Utilizing System Virtualization with SAP

Kevin KnueseVice President of Delivery

May 5, 2010

Download the presentation recording with audio from the Symmetry Knowledge Center

www.sym-corp.com/knowledge-center

Implementation Support

SAP certified Hosting

SAP NetWeaver/ Basis

administration

Security design &

administration

Upgrade & project support

Quality – proactive support delivered by US-based expertsAccessibility – 24x7 direct access to your support team Affordability – highly competitive, fixed price contracts

Lifecycle Support for any SAP application on any platform combination

Symmetry’s 21st Century Approach to Managed Services

Introducing…

Kevin KnueseVice President of DeliverySymmetry Corporation

What We’ll CoverWhat is Virtualization

Why use Virtualization

SAP Virtualization - Considerations

Leveraging Virtualization with SAP

Putting it all together

What is VirtualizationSeparation of computer resources from the underlying hardware resources

Operating SystemStorageNetwork

Combines multiple, discrete systems (images) onto shared hardware for concurrent operation

Virtualization TermsImage

Operating System resource available for useHost

Underlying hardware system an image uses for resourcesHypervisor

Software that allows multiple operating systems to run on a host computer concurrently

Cluster/Resource PoolLogical grouping of host systems for performance, availability, or management reasons

What We’ll CoverWhat is Virtualization

Why use Virtualization

SAP Virtualization - Considerations

Leveraging Virtualization with SAP

Putting it all together

Virtualization MotivationReduce server infrastructure costs

Increased hardware utilizationDecreased energy costs

Increases flexibility in server managementAllocation & ProvisioningClustering

Improved Replication and backup features

What We’ll CoverWhat is Virtualization

Why use Virtualization

SAP Virtualization - Considerations

Leveraging Virtualization with SAP

Putting it all together

ConsiderationsAll operating systems:

UnixLinuxiSeries/AS400Windows

All databases:OracleMSSQLDB2MAXDBDB2/400

All SAP server productsECC/R3NetWeaverSolution ManagerBW/BIAPO/SCMPortalsSRMCRMXI/PIHCM...

SAP Virtualization - FAQFAQ:

Q: Can virtualization be used for SAP system?A: Yes, with certain stipulations.

Q: Does SAP support virtualization? A: Yes, with certain stipulations. A: SAP is not the only factor to consider.

Q: What are the primary considerations?A: Several shown in following slides.

SAP Virtualization - FAQFAQ:

Q: How do we move physical systems to virtual systems?A: Using virtual and other tools. A: Using SAP tools.

Q: What type of project does this represent? A: More significant than just a hardware migration.

Q: How do we size a system for virtualization? Same rules apply.

Q: What will our new landscape look like? A: Diagram sample shown in future slides.

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: Can virtualization be used for SAP system?A: Yes, with certain stipulations.

Q: Does SAP support virtualization? A: Yes, with certain stipulations. A: SAP is not the only factor to consider.

Support: SAP will support many systems in a virtual environment provided you use SAP approved hardware, OS, and database products.

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: Can virtualization be used for SAP system?A: Yes, with certain stipulations.

Q: Does SAP support virtualization? A: Yes, with certain stipulations. A: SAP is not the only factor to consider.

Support: Always check that the database provider also supports virtualization.

In general SAP may support a system in VMWare, but Oracle may not. (note: 1173954)

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: Can virtualization be used for SAP system?A: Yes, with certain stipulations.

Q: Does SAP support virtualization? A: Yes, with certain stipulations. A: SAP is not the only factor to consider.

Support: Fallback position

Although unusual, if SAP is unable to debug a problem in a instance that is virtualized, you may need to move that system to a stand-alone, physical machine.

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: Can virtualization be used for SAP system?A: Yes, with certain stipulations.

Q: Does SAP support virtualization? A: Yes, with certain stipulations. A: SAP is not the only factor to consider.

Support: Recommendation

Place non-productive systems in virtual environments. Place productive systems in physical environments.

Risk aversion vs. tool utilization and flexibility

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: What are the primary considerations?A: Several shown in following slides.

Considerations: What type of virtualization you intend to use:

Many are supported, some are not. IBM, HP, and Solaris have supported products. VMWare, ZEN, Zones, VPARs, LPARs, etc. VMWare has support for Windows and Linux.

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: What are the primary considerations?A: Several shown in following slides.

Considerations: What hardware you intend to use:

IBM, HP, Dell are some of the supported hardware providers. Whitebox systems are not supported. Many disk spindles are recommended.

Spindles still = performance

SAN hardware is also recommended. Required for flexibility tools

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: What are the primary considerations?A: Several shown in following slides.

Considerations: What OS you intend to use:

UnixHPUX, AIX, Solaris

LinuxRedHat, SuSE

WindowsServer 2003, Server 2008

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: What are the primary considerations?A: Several shown in following slides.

