Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication

Transcription

1 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication EMC Commercial Solutions Group Corporate Headquarters Hopkinton, MA

2 Copyright 2008 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Published February, 2008 EMC believes the information in this publication is accurate as of its publication date. The information is subject to change without notice. THE INFORMATION IN THIS PUBLICATION IS PROVIDED AS IS. EMC CORPORATION MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PUBLICATION, AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Use, copying, and distribution of any EMC software described in this publication requires an applicable software license. For the most up-to-date listing of EMC product names, see EMC Corporation Trademarks on EMC.com. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners. EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication P/N H EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication

3 Contents About this Document... 5 Chapter 1 Solution Overview... 7 Technology solution... 8 Chapter 2 Solution Architecture... 9 Physical architecture Network architecture Microsoft Exchange Server architecture Storage architecture Building blocks Consolidate...14 Advanced backup...15 VMware Chapter 3 Hardware and Software Resources Hardware resources Software resources Virtual Infrastructure server...18 Appendix A Hotfixes Hotfixes EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication 3

4 Contents 4 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication

5 About this Document This document provides an overview of the architecture of the EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtual Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication. This solution was developed by the EMC Commercial Solutions Group. Purpose The consolidate solution was designed as a set of performance measurements to determine the bounding point of the solution stack in terms of performance. A reasonable amount of tuning was performed in order to ensure that the performance measurements achieved were consistent with real-world, best-of-breed performance. Audience This document is intended for internal EMC personnel, partners, and customers. Scope This document describes the architecture of an EMC Solution built and tested at the EMC Commercial Solutions Validation labs in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Implementation instructions and sizing guidelines are beyond the scope of this document. For detailed information about the tests performed to validate this solution, refer to the next section. Related documents The following document, located on Powerlink, provides additional, relevant information. Access to this document is based on your login credentials. If you do not have access to the following content, contact your EMC representative: EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 CLARiiON CX3 Series iscsi - Best Practices Planning EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication 5

6 About this Document 6 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication

7 Chapter 1 Solution Overview This chapter presents this topic: Technology solution... 8 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication 7

8 Solution Overview Technology solution A consolidated Microsoft Exchange infrastructure is the first step toward meeting the challenges of managing . The Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication solution is an integrated, low-cost, lifecycle solution that delivers availability and performance for today, scaling for tomorrow. It does this while maximizing the financial and operational benefits of Exchange and enabling rapid database recovery and restoration. The solution offers an enhanced level of protect utilizing EMC software and hardware. The solution eliminates the need for.pst (Personal Storage) files and automates the movement of older by archiving them to lower-cost devices, and by storing years of in a single storage array. The solution offers guaranteed and verifiable authenticity of with optimized search, retrieval, and management of an archive. 8 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication

9 Chapter 2 Solution Architecture This chapter presents these topics: Physical architecture Network architecture Microsoft Exchange Server architecture Storage architecture Building blocks VMware EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication 9

10 Solution Architecture Physical architecture Figure 1 shows the overall physical architecture of the Virtualized Exchange 2007 utilizing Microsoft Exchange Local Continuous Replication (LCR). The solution outlined within this document centers around using VMware ESX and virtualizing the Microsoft Exchange 2007 mailbox server using LCR technology. The solution outlined in this reference architecture is for a proven solution of LCR using tested building blocks as a fundamental base. An Exchange 2007 mailbox server along with an EMC CLARiiON CX3-20 is utilized for centralized disk management, fault tolerance, and proven performance. VMware ESX 3.5 server was used for consolidation of hardware for a low-cost solution. Although it still has the ability to home a midsize enterprise level of mailboxes, this solution will also work in a physical environment requiring individual server hardware through the VMware guest identified as follows. Note: Figure 1 shows the CX3-20 diagram 10 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication

11 Solution Architecture Figure 1 Physical architecture of Virtualized Exchange 2007 utilizing Microsoft Exchange LCR EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication 11

12 Solution Architecture Network architecture The network architecture discussed in this reference architecture focuses on two areas: Virtualization using VMware ESX 3.5 using iscsi technology, and virtualized Exchange 2007 using Local Continuous Replication for Advanced backup. iscsi technology is a blossoming technology allowing customers to connect to storage arrays utilizing existing Ethernet networks as an ideal fit. iscsi works best with low bandwidth and high I/O. Exchange of small I/O (a size of 8k for Exchange 2007) means iscsi can scale to tens of thousands of users by using GbE NICs and the Microsoft Software Initiator. Virtualization is an upcoming technology that can be used for consolidated usage of hardware along with high availability using VMware technologies, within the ESX server, such as VMotion, DRS, and VMHA. A CLARiiON CX3-20 using Microsoft iscsi Initiator on the hosts along with EMC s PowerPath software in an interconnect SP design allows for multiple paths and fault tolerance in the event of a SP failure. Note: Figure 2 shows the iscsi connection ports for the CX3-20. Figure 2 iscsi connection ports for the CX3-20 Note: Figure 3 shows the Microsoft iscsi Initiator configuration. 12 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication

