Post on 02-Jul-2015
description
© Square Mile Systems
1
Communicating Configurations
Configuration management principles,
practices, processes and tools
Robert Cowham & David Cuthbertson
Services Director Managing Director
Square Mile Systems
Agenda
• What are the key things to communicate?
• How are configurations communicated today?
• What types of diagrams/reports work well?
• What challenges do we face?
• Useful tools and techniques
© Square Mile Systems 2
Square Mile Systems Background
UK based – Cirencester, Glos.
• Sister company - AssetGen
Develop toolsets and techniques for documenting complex IT infrastructure
Focus areas
• Data center & connectivity management
• Application and service mapping
• Application lifecycle and release management
• Automated documentation techniques
• Infrastructure visualisation using Visio
Industry Roles
• BCS CMSG Chair and committee member
Fixed Infrastructure(Cabling, Power, Cabinets, Rooms, Buildings)
Hardware InfrastructurePCs, Network, Servers, UPS, Storage, Other
Virtual InfrastructurePCs, Network, Servers, Storage, DBMS
ApplicationsPC, server, mainframe, SOA
ServicesEnd user, infrastructure, supplier
Business ProcessesDepartmental, Company
Configuration Management Scope
Fixed Infrastructure(Cabling, Power, Cabinets, Rooms, Buildings)
Hardware InfrastructurePCs, Network, Servers, UPS, Storage, Other
Virtual InfrastructurePCs, Network, Servers, Storage, DBMS
ApplicationsPC, server, mainframe, SOA
ServicesEnd user, infrastructure, supplier
Business ProcessesDepartmental, Company
Hardware Items
& builds
Interfaces
Operating Systems
Installed Packages
Source Code
(binaries)
Web code
Environment
Prod/Test/DRDatabases &
Data
Documents
Service
Definitions
Different Teams, Different Focus
Service
Management
CMDB/CMS
Data
Centre
Networks
LAN/SAN
Applications
Servers
Mid range
Mainframe
Systems
Fixed Infrastructure(Cabling, Power, Cabinets, Rooms, Buildings)
Hardware InfrastructurePCs, Network, Servers, UPS, Storage, Other
Virtual InfrastructurePCs, Network, Servers, Storage, DBMS
ApplicationsPC, server, mainframe, SOA
ServicesEnd user, infrastructure, supplier
Business ProcessesDepartmental, Company
Configuration Management Basics
• What have you got?
• Where is it?
• When was it/will it be changed?
• What was changed?
• Who did it and why?
• What is/will be part of this baseline/release?
• Change - Impacts/Dependencies/Risks?
© Square Mile Systems 6
What’s in a Name?
© Square Mile Systems 7
Trading system:
• Forex
• FourX
• XXXX
Which is right?
© Square Mile Systems 8
Enterprise Architecture – Zackman Framework
Enterprise Architecture
© Square Mile Systems 9
Hierarchical Structures
© BCS CMSG 10
Understanding Structures
© Square Mile Systems 11
An alternative view
© Square Mile Systems 12
© AssetGen Limited
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Different views of a serverClaims
Processing
Payment Module
ACCOUNTS
Accounts Module
SVRWIN001
Accounts
Payable
Accounts
Receivable
PAYROLL
Sage Payroll
Payroll
SW-BHAM-
CORE1
SW-BHAM-
CORE2
SW-BHAM-01 SW-BHAM-03 SW-BHAM-05 SW-BHAM-02SW-BHAM-04SW-BHAM-06
UK_BIRM_UX01 UK_BIRM_UX02 UK_BIRM_UX09 UK_BIRM_UX04UK_BIRM_UX05 UK_BIRM_UX03 UK_BIRM_UX06 UK_BIRM_UX07 UK_BIRM_UX08 UK_BIRM_UX10
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99999
UK_BIRMCC_PDU1
UK_BIRMCC_PDU2
PWR01-
03-A
PWR01-
04-A
PWR01-
05-A
PWR01-06-
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PWR01-
07-A
PWR01-
03-B
PWR01-04-
B
PWR01-05-
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PWR01-06-
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PWR01-07-
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UK_BIRM_UX01 UK_BIRM_UX02 UK_BIRM_UX09 UK_BIRM_UX10 UK_BIRM_UX03 UK_BIRM_UX04
UK_BIRM_UX05
UK_BIRM_UX06
UK_BIRM_UX07
UK_BIRM_UX08
PP01-02-01
RTR-BHAM-01
PWR01-02-A
PWR01-02-B
NTU-BHAM-01
NTU-TEST03
Floor Plan
Rack Position
Service impact
Power Supply
Network Connections
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H/W Build
Dependencies/Impacts
© Square Mile Systems 14
“Top Down” “Bottom Up”
Real World Complexity
Virtualisation doesn’t make it easier!
Impact Analysis Made Simple
© Square Mile Systems 17
1 2
3
Visio Diagrams Can Support Many Views
© Square Mile Systems 18
Show the Cabinet Function
© Square Mile Systems 19
More Views – Power / Capacity
© Square Mile Systems 20
2 views of
the same
cabinets
with
different
icons
What do other teams need from us?
© Square Mile Systems 21
What do other teams need from us?
© Square Mile Systems 22
Publishing Configurations
© Square Mile Systems 23
Visio diagram saved for the web
© Square Mile Systems 24
With data graphics
© Square Mile Systems 25
Linking Multiple Data Sources
• Avoid duplication of data between systems
– Multiple update problem
• Embedding references (URLs or equivalents)
• Example - Visio hyperlinks to
– Other Visio diagrams
– Excel/Word
– URLs
© Square Mile Systems 26
Methods of Publishing Configurations
Existing Tools with
Configuration Data
• CMDBs
• Service Desks
• DCIM
• SCM
• Discovery systems
• Monitoring
• Deployment
Other tools
• HTML pages
• Wikis
• SharePoint
• Document Management
Systems
• Other Content Management
Systems
© Square Mile Systems 27
• N.B. the answer is not…
Challenges
• Data vs Information
– Linking data sources
– Standardisation of output formats
• Clarity of data ownership
• Organisational structures
• Project vs Operational Documents
– Business as usual vs Investing for the future
• Tooling support
© Square Mile Systems 28
Things we do that may help
• AssetGen Connect
– SQL/Visio system for data centers, networks etc
• AssetGen SysMap
– SQL/Visio system for application/service mapping
• Free Visio Addin
– Speeds up Visio diagram automation and
publishing
www.squaremilesystems.com/products/
© Square Mile Systems 29
Connect and SysMap
© AssetGen Limited
30
Fixed Infrastructure(Cabling, Power, Cabinets, Rooms, Buildings)
Hardware InfrastructurePCs, Network, Servers, UPS, Storage, Other
Virtual InfrastructurePCs, Network, Servers, Storage, DBMS
ApplicationsPC, server, mainframe, SOA
ServicesEnd user, infrastructure, supplier
Business ProcessesDepartmental, Company
AssetGen Connect
AssetGen SysMap
SQL Server platform
© Square Mile Systems 31
Questions?
Contact details:
Robert Cowham, Square Mile Systems
robert.cowham@squaremilesystems.com
+44 7785 292 719
David Cuthbertson
david.cuthbertson@squaremilesystems.com
+44 7717 883 177