For some time, the concept of hyper-converged IT infrastructure has also prevailed in medium-sized companies. However, it has not triggered a real trend so far. Many IT executives still have great uncertainty as to whether or not a hyper-converged infrastructure can be used in their company's data center.
For IT service companies - managed service providers, large system houses or data center operators - hyperconverged structures are on the rise. Hyperconvergence combines vendor-independent the best possible solution for network, server and storage in a suite, controlled by an application that acts as management software for the entire system.
While in a conventional IT landscape servers are available for data processing, storage systems are used for data storage, and network components connect everything together, a hyper-converged infrastructure offers everything from one source. The usually external storage options are integrated in a hyperkonvergenten infrastructure in the server. The servers are joined together via special software - and made available via a highly specialized rack solution.
Virtualization for input and output
But how does that succeed? Only through virtualization! Because hyper-converged infrastructures are not just server landscapes that integrate hard drives and SSDs, rather than processing data via external storage systems. Hyperconvergence occurs when a large number of virtual machines (VMs) are used - which can also drive the efficiency, scalability and automation of a system.
Flexible scalability
Which brings the topic "agility" to the table. The virtual memories allow you to move workloads as needed and in a timely manner. This allows a company's IT staff to complete their projects faster and more efficiently. Since hyperconvergent systems are inherently designed as a kind of modular system, scalability is relatively unproblematic.
In order to cope with new demands from the business environment, components of the infrastructure do not necessarily have to be replaced. Often, the supply of software updates by the vendors is quite sufficient to set up new functions, without having to replace hardware.
Best condition for automation
Automation processes are simple: with all elements and resources intertwined through the server environment, centralized management tools and scripts can "learn from each other" or "share their work". In addition, hyperconvergence is a software-based approach.
Powerful VM server
Hyperconvergent structures make it possible to use many different applications that share common resource pools. They are designed so that the danger of a so-called I / O blender effect is banned. With an I / O composite effect, the performance of virtual machines can stall because heterogeneous input and output information competing for limited storage resources.
A platform that relies on virtual machines bypasses this effect and enables the optimization of information processing. By installing different types of storage in a hyperconverged infrastructure, full redundancy and data security can be achieved.
Concentration on business processes
The advantages for companies that rely on hyper-converged infrastructures are obvious: the environments can handle more workloads more flexibly than conventional infrastructures. This allows the systems to adapt quickly and accurately to changing business needs - IT professionals are becoming more and more dedicated to fulfilling requirement profiles and are less concerned with the technology itself. Hyperconverged systems reduce resource consumption - from physical space, power, air conditioning or cabling.
Rethinking the server management
However, it is usually not possible for companies to completely restructure their data center "from one day to the next" just to introduce this new technology. Therefore, it is currently common for hyperconverged structures to complement traditional environments - a particular challenge for data center operators that can only be met by powerful data center infrastructure management (DCIM).
This means that focusing on hyper-converged infrastructures requires a restructuring of conventional task sharing in a data center. Previously system and network managers were responsible for managing active IT components such as servers, storage systems, and network components, while facility managers looked after power, air conditioning, and physical infrastructure, and now these two worlds need to be more closely interlinked.
How such a holistic approach can be implemented is shown by a few examples. Because a hyper-converged infrastructure provides interfaces to all applications and operating systems, not only servers and network components, but also facility controls for air conditioning and power should be linked. The DCIM, for example, processes information about power consumption per rack, rack row or cabinet - which, in turn, can be used to derive measures for data backup or capacity planning.
Integrating building plans of a data center into the DCIM tools can optimize the design of server architectures and facilitate the later integration of new components. The software used by DCIM experts therefore usually has interfaces to data systems such as servers or switches as well as to ventilation and air-conditioning systems as well as emergency power or building control systems.
Holistic approach in focus
Conclusion: Hyperconverged infrastructures unfold their advantages optimally if all technical components are perfectly coordinated with a uniform data center management. This results in easier data load management and flexible capacity planning. Interface and incompatibility issues between hardware and software are reduced. This saves costs and makes efficient one-stop support possible.
