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IBM VMready: Server-side Virtual Machine-aware Switching for the Data Center (October 2011) |
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| Over the past several years, the evolution of capabilities in x86 server hardware combined with virtualization has brought many changes to the typical data center. What was once a collection of single-purposed, generally underutilized servers has been transformed into a smaller collection of virtualized hosts running multiple guest operating systems and applications, driving up hardware utilization. However, as more and more workloads are moved from physical to virtual machines, network administrators continue to face challenges with networking of the virtual environments, because networks have not been aware of virtual machines. Network administrators need to have server-side, VM-aware switching coupled with the ability to apply network configurations and policies on a per-VM basis rather than a per-port basis, making their networks adaptive to dynamic VM movement. |
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In response to these needs, BLADE Network Technologies (BNT) developed VMready with Virtual Vision, a unique solution that enables the network to be VM-aware. [With the acquisition of BLADE by IBM in October 2010, the BNT product portfolio is now offered under the IBM System Networking brand.]
VMready can help address the challenges by:
• Automatically discovering and tracking virtual machines on the network
• Managing virtual machine traffic
• Assigning network parameters per virtual machine
• Maintaining consistent network settings during virtual machine migrations
Additionally, VMready offers these features:
• Switch-resident code with nothing to install or maintain on the host servers
• Works with multiple hypervisors
• Integrates directly into vSphere for vSwitch management |
 In a virtual environment, the networking standard has gone from one OS per server and one configuration per port (port-based networking) to multiple OSs and multiple configurations per port. As a result, networking gets more complicated. With standard networking, it’s not possible to maintain port-based networking policies any longer. Traffic from individual virtual machines can’t be separated, and VM mobility potentially creates connectivity issues and security risks.
Before VMready, VM migration could cause VMs to become unstable or insecure. VMs could move from one host to another, but networking policies requiring manual configuration would not follow the migration. As a result, users could become disconnected, security could become compromised, and network administrators could be seriously overworked addressing these issues.
With VMready, virtual ports become the new switching unit. The network is aware of individual virtual machines on the same physical connection, and network configuration is done at the virtual port level. Network mobility is automated across a single switch or switch infrastructure, and configurations follow the virtual machines in real time in the case of VM migration.
VMready also enables multi-tenancy, since management is done per virtual machine and per virtual port. This is an important foundational requirement for cloud computing in public, private and hybrid clouds. Configuration is done as follows:
• VMready configures ACLs, VLANs, QoS, etc. on a per-VM/per-virtual port basis
• Virtual port configurations are synchronized with VMware vSwitches via vSphere
• VMready learns of VM migration (vMotion) in real time and moves the virtual port settings and policies with NMotion in real-time, thereby preserving both connectivity and security |
Integration with vCenter automates the creation of port groups on the vSwitches and ensures the network settings are consistent. VMready provides seamless management of physical and virtual switches within VMware. It also polls vCenter for information such as the VM names.
Combined with BLADEHarmony Manager, this provides VMready with the ability to protect VMs no matter where they move, as well as synchronizing policies and configurations among the switches and hypervisors. BLADEHarmony Manager centrally defines and distributes the configurations to VMready switches and hypervisors.
VMready is licensed on many IBM System Networking switching products, as well as on other BNT-branded products. |
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For more information about VMready, visit the IBM Networking Software page on ibm.com. You will find information about both rackmount and IBM BladeCenter switch options for which VMready is available, as well as presentations on VMready and links to information about BLADEHarmony Manager and related products from IBM Systems Networking.
If you are looking for expert guidance in how Blade Network Technologies and VMready can help streamline operations in your virtual environment, Sirius is here to help. Please reach out to your Sirius client executive to schedule some time with a Sirius virtualization expert. Sirius has 30 certified virtualization engineers with over 225 years of combined virtualization experience. An IBM Premier Business Partner, a Premier VMware Solution Provider, and Gold VMware Authorized Consultant, Sirius can help you optimize your virtual environment to enable the best return on your virtualization investment. |
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