SOLUTIONS BRIEF

Affordable Consolidation Solutions with VMware and IBM System Storage DS3000 series

The Benefits of VMware

Consolidating servers with VMware Infrastructure can deliver significant benefits, including: reduced capital and operating costs, infrastructure costs, faster IT response to business demands, improved IT service levels, and more consistent business operations. But realizing these benefits requires a shared storage foundation that contributes to an optimal VMware Infrastructure. The challenge for IT is to achieve the full potential of VMware benefits, which in turn demands an affordable yet expandable storage solution.

DRS

HA

Consolidated Backup

VirtualCenter Management Software

Virtual Machines
App OS App OS App OS App OS App OS App OS App OS App OS App OS App OS App OS App OS

VMFS

ESX Server

Virtual SMP

IBM Servers

DS3000 Storage Solution Description

VMware enables the consolidation of application processing to maximize server utilization and reduce operational costs. Using virtualization, it allows multiple Virtual Machines to run simultaneously and independently on one or more shared processors. Virtual Machines can be shifted between physical servers in a VMware resource pool with no downtime, allowing them to be dynamically and automatically allocated to the most appropriate host in order to achieve target service levels. However, this virtualization requires a shared storage infrastructure that enables VMware functionality such as High Availability, VMotion, Resource Pools and Dynamic Resource Scheduler, etc. The VMware storage foundation supports and complements the VMware Infrastructure by allowing boot from SAN, providing multiple paths for failover, consolidating storage, increasing storage utilization, and reducing the total cost of storage ownership. In conjunction with VMware, IBM has certified the DS3000 with ESX Server 3.5 and ESX Server 3i. The certification tests demonstrated interoperability and multipathing for failover of HBA/NIC and storage ports. The DS3400 is additionally certified for boot from SAN. But the DS3000 Series offers additional capabilities that go beyond what other disk storage systems can provide in a VMware Infrastructure. These important capabilities, summarized below, qualify the IBM System Storage DS3000 as the right storage solution to achieve more VMware benefits.
IBM DS3200 or DS3300 or DS3400

A VMware Infrastructure utilizing the IBM System Storage DS3200, DS3300 or DS3400.

With the IBM System Storage DS3000, youll be better equipped to lower VMware storage costs, respond faster to changing business demands, increase application service levels, and facilitate more consistent business operations. Three DS3000 system storage models to choose from. The DS3200 storage system is a Serial-Attached-SCSI (SAS) design offering FC-like performance and reliability, at lower costs.The DS3300 storage system is an affordable iSCSI-based storage solution for IP network-based storage. The DS3400 storage system is a great choice for entry-level fibre channel SANs. All three models share the same storage management software, advanced copy features expansion unit capability. Easy to deploy and manage. The majority of small business IT departments consist of a part-time administrator with limited experience and time to spend on data management The DS3000 was designed for simple implementation by an unseasoned administrator and can be easily installed without extensive storage knowledge or effort. The task-oriented management interface of the DS3000 Storage Manager presents tasks to the administrator first, and then asks on which object to perform the

A C H I E V I N G V M WA R E B E N E F I T S

S O LU T I O N S B R I E F

task. This contrasts with an object-oriented interface of a typical storage system in which the object is first selected, and then the task, requiring a higher depth of storage networking expertise. The DS3000 Storage Manager enables non-storage administrators to quickly set up and deploy the storage solution with automatic configuration tools removing the resistance that many organizations have with their limited in-house expertise. Expandable with multiple EXP3000 expansion enclosures. The start small, grow big scalability of the DS3000 allows IT managers to respond to a constantly changing storage environment. By starting with a small quantity of disk drives, the DS3000 allows users to make additional investments in their infrastructure when their data growth necessitates it; thus organizations can easily increase capacity and storage capabilities with minimal cost and effort. Capacity can be increased by adding up to 12 hard disk drives to the DS3000 and is expandable up to 48 hard disk drives by attaching up to three EXP3000s. Both these operations can be done without shutting down the DS3000. This means zero-impact to your environment and gives the user control of data storage as they expand capacity on an as-needed basis. Flexible approach to storage. The DS3000 is a comprehensive storage solution for IBM System x, BladeCenter and select third-party servers. This flexibility allows you to break free of server barriers and use a single storage solution in a mixed vendor environment. And because you do not have to sacrifice functionality for affordability, the DS3000 storage system can deliver powerful dynamic capabilities that help you protect data. The DS3000 offers copy and disaster recovery features such as FlashCopy and VolumeCopy that can be enabled when required by your application. Outstanding performance. As an affordable, reliable and robust storage system thats designed to improve productivity through performance, scalability and functionality, the DS3000 is the simple choice for small and medium businesses. Other storage products require the purchase of expensive options for basic storage configurations. The DS3000 is an out-of-the-box solution that will satisfy the majority of storage needs.

Achieve Greater Optimization of Your VMware Infrastructure. Lower overall costs of your VMware storage foundation by (1) consolidating storage through a shared storage infrastructure, (2) enabling a start small, grow big storage upgrade strategy, (3) leveraging server virtualization with virtual storage systems, and (4) simplifying storage management. Minimize the number of disk storage systems required even as your VMware capacity and performance needs increasethus cutting storage acquisition costs and recurring costs for maintenance, floor space, power and cooling. And with DS3400 4 Gbps FC host interface technology, it can be easily integrate into 1, 2 and 4Gb/s infrastructures offering additional investment protection. Leverage Your Business Information. Improve accessibility to your valuable business data with a DS3000 shared storage infrastructure that features extensive interoperability, is specifically certified for a VMware Infrastructure, and allows any Virtual Machine to access any virtual storage system and any logical disk if authorized. Simplify data management with storage that enhances data protection and recovery and supports popular data management software (including IBM TSM). Reduce IT Risk. Increase the availability and corresponding service levels of applications that run on Virtual Machines with DS3000 Storage Managers Dynamic Capacity Expansion, hot-swappable disks, and dual-redundant power supplies. Improve the availability of your VMware Infrastructure storage foundation. Enable Business Flexibility. Expand the agility of your VMware Infrastructure with (1) Dynamic features that enable on-the-fly storage configuration in support of your applications and Virtual Machines, (2) nondisruptive storage upgrades that permit reuse of common parts and keep data intact, and (3) the ability to scale I/O performance without encountering storage controller bottlenecks. Increase the resilience of your VMware Infrastructure with advanced, high availability storage features and dynamic expansion capabilities.

DS3000 Business Value in a VMware Infrastructure

With IBM System Storage DS3000, you can solve the business challenge of achieving more VMware benefits because youll have the right storage solution working for you. The benefits of a DS3000 shared storage foundation for VMware are real and significant, as summarized below.

For More Information

To learn more visit the IBM Web site www-03.ibm.com/systems/storage/disk/index.html or the VMware Web site at www.vmware.com.

VMware, Inc. 3401 Hillview Ave Palo Alto CA 94304 USA Tel 877-486-9273 Fax 650-427-5001
1998-2007 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved. Protected by one or more U.S. Patents Nos. 6,397,242, 6,496,847, 6,704,925, 6,711,672, 6,725,289, 6,735,601, 6,785,886, 6,789,156, 6,795,966, 6,880,022, 6,944,699, 6,961,806, 6,961,941, 7,069,413, 7,082,598, 7,089,377, 7,111,086, 7,111,145, 7,117,481, 7,149, 843 and 7,155,558; patents pending. VMware, the VMwareboxeslogo and design, Virtual SMP and VMotion are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.. Item No: 07Q2_VM_SERVER_CONSOLIDATION_CONTAINMENT_SB_EN