Highlights from the Dell Solutions Tour 2015

On April 14th, Myriad IT attended the Dell Solutions Tour event held in Melbourne. 

Not only did we hear from Dell leaders about key trends and their vision for the future, we also learnt about the evolving workforce, software defined IT infrastructure and all the latest innovations from Dell to address cloud computing, mobility and big data.

There was a great presentation from Forrester Research about The Age of the Digital Customer focusing on how we treat customers being key to gaining a competitive advantage. We also really enjoyed hearing from Dell Customer, Walkinshaw Racing about how Dell helps them address the unique technology challenges of running the Holden Racing Team, from in car telemetry to 3D printing of parts.

Here's a list of some of the things we think looked pretty cool:

Dell XC Series of Web-scale Hyper-converged Appliances

These appliances integrate Dell's x86 server platform with Nutanix software to consolidate compute and storage enabling application and virtualisation teams to quickly and simply deploy new workloads. Capacity & performance can be expanded one node at a time making them suitable for all enterprises regardless of size.

Key features:

• Hyper-converged - seamless integration of server and storage in a self healing system
• Software defined - Services are delivered through software using reliable Dell hardware
• Scaleable 
• Extensive automation & analytics
• Intuitive & powerful graphical user interface

XPS 15 Touch Screen Laptop 

If you are in the market for a new laptop then this one is worth a look. Very light, powerful and an ultra sharp screen. Looks pretty good too.
Then again, Dell will be refreshing its PC/laptop range when Intel release the new Seagate chip in September, so some might prefer to wait.

We also liked the Dell universal dongle which replaces the need for multiple adaptors.

Dell Storage

Dell has long been known for its reliable storage solutions and has recognised the challenges many organisations face with the exponential growth in data volume.The newest addition to the suite of storage solutions is the SC4020 which is designed to extend the advantages of enterprise storage to small and mid-sized deployments. It offers the same advanced auto-tiering and virtualised storage features as enterprise storage but in a compact, affordable format.

Next generation firewalls

Dell has introduced the next generation of firewall with Dell SonicWALL. These firewalls enable an organisation to:

• Consolidate network security functionality - reduces infrastructure expense and complxity
• Increased security & improved security efficiency
• Activate features as needed
• Quickly and easily install and manage

In terms of stopping power, the product offers superiority over point products. It shares and correlates internally the findings of individual countermeasures and then coordinates a response. In the past this type of response would have required manual integration among disparate products.

The product has been independently tested by Network World with excellent results achieved for Next Generation and SSL Decryption performance.

Myriad IT is a Dell Preferred Partner. We'd be happy to help with any queries about virtualisation, storage, security and hardward. Contact Us.

Myriad IT - 20th April 2014

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

More tips for DBAs

 More tips for DBAs!

Tip 1: Remove colour coding in Linux command output

ls -alt

\ls -alt

Tip 2: Quickly check the status of Data guard using following query.

Primary:

select Thread#, max(sequence#) from v$log_history

group by Thread#;

Secondary:

select al.thrd "Thread", almax "Last Seq Received", lhmax "Last Seq Applied"

  from (select thread# thrd, max(sequence#) almax

                   from v$archived_log

                   where resetlogs_change#=(select resetlogs_change# from v$database)

                   group by thread#) al,

                  (select thread# thrd, max(sequence#) lhmax

                   from v$log_history

                   where resetlogs_change#=(select resetlogs_change# from v$database)

                   group by thread#) lh

  where al.thrd = lh.thrd;

 

  9i

  SELECT ARCHIVED_THREAD#, ARCHIVED_SEQ#, APPLIED_THREAD#, APPLIED_SEQ# FROM V$ARCHIVE_DEST_STATUS;

Tip 3: Script to check tablespace usage by considering auto growth.

