such as host names and IP addresses are removed from the cloning image. This network-specific configuration is dynamically re-configured on the servers to which the cloning image is distributed.
This makes it possible to create duplicates of existing servers that will use the same operating system and software.
Simplifying of setting by I/O virtualization
I/O virtualization via HBA address rename (*1) allows storage devices to be set up independently and prior to the rest of the server installation process. Servers can then be installed and set up without the involvement of storage administrators.
*1: Refer to "2.2.9 I/O Virtualization".
L-Server for infrastructure administrator
L-Server for the infrastructure administrator is L-Server that it is not possible to use from the tenant administrator and the tenant user, and only the infrastructure administrator can use. Only the tenant administrator and the tenant user can use usual L-Server.
It is created it for the purpose of the following.
When the infrastructure administrator gathers the cloning image
The infrastructure administrator created the cloning image, and it uses it for the tenant administrator and the tenant user to open it to the public.
For details how to create an L-Server for an infrastructure administrator, refer to "Chapter 14 Creating an L-Server for an Infrastructure Administrator" of the "Setup Guide CE".
For details how to collecte and register cloning images, refer to "Chapter 15 Collecting and Registering Cloning Images" of the "Setup Guide CE".
When introduce the VM host into physical L-Server
The setting of the network and storage can be simplified by using the function of physical L-Server when the VM host constructs it. Moreover, the high availability operation and Disaster Recovery can be operated.
For details how to set up, refer to following:
Installing VM Hosts on Physical L-Servers
Refer to "Appendix D Installing VM Hosts on Physical L-Servers" of the "Setup Guide CE".
Blade Chassis High Availability
Refer to "17.1.2 Blade Chassis High Availability " of the "Operation Guide CE".
Disaster Recovery
Refer to "Chapter 18 Disaster Recovery" in the "Operation Guide CE".
When the software used on L-Server for the purpose of the infrastructure management of the
VM management product etc. is installed, the simplification, the high availability
operation, and Disaster Recovery of the construction of the VM management product can be
operated.
Changing physical server usage
The usage change of a physical server is a function to prepare L-Server more than the number of a physical server, and to switch and for starting L-Server to use. Because the usage of a physical server can be changed according to this function according to time zone and the situation, the resource of the server can be effectively used.
The start disk and Internet Protocol address of L-Server are retained while other L-Server uses a physical server.
When the substance of L-Server is a physical server, this function can be used. The same effect as the usage change of a physical server is achieved by selecting starting L-Server because one VM host can dispose two or more L-Server even if the case of the virtual machine, especially the setting is not done.
This function has how to use the following 2 varieties.
Two or more L-Server is switched to one physical server and it uses it.
A physical server that starts L-Server always becomes the same.
Two or more L-Server is switched to an unused physical server in the server pool and it uses it.
The physical server allocated in L-Server is different according to an empty situation of the server pool.
For details, refer to "17.9 Changing Physical Server Usage" of the "User's Guide for Infrastructure Administrators (Resource Management) CE".
The VM guest's disposition change (migration)
The operation (migration) that moves the VM guest between physical servers can be done from this product by cooperating with the VM management product (VMware vCenter Server etc.) or the VM host (VM host of KVM).
Regrouping of all VM guests to a subset of servers and shut down of any unused servers or chassis to reduce overall power consumption.
When server maintenance becomes necessary, VM guests can be migrated to alternative servers and their applications kept alive during maintenance work.
