Application Virtualisation: The Future of Distributed Computing?

Transcription

1 Application Virtualisation: The Future of Distributed Computing? UKCMG Annual Conference 2007 Tuesday 26 th June Session 2C3

2 Abstract Virtualisation is rapidly becoming the standard operating model for many aspects of information technology. Recently desktop applications have become the latest target of virtualisation with Microsoft's SoftGrid technology. This presentation covers the principles behind this new technology and the dramatic impact this will have on the processes, resources and infrastructure needed to manage a modern complex IT environment. Please note: This is not a sales or marketing session for Microsoft! However this product, like VMWare, has the opportunity to irrevocably alter commonly-used IT architectures and so is of importance to capacity and performance staff. Capacitas D5-2

3 Agenda Background Utility Computing Distributed Architecture SoftGrid Application Architecture & Infrastructure Benefits of Application Virtualisation The Application Virtualisation Process Self-Provisioning What can/cannot be virtualised Benefits of SoftGrid Summary Capacitas D5-3

4 Background The distributed computing paradigm has introduced many problems: Estates of tens of thousands of desktop PCs with associated application management issues Lengthy lead-times to distribute new applications as coexistence testing required Conflicts with other applications not always discovered in testing Applications are installed on specific PCs limiting usage of hot-seats Costly software licensing issues Capacitas D5-4

5 Utility Computing the Growth of Virtualisation Capacitas D5-5

6 Current Distributed Applications Architecture Process to distribute an application: Problems: Package the application for automated install Check software will work with other applications Distribute application Install application Update application Remove application Packaging can be time-consuming Coexistence testing is expensive Electronic distribution is needed for large enterprises Installation needs to be scheduled out-of-hours and can cause issues Application must be updated across entire enterprise Removal can have issues with shared DLLs Capacitas D5-6

7 Typical Distributed Application Structure Application Package Keys Registry Filesystem Keys Registry Files Install Services Files DLLs Services DLLs Operating System Software Server or Desktop Hardware Capacitas D5-7

8 Current Distributed Application Architecture Filesystem Application A DLL Application B Registry Memory Software Host Operating System Server or Desktop Hardware Capacitas D5-8

9 SoftGrid Application Architecture Application A DLL Filesystem Application B DLL Sandbox Registry Registry Sandbox Registry Memory Software Host Operating System Server or Desktop Hardware Capacitas D5-9

10 SoftGrid Application Architecture Comparison Capacitas D5-10

11 Desktop Image Management Comparison Capacitas D5-11

12 What is needed to use SoftGrid Included in the Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance Needs: Servers to store the files and stream the applications A workstation to sequence the applications A workstation to run the management console on Capacitas D5-12

13 SoftGrid Infrastructure Capacitas D5-13

14 Application Virtualisation Process Sequencing Applications must be sequenced. This involves running the installation on a PC setup especially for sequencing. The SoftGrid sequencer tracks all the changes the installer makes at the kernel level and produces two file-sets: Feature Block 1: This contains the core of an application that is needed to load at start up, usually only 5%-30% of code Feature Block 2: code that contains all the other features When sequencing is completed there are four files: A.SFT file (The SoftGrid file) A.OSD file (Open Software Description file - XML) A.ICO file (Icon file) A.SPRJ file (The Sequencer Project file) Capacitas D5-14

15 Application Virtualisation Process Publishing Package is then moved to the SoftGrid Virtual Application Server. The package is held in a database the SoftGrid Data Store (uses ODBC & SQL). This is all controlled from the management console. The SoftGrid servers can handle up to 1,200 concurrent streams per dual processor system with some caching. The user is assigned to policy-based groups which relate to the software they can use. The user clicks on the shortcuts that appear on their desktop. They are authenticated and the license validated every time the user launches a SoftGrid application. Application is served centrally delivering only the code needed to launch (typically 20%-40%) to the client (or terminal server). When more code is required it is streamed dynamically. Capacitas D5-15

