[ut916]

Hello,
I am working on a virtualization built-in solution which is based on an 8:1 ratio. It is assumed to be aggressive with the virtualization deployment, with only approximately 10% being standalone servers.

I have around 50 physical servers and about 15 LPARs. The hardware does have few power 5 (p561 and p570's). I am required to come up with a virtualization solution to support the current environment without getting too much of new hardware specially no new frames like p595 and above.

Can someone help me up in coming with a strategy that would address this situation.

Thanks.

[ross.mather]

Well to be honest, if you want to virtualise then you will need new kit.

You can make use of any spare apacity on the existing kit - but you don't make an omlette without breaking eggs.

What will dictate your policy is the workloads you want to run. How much CPU / Memory and I/O that your applications need, will dictate what your server environment needs to be.

Incidentally what do you mean by, "solution which is based on an 8:1 ratio" 8 to 1 of what?

[duke900ssd]

You'll need to use some sort of perf tool (try nmon) to analyse the entire workload and current system capacity.

Then work out what spare resources you have, i/o (disk and network), cpu and memory.

Then work out how you can redeploy those resources to meet your workload needs.

Not an easy job.

Depending what VIO capable systems you have and what LPAR capable systems you have, you may be able to virtualise the 80% / 88% on power5 systems and put the standalone stuff on power4 lpars.

Your post is not clear: 8:1 virtual and 10% standalone....

If 80% are virtualised and 10% standalone what about the other 10%?

Or did you mean 88% virtual and 12% standalone?

Does a dedicated LPAR count as standalone?

Is all your hardware LPAR capable?

Have you considered WLM instead of LPAR / VIO?

Have you taken account of the resources required by VIO servers?

It is a complex environment so we need more info to offer advice.

[ut916]

Thanks for the replies. I am trying to use System Planning Tool to guage the I/O of the existing hardware.
You assumed it right, about 88% of the environment would be virtual with the rest being standalone.
A dedicated LPAR does not count as a standalone.
As I mentioned earlier we do have a few Power5 p561 and p570s, I am not sure if they would be able to satisfy the I/O requirements.
This is my first project in virtualization, please advise.

[ross.mather]

Without detailed information we cannot really give you much in the way of help. IBM can assist customers with sizing virtual environments, so you may be better off paying money to get the professional help that you need.

If you really have no clue about virtualisation then please get on the training course - it will save you masses of problems in the long run.