3 core elements for virtualising the Oracle stack to maximise performance, reduce costs & optimise licensing

Many Oracle customers are not virtualised, or if they are, they use hypervisors other than OVM (running in an uncertified environment). In addition, the vast majority of Oracle software customers deploy on non-Oracle x 86 servers.

This blog post focuses on virtualising the Oracle stack using Open Source Oracle Linux and Oracle Virtualisation (OLOVM) and it does not suggest replacement of VMware for the general workload.  OLOVM is designed to provide the best performance, support, and optimal licensing for customers, with minimum disruption. 

 

Core elements

1. Oracle Virtualisation (OVM) is the only hypervisor which provides a certified solution for the Oracle stack. It is also the only hypervisor which can be used to optimise Oracle software licenses, and has more than 100 templates for rapid deployment, resulting in fast and easy implementation. 

2. Oracle Linux(OL) is the operating system underpinning the Oracle stack. It is Open Source, and 100% compatible with Red Hat Linux. Unlike Red Hat, it comes complete with clustering, management, and the ability to apply upgrades and Security patches without re-boot, providing uninterrupted availability.

3. Oracle's Virtual Compute Appliance (VCA)  is an integrated, "wireonce", software-defined infrastructure system (Appliance) designed for rapid deployment of both infrastructure hardware and application software allowing customers to: 

• Deploy complete VCA systems in minutes vs days.
• Reduce TCO between 30%-50%.
• Cut CAPEX by up to 50%.
• Deploy applications 7x faster than VMware.
• Benefit from a single vendor hand-shake for greater service, support,and availability.

All Oracle software products are developed and tested on Oracle Linux and Oracle Virtualisation.

Both Oracle Linux and Oracle Virtualisation are Open Source, so incur no licence costs, with competitively priced optional support available. If you are interested in learning more about how you can leverage these tools to optimise Oracle licences, performance and support, please contact Myriad IT.

Myriad IT - 26th March 2015

Change Ahead: Is it time to upgrade your backup platform?

Myriad IT has recently become a CommVault partner which has lead to a number of queries from our clients wondering whether their existing backup solution is sufficient or whether they should be considering other options.

It is a challenging decision given the need to balance budgets (get more with less), ensure data  is protected and manage for the future. In this blog post, Myriad IT endeavours to outline some of the major considerations for those weighing up backup solutions:

1. Optimisation - Does your existing backup solution help to optimise your environment?

• Reducing complexity means that backup resources can be utilised in other areas - Are there manual processes that could be eliminated? is backup managed with a single platform interface? how many products do you use?
• How is deduplication managed? Dedeuplication on the source side can reduce demand on the storage network & infrastructure. 

2. Technical/Operational - Are you able to meet current/future technical and operational requirements?

• Are you able to effectively manage data growth? Is your system easily scalable.
• Are you able to backup within available backup windows? even as data grows?
• Have you ever had problems meeting SLAs, recovering data or compliance? Will you be able to adhere to SLAs for recovering data in the future?
• Is your data protection at the edge(remote sites, desktops, laptops and other devices)?
• What projects are planned in the next year that might impact backup and recovery processes? Could backup pose risks to the success of these projects?
• Are your maintenance costs growing over time?
• Do you have flexibility in hardware selection? What is the impact when current hardware is outgrown?

 3. Data management - Are you efficiently managing data?

• What are the demands on resources for data management? Does backup drain IT staff that could be deployed elsewhere?
• Do you have insight into your data/environment to help better manage it? 
• Do you have file level information to enable you to retire data at the right time (save storage space).

4. Financial - do you fully understand backup costs for the next 3-5 years?

• What is the TCO for the length of time you expect to continue your backup solution? (e.g. will hardware need to be added?, will more staff time be needed for backup processes, reporting etc). 
• Are you locked into hardware choices?
• Are there any hidden costs?
• Costs over the same period for alternative backup solutions

5.  Risks of switching backup solutions

• How much time would it take to become fully operational with a new solution?
• What demands would switching place on staff?
• How is data protected during transition?
• Total costs - new hardware, software, training, staff etc.

Posted by Myriad IT, 4th March 2015
www.myriad-it.com