6.5 Working with Consolidation Scenarios

Scenarios allow the quick creation and evaluation of one or more consolidation alternatives. Generating multiple scenarios for comparison is recommended. This helps to determine the optimal consolidation scenario.

There are two types of scenarios:

Any inventoried machine running any virtualization platform supported by PlateSpin Recon is considered a target server.

6.5.1 Determining the Minimum Number of Servers

  1. In the Project Explorer tab, select a project, then click New Scenario New Scenario icon.

    The Scenario Wizard (Step 1 of 4: Scenario Properties) is displayed.

    Scenario Wizard (Step 1 of 4: Scenario Properties) page

    The available scenario types are determined by the Project Type specified while creating the project.

  2. Specify a unique name for the scenario.

  3. In the Scenario Goal pane, select Determine the minimum number of servers.

    This goal determines the minimum number of a specific type of target servers to balance workloads. You can use only one server template with this option.

  4. Select a scenario type.

    This step is relevant only if the project upon which the scenario is based has the goal configured as Both (server consolidation and workload protection).

  5. Adjust the Scenario Optimization Effort slider.

    Quick is faster but not as intensive, and Exhaustive takes longer but is more thorough.

  6. Click Next.

    The Step 2 of 4: Workload Properties dialog box is displayed.

    Scenario Wizard Step 2 of 4: Workload Properties page

  7. Specify Workload Sizing.

    • Use historical size of workloads: Creates the scenario based on the historical size of the workloads.

    • Use forecasted size of workloads (specify forecast period): Creates the scenario based on the forecasted size of the workloads after the specified forecast period.

    For scenarios based on protection only projects, these values are dimmed.

  8. To average workload and utilization expressions over a specified time range, select the Use the following hour range check box and set the start and end times for the business hours in your environment.

    Hours that you specify here are used for all reports created for this scenario or for any node under this scenario. Report templates do not have any direct control over business/peak hours. Consolidation and Planning charts use both the specified business hours and all 24-hour data points.

  9. Specify the CPU optimization method you want to use.

    • Use processor clock rate to optimize workloads: Optimizes the CPU based on the actual processor clock.

    • Use normalized speed to optimize workloads: Optimizes the CPU based on a normalized value. See Section B.6, CPU Normalization for more information.

      Consolidation charts based on this scenario differ depending on the method you choose. If you select normalized speed, the processor utilization and capacity values in consolidation charts created based on this scenario will also use the normalized values.

      In any reports, Normalized Speed columns are not displayed by default, even if it's a scenario summary or workload assignment report and the optimization method selected is Use normalized speed to optimize workloads.

      For scenarios based on protection only projects, these values are dimmed.

  10. Click Next.

    The Step 3 of 4: Workload Selection dialog box is displayed.

    Scenario Wizard Step 3 of 4: Workload Selection page

  11. Select workloads or servers, depending on the scenario type.

    Scenario Wizard Step 3 of 4: Workload Selection page

  12. (Conditional) If the Scenario Type includes server consolidation, select the servers to be consolidated in this scenario.

    By default, all servers specified in the project for consolidation are selected.

  13. (Conditional) If the Scenario Type includes workload protection, select workloads on the Protect tab.

    By default, all workloads specified in the project for protection are selected.

  14. Click Next.

    The Step 4 of 4: Target Server Specification dialog box is displayed.

    Scenario Wizard Step 4 of 4: Target Server Specification page

  15. In the Name drop-down list, select the server template you want to use.

    or

    Create a new server template by selecting New Server. (You can use only one server template.)

    You must specify at least one server template, even if you want to consolidate only to existing target servers.

  16. (Optional) In the Virtualization drop-down list, select the Virtualization platform to use.

  17. (Optional) Click the Existing Target Servers tab to use servers included in the project.

    If there are no existing target servers specified in the project, this option is unavailable.

    Scenario Wizard Step 4 of 4: Target Server Specification page

  18. Select the existing target servers to use in the scenario, then select the Pinned Workloads check box to force workloads currently on a particular target server to remain on that server after consolidation.

  19. Click Start.

    The Create Scenario job runs.

    You can watch the progress in the Job Explorer window. When the scenario is created, it is displayed under Scenarios in the base project.

6.5.2 Specifying the Number of Servers

  1. Click New Scenario New Scenario icon.

    The Scenario Wizard (Step 1 of 4: Scenario Properties) is displayed.

    Scenario Wizard (Step 1 of 4: Scenario Properties) page

  2. Type a unique scenario name.

  3. In the Scenario Goal pane, select Specify the number of servers to set the number and type of target servers for consolidation.

    You can use multiple server templates with this option.

  4. Select a scenario type.

    If some workloads must be left unconsolidated because the number of templates specified is inadequate, the algorithm fits as many of the consolidation workloads onto those templates as it can if you choose Consolidate then Protect. The reverse is true if you choose Protect then Consolidate.

