Final Case Study

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Chapter 5: Sun Virtualization

Objectives

After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

• Discuss Sun virtualization products and services

• Install and configure the xVM Ops Center

• Administer an xVM Ops Center

• Install VirtualBox on Windows hosts

• Install VirtualBox on Mac hosts

• Discuss Sun Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Software

Key Terms

Disconnected mode architectureDisconnected mode architecture

a Sun xVM architecture that does not connect to any other

system via any network

Enterprise controllerEnterprise controller

a central server for Sun virtualization that manages the

connected systems using a user-friendly browser interface

Proxy controllerProxy controller

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proxy used by the enterprise controller to handle the managed

systems in the Sun xVM Ops Center

Sun xVM Ops CenterSun xVM Ops Center

a data center life-cycle management tool that enables the user to

discover, patch, manage, and monitor the assets in one or more

data centers from a single console

Introduction to Sun Virtualization

Virtualization is a framework or methodology that divides the

resources of a computer into multiple execution environments. It is

rapidly being deployed in server, storage, networking, and client

environments. Sun offers a complete desktop-to-data-center

virtualization product portfolio and a comprehensive set of

virtualization service offerings to help customers deploy new services

quickly, maximize the utilization of the system’s resources, and

monitor and manage the virtualized environments. Sun offers the

following virtualization products and services:

• Desktop virtualization

• Server virtualization

• Storage virtualization

• Virtualization management

• Virtualization services

Sun offers the following four virtualization products, as shown in

Figure 5-1Figure 5-1:

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• xVM Ops Center

• VDI Software

• xVM Server

• xVM VirtualBox

Figure 5-1

Sun has four main virtualization products.

Sun Virtualization Features

Sun virtualization, shown in Figure 5-2Figure 5-2, offers the following features:

• Hard partitions

• Remote Access Services (RAS)

• Scalability

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• Established technology

• Ability to run different OS versions

• Virtual machines

• Ability to migrate an OS

• Run different OS versions and types

• Decouples OS and hardware versions

• OS virtualization

• Scalable; low overhead

• One OS to manage

• Divides system and application administration

• Fine-grained resource management

• Resource management

• Scalable and low overhead

• Single OS to manage

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Figure 5-2

Sun virtualization provides a host of benefits.

Sun Desktop Virtualization

From an IT administrator’s perspective, it is difficult to manage

desktops and laptops. Virtualizing desktops can replace traditional PCs

with virtual machines that can be managed from a remote and secure

data center. Virtualizing desktops is similar to server virtualization.

Desktop virtualization provides the following benefits:

• Increases the desktop’s life span

• Protects intellectual property and leaves no data behind

• Provides better regulatory compliance because data are not

distributed

• Increases user satisfaction and retention

• Leverages thin client’s benefits today while still supporting legacy

applications

• Easy to implement, fast to deploy, and cheaper to manage

Sun VDI Software’s open architecture allows IT departments to design

a virtual desktop environment using a broad range of client devices,

virtualization hosts, and virtual desktop operating systems, as shown

in Figure 5-3Figure 5-3. Sun desktop virtualization helps separate the desktop

operating system and some, or all, of its applications from the

underlying hardware. Each desktop instance is executed in a self-

contained environment. The interaction of the individual desktop

instances and the resources they use are controlled and managed by a

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virtualization layer.

Figure 5-3

Each desktop instance is executed in a self-contained environment.

Sun xVM Ops Center

Sun xVM Ops CenterSun xVM Ops Center is a data center life-cycle management tool

that enables the user to discover, patch, manage, and monitor the

assets in one or more data centers from a single console. The remote

management capabilities are designed to increase availability and

utilization, and minimize downtime.

The user interface displays a consolidated view of all the resources in

the data center, including physical systems (x86 and SPARC), operating

systems, and Solaris Containers and Zones.

The following tasks can be performed using the Sun xVM Ops Center

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console:

• Manage physical systems in a data center

• Provide systems with Solaris or Linux operating systems

• Automate patching and updates for Solaris and Linux operating

systems

• Generate a variety of reports

The Sun xVM Ops Center console uses a three-tiered architecture

consisting of the following components:

• Enterprise controllerEnterprise controller:: The enterprise controller is a central

server that manages the connected systems using a user-friendly

browser interface. It connects to managed systems through proxy

controllers. Here, the enterprise controller has the flexibility to

connect with the Internet to download patch information from

Sun Knowledge Services and to download patches from software

vendors such as SuSE, Solaris, and Linux.

• Proxy controllerProxy controller:: The enterprise controller requires one or

more proxies for handling the managed systems. Proxies directly

interact with the managed systems and thus increase the

scalability of the enterprise controller.

• Agent: An agent is deployed for patch management. It helps an

enterprise controller to identify hardware. Once the agent is

installed, it appears on the managed gear section of the

Navigation panel.

• Management network: Through the management network, the

user can remotely control physical systems managed by Sun xVM

Ops Center. With the help of this network, the user can perform

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the following functions:

• Power on or off

• Conduct a firmware update and OS provisioning

• Discover boot device information and parameters

• Data network: In the data network, the operating systems running

on the managed systems are separately managed. The user

requires a separate proxy in order to manage this network. It can

perform the following functions:

• Provisioning, patching, and rebooting operating systems

• Providing operating system information (type and version)

and zone-related information (representation of global and

nonglobal zones)

• Listing information on CPU, memory, and network usage

Connected and Disconnected Modes of Architecture

The Sun xVM Ops Center normally functions in the connected mode.