Considerations: What SAP product you intend to virtualize:

R/3, ECCBW, BIAPO, SCMCRMetc.

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: What are the primary considerations?A: Several shown in following slides.

Considerations: What the intended use of each SID is:

Production, Development, Quality AssuranceSandbox Application Server

Stand aloneDRS (Distributed Resource Scheduling)DPM (Distributed Power Management)

Central Instanceetc.

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: What are the primary considerations?A: Several shown in following slides.

Considerations: What Database product you use:

OracleSQL ServerMaxDBDB2etc.

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: How do we move physical systems to virtual systems?A: Using virtual and other tools. A: Using SAP tools.

Details: VMWare makes conversion tools that are capable of moving a physical system to a virtual system. Other tools are available that are capable of replicating images from one machine to another. Recommended method is to use SAP tools to process a homogeneous system migration. Using this method will facilitate SAP support.

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: What type of project does this represent? A: Fairly significant.

Details: Whether you intend to consolidate your systems on new hardware, or are deploying SAP for the first time in virtual environments, a well planned project is vital for success.

Migration projectImplementation project

Your project should include much in the way of: DocumentationCommunicationPersonnel

SAP validation of support prior to beginning the project.

SAP Virtualization – FAQ expandedFAQ:

Q: How do we size a system for virtualization? Same rules apply.

Details: As an example:

You have three physical systems that you want to migrate to virtual systems. Each requires the following resources as stand-alone systems:

4 CPUs, 16 GB of memory, 30 external disk spindlesSAP QuickSizerSAPS (SAP Application Performance Standard)

Then you should consider a server that has more that 12 CPUs, 48 GB of memory, and 90 external disk spindles

The extra CPU, and memory is to run the virtual host

SAP Virtualization - FAQFAQ:

Q: What will our new landscape look like? A: Diagram sample shown in future slides.

Details: Diagrams should be drawn as part of a project plan. Diagrams should include a “current” landscape.Diagrams should include a “to-be” landscape.Also a “flex” diagram should be considered for contingency in the event of project change or additional functionality is desired. Maybe even draw a “future” diagram if you know your landscape will be growing.

What We’ll CoverWhat is Virtualization

Why use Virtualization

SAP Virtualization - Considerations

Leveraging Virtualization with SAP

Putting it all together

Leveraging Virtualization with SAP (by example)

Our existing hardware has come to EOLWe will be acquiring new hardware. We are a Linux/Oracle shop. We have ECC, BI, PI, and Sol Man. We want to use virtualization for SAP systems.

To reduce hardware costTo reduce data center footprintTo expand flexibility

How do we proceed?

Let’s start the project planning …

Leveraging Virtualization with SAP (by example)

The ProjectProject PlanScoping Plan

Leveraging Virtualization with SAP (by example)

The ProjectResearchOSS Notes

Leveraging Virtualization with SAP (by example)

The ProjectCurrent

Leveraging Virtualization with SAP (by example)

The ProjectProjected

Leveraging Virtualization with SAP (by example)

The ProjectFlexAlternate

What We’ll CoverWhat is Virtualization

Why use Virtualization

SAP Virtualization - Considerations

Leveraging Virtualization with SAP

Putting it all together

Putting it all TogetherSAP Virtualization

Project Scope PlanTechnical Project plan

Putting it all TogetherSAP Virtualization

Project Scope PlanTechnical Project planManagement supportProject discussionsDecisionsProject executionTesting & Validation

SAPBackupFailover / Migration Tools

Project completionOld system decommission

Or re-commission

Putting it all TogetherResults

We have SAP supportHardware vendor supportDatabase provider support1/3 fewer servers had to be purchasedData center space was reduced by 1/3

Elimination of one full rackTranslates into reduced housing/support cost

Power provisioning/consumption has been reducedWe have maintained or improved performance

No disk spindle reductionNew servers with more power (Even after resource allocation)DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduling)

Putting it all TogetherResults

Added flexibility / options to the environment (resources)

Can allocate resources based on usage requirementsCan stand up additional systems without adding or waiting for additional hardware (dependent on environment design)

Use for special projectsUse for trainingUse for sandbox

Added flexibility / options to the environment (movement)

We have the ability to move systems from physical machine to physical machine with relative ease

High AvailabilityDRBackup

SAP in Virtual EnvironmentsFor more detailed discussion on bringing virtualization to your environment, project planning, landscape design, please email:

Kevin Knuesekknuese@sym-corp.com

Heather Mickelsonhmickelson@sym-corp.com

Download the presentation recording with audio from the Symmetry Knowledge Center

www.sym-corp.com/knowledge-center

Kevin Knuese414-732-2725kknuese@sym-corp.com