  5. Adjust the Scenario Optimization Effort slider.

    Quick is faster but not as intensive, and Exhaustive takes longer but is more thorough.

  6. Click Next.

    The Step 2 of 4: Workload Properties dialog box is displayed.

    Scenario Wizard Step 2 of 4: Workload Properties page

  7. Specify Workload Sizing.

    • Use historical size of workloads: Creates the scenario based on the historical size of the workloads.

    • Use forecasted size of workloads (specify forecast period): Creates the scenario based on the forecasted size of the workloads after the specified forecast period.

    For scenarios based on protection only projects, these values are dimmed.

  8. To average workload and utilization expressions over a specified time range, select the Use the following hour range check box and set the start and end times for the business hours in your environment.

    Hours that you specify here are used for all reports created for this scenario or for any node under this scenario. Report templates do not have any direct control over business/peak hours. Consolidation and Planning charts use both the specified business hours and all 24-hour data points.

  9. Specify the CPU optimization method you want to use.

    1. Use processor clock rate to optimize workloads: Optimizes the CPU based on the actual processor clock. For more information, see Section B.6, CPU Normalization.

    2. Use normalized speed to optimize workloads: Optimizes the CPU based on a normalized value.

      Consolidation charts based on this scenario differ depending on the method you choose. If you select normalized speed, the processor utilization and capacity values in consolidation charts created based on this scenario will also use the normalized values.

      In any reports, Normalized Speed related columns are not displayed by default, even if it's a scenario summary/workload assignment report and the optimization method selected is Use normalized speed to optimize workloads.

      For scenarios based on protection only projects, these values are dimmed.

  10. Click Next.

    The Step 3 of 4: Workload Selection dialog box is displayed.

    Scenario Wizard Step 3 of 4: Workload Selection page

  11. (Conditional) If the Scenario Type includes server consolidation, select the servers to be consolidated in this scenario.

    By default, all servers specified in the project for consolidation are selected

  12. (Conditional) If the Scenario Type includes workload protection, select workloads on the Protect tab.

    By default, all workloads specified in the project for protection are selected.

    If you are running a scenario with a set number of target servers, in some cases the set number of target servers do not have sufficient resources to accommodate all workloads.

    By default, Honor utilization thresholds is selected. This maintains the total utilization of a target server below the set thresholds. The sum of workloads do not violate the utilization thresholds for a specified server.

  13. Define consolidation priorities by selecting one of the following options:

    • Maximize the number of consolidated workloads: Workloads are selected for consolidation with the goal of consolidating the largest possible number of workloads. The order shown is not relevant and the up and down arrows are disabled.

    • Consolidate workloads in the above order: Prioritize workloads for consolidation only, in the given order. This ensures that certain workloads are consolidated. To move workloads into the desired order of consolidation priority, use the up and down arrows.

  14. Click Next.

    The Step 4 of 4: Target Server Specification dialog box is displayed.

    Scenario Wizard Step 4 of 4: Target Server Specification page

  15. In the Name drop-down list, select the Server template you want to use.

    or

    Create a new server template by selecting Click to Select Server.

  16. Specify the count for each server template.

  17. (Conditional) If you want to use the existing server targets specified in the project, click the Existing Target Servers tab and select the servers.

    This option is available only if a project has existing target servers.

  18. Click Start.

    The Create Scenario job runs.

    You can watch the progress in the Job Explorer window. When the scenario is created, it is displayed under Scenarios in the base project.

6.5.3 Results of Consolidation Scenarios

The result of any scenario depends on the workloads used and the server templates selected. Higher consolidation ratios are achieved with larger target servers. The created scenario is displayed in the Project Explorer. For a description of the icons in the graphic below, see the listing of Project Explorer icons in Table D-6.

Figure 6-1 Project Explorer

Virtualization Overhead: If server templates configured with a virtualization platform are selected as input to the scenario, the overhead related to the selected virtualization platform is shown as an additional workload under each target server and is named after the virtualization platform. Virtualization overhead workloads are not movable.

Unconsolidated Workloads: Lists all servers that were not consolidated during the scenario creation process. Workloads are rejected if they cannot be added to a server without exceeding utilization thresholds. These servers are listed under Unconsolidated in the scenario. Moving unconsolidated workloads to a server can result in a violation of utilization thresholds.

Unprotected Workloads: Lists all servers that were not protected during the scenario creation. Workloads are rejected if they cannot be added to a server without exceeding utilization thresholds. These servers are listed under Unprotected in the scenario. Moving unprotected workloads to a server can result in a violation of utilization thresholds.

6.5.4 Editing Scenarios

You can move workloads between target servers or from Unconsolidated or Unprotected to a target server by dragging and dropping in the Project Explorer. Alternatively, right-click the workload and click Unconsolidate Workload on the menu.

6.5.5 Deleting Scenarios

  1. In the Project Explorer, select a scenario.

  2. Click Delete Scenario icon.