Figure 5-4Figure 5-4 shows this type of architecture.

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Figure 5-4

The Sun xVM Ops Center normally functions in connected mode.

The disconnected mode architecturedisconnected mode architecture enables the user to access

Sun xVM Ops Center in a secured environment. The term

disconnected makes it clear that this architecture does not connect

with any other system via any network (such as the Internet), as

shown in Figure 5-5Figure 5-5. Sun architecture provides the flexibility to

switch from the connected mode to the disconnected mode, depending

upon the users’ requirements.

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Figure 5-5

The disconnected mode architecture is isolated from other systems on the network.

Sun xVM Ops Center Port Requirements

Figure 5-6Figure 5-6 lists various Sun xVM Ops Center communication

requirements. In addition, depending on the environment that is

being managed, the enterprise controller has to browse various

vendor sites to download patches or other knowledge. Figure 5-7Figure 5-7

shows the requirements and data flow for the xVM Ops Center.

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Figure 5-6

The Ops Center requires different ports for each aspect of its architecture.

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Figure 5-7

The Ops Center’s data flow determines the ports required.

At least one proxy controller is mandatory. It may be installed during

the enterprise controller installation on the same machine as the

enterprise controller, or on a separate server.

Enterprise Controller Administration

The enterprise controller is the core of Sun xVM Ops Center. It

generates the browser interface, routes commands from the user to

the proper proxy controller, and communicates with Sun and other

external data sources. Enterprise controller administration enables

the following functions:

• Unconfiguring an enterprise controller

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• Updating Sun xVM Ops Center

• Authentications

• Connection mode

• Viewing service status

• Viewing agent controllers

• Updating agent controllers

• Viewing logs

xVM Ops Center Installation and Configuration

Figure 5-8Figure 5-8 shows the details for preparing a site for xVM Ops Center

installation and configuration.

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Figure 5-8

Specific tasks must be accomplished to prepare a site for Ops Center installation.

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The system requirements shown in Figure 5-9Figure 5-9 should be considered

when installing the following Sun xVM Ops Center components:

• Sun xVM Ops Center Enterprise Controller software

• Sun xVM Ops Center Proxy Controller software

Figure 5-9

Ops Center installation has specific prerequisites.

Ops Center Installation

Figure 5-10Figure 5-10 shows the installation and configuration flow for Ops

Center. The following steps will install the Sun xVM Ops Center:

1. Review the system’s requirements.

2. Obtain the Sun xVM Ops Center software.

3. Prepare a set of systems for software installation. This involves

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the following steps:

• Install an operating system.

• Verify the system’s resources.

• Verify Sun’s online account access.

4. Install a Sun xVM Ops Center enterprise controller and proxy

controller, discover gear, and install agents. Use the following

steps to accomplish this:

• Install and configure an enterprise controller.

• Install and configure a proxy controller.

• Discover gear and install agents.

Figure 5-10

Ops Center installation and configuration should follow this flowchart.

Enterprise Controller Installation

The following steps should be used to install a Sun xVM Ops Center

enterprise controller:

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1. Create a temporary directory on the system. Copy or move the

appropriate archive from Sun to the temporary directory, as

shown in Figure 5-11Figure 5-11.

Figure 5-11

Copy or move the appropriate archive from Sun to the temporary directory.

2. Change to the directory where the installation archive is located

on the system. Extract the compressed (.tar) archive. List the

contents of the temporary directory, as shown in Figure 5-12Figure 5-12.

Figure 5-12

List the contents of the temporary directory.

3. Change the directory to the location where the install script

resides:

• Run the install script.

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• Each installation archive contains an install script that is

appropriate for its intended operating system and platform.

• The screen clears and the install script displays a list of the

installation tasks.

4. The install script checks for prerequisites and reports needed

updates to the user. Once the prerequisites are met, the

installation process is successful. If the prerequisites are not met,

use the following steps:

• Enter tt to try again.

• Enter cc to continue, thus ignoring the warning.

• Enter xx to exit from the install script.

Enterprise Controller Software Configuration

For complete installation of Sun xVM Ops Center, installation and

configuration of the Enterprise Controller software is a prerequisite.

The following steps are used to configure a Sun xVM Ops Center

enterprise controller:

1. Launch a Web browser.

2. Connect to the following URL:

• https://<system>:9443.

• Replace <system> with the IP address or hostname of the

system.

3. Accept any certificates that are presented (login page will be

displayed).

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4. Enter the name and password of the root user, or equivalent role,

on the system. The IntroductionIntroduction panel of the Enterprise

Controller Configuration wizard is then displayed.

5. To display the Enterprise ControllerEnterprise Controller panel, click Next.Next.

6. Provide the information in Figure 5-13Figure 5-13.

Figure 5-13

Provide this information in Step 6.

7. Click NextNext to display the HTTP ProxyHTTP Proxy panel.

• This panel enables the user to specify information about an

HTTP proxy.

• Provide the information from Figure 5-14Figure 5-14.

Figure 5-14

Step 7 requires this information.

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8. Click NextNext to display the RegistrationRegistration panel.

9. The Register Enterprise Controller with Sun DatacenterRegister Enterprise Controller with Sun Datacenter

check box allows the user to choose registration for online

services. The user’s selection in this panel determines what panels

the Enterprise Controller Configuration wizard will display next.

If the user wants to register the enterprise controller with Sun

Inventory online service, then select Register EnterpriseRegister Enterprise

Controller with Sun Datacenter.Controller with Sun Datacenter.

10. Click Next.Next.