SELECT a.tablespace_name,

       CASE tbs_auto.autoextensible

          WHEN 'YES'

             THEN 'YES'

          ELSE 'NO'

       END AS autoextensible,

       files.tbs_files files_in_tablespace,

       round(AUTOEXTEND.total_growth_tbs/1024/1024,2) max_size_MB,

       round(files.total_tbs_bytes/1024/1024,2) space_Allo_MB,

       round((files.total_tbs_bytes - fragments.total_tbs_free_bytes)/1024/1024,2) used_space_MB,

       round((AUTOEXTEND.total_growth_tbs - (files.total_tbs_bytes - fragments.total_tbs_free_bytes))/1024/1024,2) free_MB,

       round((((files.total_tbs_bytes - fragments.total_tbs_free_bytes) / AUTOEXTEND.total_growth_tbs ) * 100),2) used_pct,

       round(((AUTOEXTEND.total_growth_tbs - (files.total_tbs_bytes - fragments.total_tbs_free_bytes)) / AUTOEXTEND.total_growth_tbs ) * 100,2) free_pct

  FROM dba_tablespaces a,(SELECT   tablespace_name, COUNT (*) tbs_files,

               SUM (BYTES) total_tbs_bytes

          FROM dba_data_files

      GROUP BY tablespace_name) files,(SELECT   tablespace_name, COUNT (*) tbs_fragments,

               SUM (BYTES) total_tbs_free_bytes,

               MAX (BYTES) max_free_chunk_bytes

          FROM dba_free_space

      GROUP BY tablespace_name) fragments,(SELECT   tablespace_name, SUM (size_to_grow) total_growth_tbs

          FROM (SELECT   tablespace_name, SUM (maxbytes) size_to_grow

                    FROM dba_data_files

                   WHERE autoextensible = 'YES'

                GROUP BY tablespace_name

                UNION

                SELECT   tablespace_name, SUM (BYTES) size_to_grow

                    FROM dba_data_files

                   WHERE autoextensible = 'NO'

                GROUP BY tablespace_name)

      GROUP BY tablespace_name) AUTOEXTEND,(SELECT DISTINCT tablespace_name, autoextensible

                 FROM dba_data_files

                WHERE autoextensible = 'YES') tbs_auto

WHERE a.tablespace_name = files.tablespace_name

   AND a.tablespace_name = fragments.tablespace_name

   AND a.tablespace_name = AUTOEXTEND.tablespace_name

   AND a.tablespace_name = tbs_auto.tablespace_name(+)

   order by used_pct desc;

Posted by Myriad IT  - 27th January 2015

www.myriad-it.com

Myriad IT Data Centre Update

Myriad IT has seen strong growth in its data centre recently with more and more customers now choosing us for end-to-end integrated, bespoke solutions.

Whilst many providers use a "one size fits all" model, Myriad IT provides bespoke solutions from no-frills hosting to solutions integrated into existing infrastructure & services (e.g. Active Directory authentication). We also host the applications we support (including JD Edwards and Dynamics CRM).

Another reason customers are choosing Myriad IT's data centre is the flexibility to choose a solution and contractual arrangement that meets business/commercial requirements. For CRM, our pricing is very competitive in comparison to on-premises and Microsoft on-line whilst customers and have the added benefit of allowing customers to detremine the timing of upgrades etc.

Myriad IT also guarantees that all data remains in Australia.

Learn more about Myriad IT's data centre...

10 things to consider when selecting a cloud computing vendor

Managed services – do you need a simple managed services provider or a cloud advisor who can also supply managed services? 

Advice – can the vendor help you evaluate which models, architectures, and technologies you should adopt? 

Flexibility – does the vendor offer terms of service that are flexible enough to ensure your organisation’s specific needs are met? 

Control – are you able to retain the amount of control you need? Are you paying just for what you need? 

Support & Reliability – does the vendor meet your support requirements? are service levels guaranteed? 

Knowledge – does the vendor have the requisite knowledge and experience to deliver the required applications in hosted environments? do you need to integrate with other systems? Does the vendor have this expertise? 

Risk management – will the vendor minimise risk, disruption and stress? 

Data ownership – does the vendor’s terms of service enable you to retain ownership of your data where that is important? 

Geography – does the vendor offer cloud services in a suitable geographical location? e.g. data remains in Australia. 

Compliance & security - are your compliance and security requirements met by the vendor?