Executive Overview
E
very time a network administrator turns around there are new standards, pro-tocols and platforms to support in the data center -- TCP/IP, Telnet, SSH, SSL, PPP, Solaris, USB, MacOS, Linux and Windows 2003 servers – and the list goes on and on. Each of these offers their share of flexibility, standardization, com-patibility and convenience. But they also pose challenges. In some cases, this creates “silos” of information and limits access from other applications on different platforms. Data center infrastructure needs to be centrally managed. However, organizations, large and small, rely on a multitude of applications across different server platforms. Finding the right balance can consume an IT budget quickly. The changing economics of high-availability computing, an intriguing array of on-the-drawing board vendor ideas about self-managing/self-tuning platforms and a general desire on the part of executives to convert fixed costs into variable costs are leading CIOs to re-think long held assumptions about data centers.Multi-platform compliant KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) solutions are emerging into valuable tools for data centers to effectively manage their mixed environ-ments, especially with specific keys required on the Sun keyboard – ‘Stop’, ‘Copy’, and ‘Paste’. In addition, the rise of Linux makes it equally important for KVM so-lutions to offer multiple OS capability, monitor testing, and switching commands. According to Gartner, IT managers should prepare for Linux to rise in prominence within data centers.
Richmond School District No. 38 is a Public School District in the province of Brit-ish Columbia, Canada that prides itself on using the latest technology to support student learning. The District is a poster child for the importance of optimizing KVM technology for multi-platform support of its 18 Intel-based servers running Windows 2000 Server, one XServe G5 running MAC OSX and an XRAID for host-ing data storage.
This white paper will discuss the impact of the changing IT landscape on network administrators who need multiple touch points to their multi-platform devices and can gain better control using KVM technology. The paper will also offer a real-life application example of how one dynamic school district is benefiting from this approach.
The Multiple of Multi-Platform KVM Technologies
Table of Contents
Executive Overview Table of Contents
The Criticality of Multi-Platform Support
Selecting the Right Solution for Multi-Platform Support Multi-Platform KVM Support Action
Richmond, BC School District No. 38
Recommendations Summary 1 2 3 4 4 5 5 _______________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ . _____________________________________ ____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
The Criticality of Multi-Platform Support
The Criticality of Multi-Platform Support
The Times They Are A-Changin goes the popular Bob Dylan song from the
1960s. This holds true especially for network administrators who, similar to gardeners, must weed through the changing IT landscape. Cross-platform functionality is a critical component of this change. Server rooms, call centers, and enterprises are often heterogeneous environments housing multiple plat-forms such as Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac, and Solaris. Converting keystrokes, pointing, and video into a standardized protocol, such as IP, gives IT managers control over remote servers, independent of the platform. Plus, USB devices are growing within the data center and require support as well.
So, how can network administrators support all these platforms and the associ-ated costs? The answer – KVM and IP KVM switches. As the IT landscape continues to change, the KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) switch has emerged as the enabler for IT pros to easily and effectively manage servers and other net-work devices – within the data center or from remote locations. Unfortunately, this is a requirement that is not a priority for many enterprise users. The cost of not using KVM and dealing with these disparate platforms individually could impact an organization with that mentality.
According to Venture Development Corporation (VDC), multi-platform KVM switches make up the vast majority of switches sold to the global market. VDC expects multi-user/multiple platform enterprise-class KVMs to comprise 24% of the total market or $192 million in 2006 with shipments expected to grow by 7.4% or nearly 150,000 units. VDC also noted that the primary reason for the decline of single platform KVM is due to advancements in technologies that have made it cost-effective and easy to adopt solutions that support more than one operating system,and the demand for more flexible options. The over-whelming majority of single-platform systems only supported PS/2, followed by support for USB, and than finally Sun.
IDC predicts the overall market revenue for desktops, servers and packaged software running on Linux will exceed $35 billion by 2008.
Based on this changing landscape, it is imperative to select a KVM solution that offers multi-platform support.