16 Application Virtualisation Process Publishing Applications can be downloaded to desktops with a configurable timeout for licenses The application is cached locally on the desktop PC so that start-up time is reduced dramatically after initial use: Expect net disk space usage to be the same as locally installed applications SoftGrid uses a local device-level cache, so the software is available to all the users that log on to that desktop PC, provided they have adequate authority SoftGrid allows suiting. This is the ability to include several applications into a single Feature Block 1; for example Word, Excel and PowerPoint could all be included as they are commonly used together Capacitas D5-16

17 Application Virtualisation Process Runtime Capacitas D5-17

18 Application Virtualisation Process Runtime The desktop PC uses SystemGuard this is the application virtualisation component on the desktop SystemGuard virtualises: Installed files, such as DLLs,.COM,.EXE, etc. Registry(all 5 hives) Fonts.inifiles COM/DCOM objects Services Name spaces Semafores & Mutexes Applications do not get installed on the PC no alteration of the operating system Capacitas D5-18

19 Application Virtualisation Deployment Miscellany No regression / co-existence testing is required of applications against other applications (they must still be tested to ensure they run on the operating system) Personalisations are per user; these can be setup to be stored in a central profile for full roaming To minimise initial start-up of newly used/assigned applications, to be used by large number of users, Feature Block 1 can be distributed via SMS Capacitas D5-19

20 End-to-end Deployment Process Overview Capacitas D5-20

21 Deployment Process Comparison Capacitas D5-21

22 Application Provisioning Self Service using ZeroTouch Capacitas D5-22

23 SoftGrid ZeroTouch Infrastructure Capacitas D5-23

24 Security Advantage of Application Virtualisation Capacitas D5-24

25 What is possible to virtualise with SoftGrid What SoftGrid can virtualise: What SoftGrid cannot virtualise: Applications Fonts Registry settings File system changes Services Runtime objects Java virtual machines Database drivers Common program files Internet Explorer Print drivers OS hot-fixes Antivirus software Capacitas D5-25

26 Capacity & Performance Impact of using SoftGrid New server infrastructure required Network needs to be capable of transferring large files regularly Potential delay when running new application for first time (though can mitigate by distributing using SMS overnight) Emergency patches to applications may impact performance if updated during the day due to increased network traffic Net impact on desktop storage requirements likely to be zero Potential performance impact on the sandbox interfaces to virtual registry keys, etc. though net zero impact on running code itself May need to store more information in the users central profiles Capacitas D5-26

27 Benefits of Application Virtualisation Accelerate desktop deployments quicker to market for new functionality and less costly Better control of desktop each PC only requires an OS and the SoftGrid client at minimum Minimise application conflicts through isolation into separate sandboxes reduced helpdesk calls and fixes required Minimise compatibility testing, scripting and regression testing Enable device roaming Deliver applications to users on-demand, in seconds to any machine Centralised policy-based permissions and licensing management Claimed cost reductions for application management of up to 80% Reduce user downtime and associated administration: Claimed cost reductions for helpdesk of up to 80% Capacitas D5-27

28 Summary SoftGrid offers the ability to virtualise the desktop applications and so: Have a common desktop image, speeding PC deployment and support issues Provide a user their applications at any desktop or laptop at any time, on demand Reduce application conflicts thereby reducing help-desk calls and application management costs dramatically Consolidate Terminal Servers, typically by 40%-50% Speed OS migrations Enable previously conflicting applications to work together, e.g. incompatible Java virtual machines Capacitas D5-28

29 Thank You Andy has provided his skills to many financial, telecommunications and IT companies such as National Westminster Bank, Barclays de Zoete Wedd, Rank Xerox and Computacenter. He has led process re-design and tools development in several capacity management functions, optimised annual budgets saving over $50m in CAPEX and OPEX and developed a market-leading approach to capacity management as recognised by Gartner. Andy has a broad range of experience covering many aspects of IT Management, including performance analysis and capacity planning, software specification, design and development, financial and budget analysis, defining and validating business cases and service level agreements and other operations support activities. Andy's professional qualifications include the ITIL Foundation Certificate in Service Management. Please register for regularly published whitepapers and articles Capacitas D5-29

30 Resources Homepage for Softricity: Homepage for the Desktop Optimization Pack: Microsoft video well worth watching as it demonstrates the process of virtualising and distributing an application: Whitepapers and other collateral: Release notes for SoftGrid 4.1 SP1 (with known bugs): Capacitas D5-30