Automated Data Center?
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Gartner announced that the future of data centers is software-defined, emphasizing the importance of automation in improving efficiency, security, and service quality. By 2017, a significant portion of enterprises were expected to adopt multiple automation technologies, with standards like Redfish emerging to facilitate integration and management. Both server and OS virtualization play critical roles in promoting automation, but a strategic approach is essential for successful implementation.
Automated Data Center?
- 1. In late 2015 Gartner announced that “the future of the data center is software-defined”1 . Automation embraces technology, processes, and human interaction to automate and accelerate recurring processes and to avoid errors of manual interventions. Automated, or software-defined data centers help orchestrate and streamline different IT processes. The automated data center is a promise of more efficient, safe and secure, servers able to enforce even the most exorbitant service level agreement (SLA). Gartner predicts that by 2017, 75% of enterprises will have more than four various automation technologies within their IT management portfolio. In Garner report VP and Distinguished Analyst Ronni Colville underline that there is no single automation tool in nowadays Data Centers. Scripts are the most common and used by almost every IT service providers but Colville underlines also other tools that can be helpful in process automation2 . ‘TO AUTOMATE OR NOT TO AUTOMATE?’ – IT IS NOT A QUESTION ANYMORE The importance of IT infrastructure as a core element of every modern business causes that modern data center needs to be more agile and flexible support for the business. The faster your system can give the results, the more competitive your business can be in the market where speed of delivery is important. To achieve the speed of processes you Data Center must be automated. Many of today’s company’s provides software for automation processes starting from infrastructure automation through the hybrid cloud and application automation. They are expected to offer standardized processes, self-service approaches, and high service quality. Another challenge is a need for shorter implementation time of new services. Data from over the world are constantly telling us that data center automation increases compliance and standardization and help uses staff more efficiently3 . Automation also increases server efficiency – it helps you eliminate the underutilization. After all, automation not only improves service quality and makes DC mores secure but also reduces costs. For many businesses, very important feature is also the easiness of use. With intuitive dashboards, in the automated DC, the management becomes more and more convenient. There is no doubt that automated data center are the future of IT infrastructure. The question is rather how to get started. There is a myriad of service providers and a couple of standards on the market. Let’s discuss the most promising one. A BIG FISH OCCURS Redfish was born in 2014 when technology industry leaders Dell, Emerson Network Power, HP, and Intel announced the creation of a new specification under development for data center and systems management that delivers comprehensive functionality, scalability, and security. It is an open industry standard specification and schema that specifies a RESTful interface and utilizes JSON and OData to help customers integrate solutions within their existing tool chains4 . Within two years Redfish dominated the market. SERVER VIRTUALIZATION AND OS VIRTUALIZATION – TWO OPPOSITE PHILOSOPHIES But the standard is not what you need to succeed. Virtualization is one of the easiest ways to facilitate automation. Briefly, server virtualization makes many physical servers appear as one, while OS virtualization is the opposite – it turns one server into many5 . Which is better? There is no simple answer. Both server virtualization and OS virtualization enable one to build an architecture that can be easily automated. These two concepts increase the ease and shorten the time required to gather resources required in order to start automation. DEFINE YOUR OBJECTIVES AND TRUST EXPERTS Neither server virtualization, nor OS virtualization can automate the data center on its own. Every implementation plan should start with a detailed strategy and a survey of customer needs. At Comarch, we’ve done this many years ago because it helps us understand our partners better. Communication is a key to this business. That is why you may need to drop a line to your IT partner first. 1 Source: http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3136417 2 Source: http://info.advsyscon.com/it-automation-blog/automation-automagic-gartners-approach-to-it-automation-in-the-data-center 3 Source: http://www.unitiv.com/it-solutions-blog/bid/45647/Business-Benefits-of-Data-Center-Automation 4 Source: https://www.dmtf.org/standards/redfish 5 Source: https://f5.com/resources/white-papers/automating-the-data-center AUTOMATED DATA CENTER? IT’S NO LONGER A TREND, IT’S A MUST www.ict.comarch.com [email protected] Scripts Job Scheduling IT process Automation Clound Automation Workload AutomationOther, Such as Business Process Client Automation Network Automation Application Release Automation Server Automation AUTO- MATION No Single Consistent Automation Imagine an airport on a tropical island. Friendly airport staff assists travelers on their way to the taxis parked in front of the terminal. Bigger groups got bigger vehicles, smaller are directed to smaller cars. This cozy and old fashioned service is good for small airports. But can you imagine this model on a really big airline hub? No? Then, why we still want to have some process done manually in data centers?