The Multiple of Multi-Platform KVM Technologiess
Selecting the Right Solution for Multi-Platform Support
Since each company’s data center differs in terms of applications used, hardware, servers and other de-vices, it is imperative to select a solution that is designed for multi-platform control. Although most data centers are dominated by a Windows environment, network administrators must support multiple platforms and operating systems
Network administrators should truly explore the extent of multi-platform support among vendors. For some vendors, this could entail PC and MAC only. Select a company that supports PC, MAC, Sun using CAT5 to PS/2 and CAT5 to USB adaptors – USB continues to make major inroads within the data center. Also, with the proliferation of serial management solutions in the data center, it is also important to maintain control over serial devices such as routers, hubs, modems and UPS right at the rack, and support TCP/IP, Telnet, SSH, SSL, PPP, Solaris, MacOS, Linux and Windows 2003 servers. Plus, the chosen solution should certi-fied by a credible third party organization. Beyond Windows certification, multi-platform KVMs must also be Linux and Solaris certified.
Organizations should select KVM solutions that have a Linux Compatibility mark for compliance with the open-source platform from a company such as KeyLabs, the certification arm of AppLabs. This company’s program provides hardware vendors with an unbiased ranking to demonstrate to potential customers that their products are compatible with the Linux OS and been tested for complete functionality. To achieve Linux certification from KeyLabs, the KVM solution includes a series of critical checkpoints including multiple OS capability, monitor testing, switching commands, and Linux compatibility.
In addition, Sun also has a rigorous certification program through its Solaris Ready certification program that serves as the gateway for interoperability with Sun’s Solaris OS, and provides customers with a proof of certification for tested and approved Solaris solutions from third-party providers. For a KVM solution to achieve the Solaris Ready certification, it must pass stringent compliance tests to measure system compat-ibility, interoperability and functionality, especially to control the special keys – ‘Stop’, ‘Copy’, and ‘Paste’ – on the Sun keyboard.
Multi-Platform KVM Support
in Action
Organizations with a multitude of platforms have maintained control over their data center despite these challenges. The following is an example of a successful deployment of KVM within a multi-platform environment:
Richmond School District No. 38 is a Public School District in the province of British Columbia, Canada prided on providing a safe and caring environment for its 24,000 students of all backgrounds and ability levels. The School Dis-trict offers a diversity of programs for a well-rounded education - academic, fine arts, technical, social development,
Reclaiming Data Center Real Estate
Using KVM and Remote Management
Technologies
The Richmond School District is comprised of 55 different sites all connected via a WAN powered by the British Columbia Provincial Learning Network (PL/Net) in two data centers. The fist site, Technology Services Center, currently houses 18 Intel-based servers running Windows 2000 Server, one XServe G5 running MAC OSX and an XRAID for hosting data storage. These servers are split between two racks that are protected by UPS systems. The second site hosts administration systems that consist of one rack with five servers running Windows 2000 Server, one XServe G5 running MAC OSX and a UPS battery backup system.
The District wanted to implement this technology in a centrally managed environ-ment and, as more rack mounted servers were added to the center, he deter-mined the need for a KVM management solution. Without a KVM solution, the District was restricted to remote access only through Terminal Services. That option did not allow for diagnosing a server that was not loading the operating system. If there was a configuration problem preventing the server from loading Windows, the IT staff would have been forced to manually pull it out of the rack to fix the problem. We knew that a KVM solution would allow us to diagnose the server from a central console at the rack.
The driving force behind their decision on the selected KVM vendor rested upon remote access to manage servers from any location, even during off hours. The District put the KVM solution through extensive testing and had the product in-stalled in under an hour. The biggest benefit to the district has been the ability to save enough money to deploy KVM solutions in both locations – and all within the parameters of the stringent budget of a public sector office with multiple platforms running.
Recommendations
• Network administrators should opt for multi-platform KVM solutions for multiple OS support versus
the limited single-platform units
• Select the multi-platform solution from a vendor that covers all the major operating system and
offers seamless interoperability and certification with each OS
• Contact other organizations that have successfully deployed multi-plat-form KVM solutions