For IT service companies - managed service providers, large system houses or data center operators - hyperconverged structures are on the rise. Hyperconvergence combines vendor-independent the best possible solution for network, server and storage in a suite, controlled by an application that acts as management software for the entire system.
While in a conventional IT landscape servers are available for data processing, storage systems are used for data storage, and network components connect everything together, a hyper-converged infrastructure offers everything from one source. The usually external storage options are integrated in a hyperkonvergenten infrastructure in the server. The servers are joined together via special software - and made available via a highly specialized rack solution.
Virtualization for input and output
But how does that succeed? Only through virtualization! Because hyper-converged infrastructures are not just server landscapes that integrate hard drives and SSDs, rather than processing data via external storage systems. Hyperconvergence occurs when a large number of virtual machines (VMs) are used - which can also drive the efficiency, scalability and automation of a system.
Flexible scalability
Which brings the topic "agility" to the table. The virtual memories allow you to move workloads as needed and in a timely manner. This allows a company's IT staff to complete their projects faster and more efficiently. Since hyperconvergent systems are inherently designed as a kind of modular system, scalability is relatively unproblematic.
In order to cope with new demands from the business environment, components of the infrastructure do not necessarily have to be replaced. Often, the supply of software updates by the vendors is quite sufficient to set up new functions, without having to replace hardware.
Best condition for automation
Automation processes are simple: with all elements and resources intertwined through the server environment, centralized management tools and scripts can "learn from each other" or "share their work". In addition, hyperconvergence is a software-based approach.
Powerful VM server
Hyperconvergent structures make it possible to use many different applications that share common resource pools. They are designed so that the danger of a so-called I / O blender effect is banned. With an I / O composite effect, the performance of virtual machines can stall because heterogeneous input and output information competing for limited storage resources.
A platform that relies on virtual machines bypasses this effect and enables the optimization of information processing. By installing different types of storage in a hyperconverged infrastructure, full redundancy and data security can be achieved.
Concentration on business processes
The advantages for companies that rely on hyper-converged infrastructures are obvious: the environments can handle more workloads more flexibly than conventional infrastructures. This allows the systems to adapt quickly and accurately to changing business needs - IT professionals are becoming more and more dedicated to fulfilling requirement profiles and are less concerned with the technology itself. Hyperconverged systems reduce resource consumption - from physical space, power, air conditioning or cabling.
Rethinking the server management
However, it is usually not possible for companies to completely restructure their data center "from one day to the next" just to introduce this new technology. Therefore, it is currently common for hyperconverged structures to complement traditional environments - a particular challenge for data center operators that can only be met by powerful data center infrastructure management (DCIM).
This means that focusing on hyper-converged infrastructures requires a restructuring of conventional task sharing in a data center. Previously system and network managers were responsible for managing active IT components such as servers, storage systems, and network components, while facility managers looked after power, air conditioning, and physical infrastructure, and now these two worlds need to be more closely interlinked.
How such a holistic approach can be implemented is shown by a few examples. Because a hyper-converged infrastructure provides interfaces to all applications and operating systems, not only servers and network components, but also facility controls for air conditioning and power should be linked. The DCIM, for example, processes information about power consumption per rack, rack row or cabinet - which, in turn, can be used to derive measures for data backup or capacity planning.
Integrating building plans of a data center into the DCIM tools can optimize the design of server architectures and facilitate the later integration of new components. The software used by DCIM experts therefore usually has interfaces to data systems such as servers or switches as well as to ventilation and air-conditioning systems as well as emergency power or building control systems.
Holistic approach in focus
Conclusion: Hyperconverged infrastructures unfold their advantages optimally if all technical components are perfectly coordinated with a uniform data center management. This results in easier data load management and flexible capacity planning. Interface and incompatibility issues between hardware and software are reduced. This saves costs and makes efficient one-stop support possible.