13 Solution Architecture Figure 3 Microsoft iscsi Initiator Properties Microsoft Exchange Server architecture Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 (refer to Figure 1) represents a stand-alone configuration using Microsoft Windows 64-bit Microsoft Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition SP2, Exchange 2007 Enterprise Edition installed for messaging with PowerPath bit, Microsoft iscsi bit, and Navisphere Agent/CLI bit installed for storage array access using iscsi. Upon completion of the installation of Exchange, it is highly recommended to run the Microsoft Best Practices Analyzer. In the current setup, Microsoft Best Practices Analyzer is installed with Exchange 2007, following all recommendations for performance tuning and hotfix installation found in the Exchange Management Console (EMC). The Exchange server is connected to external storage through iscsi connections created using the Microsoft iscsi Initiator Note: For instructions on the configuration and setup of the iscsi targets please refer to the EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 CLARiiON CX3 Series iscsi - Best Practices Planning. Local Continuous Replication was enabled for the storage groups. LoadGen was used to simulate an Outlook client load without LCR enabled to get a baseline, then the databases seeded. Upon completion LoadGen was again run for an eight-hour period to simulate a full production day with replication enabled. EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication 13

14 Solution Architecture Storage architecture An EMC CLARiiON CX3-20 provides external storage to the Exchange Server. The Exchange message stores and logs are accessed through the assigned ports logged in through the Microsoft iscsi Initiator. Service processor failover of LUNs is available through PowerPath 5.0. The storage architecture is based on a new design utilizing building blocks. This design builds upon itself as customers grow and require additional space and fault tolerance. The building blocks guarantee performance and minimize design and operation complexity in increments of four-disk RAID 10 building blocks, with a 0.42 user I/O profile and maximum mailbox size of 270 MB. RAID 10 supports high fault tolerance and performance levels with the least amount of disks and the maximum number of users. Thorough testing proves that the design approach using building blocks provides exceptional performance. Building blocks Consolidate The building blocks 1 design is set up using four Exchange storage groups, one database per storage group. For the databases, four-drive (300 GB/15,000 rpm FC) RAID1_0 RAID groups will be created, and four LUNs of 120 GB will be formed within the newly created RAID groups. The RAID group is created for the log file LUNs in a four-drive (300 GB/15,000 rpm FC) RAID1_0 RAID group and four LUNs of 12 GB will be created within the newly created RAID group. The databases will be placed onto the corresponding LUNs (drive or mount point) created on the 120 GB LUNs. Log files will be placed onto the corresponding 12 GB LUN (drive or mount point) LCR disks were set up as a RAID Note: A RAID group was created to home the VMDK files for the secondary Hub /cas and domain controllers. Note: Figure 4 shows the drive layout. 14 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication

15 Solution Architecture Figure 4 Disk drive layout Advanced backup Microsoft Exchange Local Continuous Replication was set up utilizing a RAID disk setup. VMware VMware guests were configured on the CLARiiON in a RAID 5 configuration for fast reads during boot and to maximize space for the VMDK (boot) files for the reference architecture guests described in this solution. VMware Converter was used to convert the physical Microsoft Exchange mailbox server with LCR configured. Note: For more information refer to EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Physical Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication -. EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication 15

16 Solution Architecture 16 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication

17 Chapter 3 Hardware and Software Resources This chapter presents these topics: Hardware resources Software resources EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication 17

18 Hardware and Software Resources Hardware resources Table 1 shows the hardware resources used in this solution: Table 1 Hardware resources Software resources Quantity Hardware Configuration 1 CLARiiON CX3-10 FLARE.26 1 DAE3P GB 15k rpm FC drives 1 Dell dual-core EM64T Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel ~2328 MHz 16 GB RAM 2 Dell dual-core EM64T Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel ~2328 MHz 64 GB RAM 4 Intel PRO/1000 MT Network connection 2 Broadcom BCM5708C NetXtreme II GigE (NDIS VBD client) 2 Dell 5324 Gigabit Ethernet switch 2 VLANs 1 Production 2 iscsi Table 2 shows the software resources used in this solution: Table 2 Software resources Software Version Count VMware ESX 3.5 build Microsoft Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition x64 SP2 6 Microsoft iscsi Initiator EMC PowerPath Navisphere Agent/CLI.26 2 LoadGen 1 Microsoft Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition X32 1 Virtual Infrastructure server Table 3 shows the details of the Virtual Infrastructure server used in this solution: Table 3 Virtual Infrastructure server Software Version Purpose Microsoft Windows 2003 Enterprise 32-bit Service Pack 2 Operating system (OS) build 3790 Microsoft.Net 2.0 SP1 Needed for Virtual Infrastructure server 18 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication

19 Hardware and Software Resources Software Version Purpose Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine Part of Virtual Infrastructure server to store information about the virtual infrastructure VMware Virtual Infrastructure server 2.5 To manage the ESX Server centrally VMware Virtual Infrastructure client 2.5 To access Virtual Infrastructure server features EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication 19

20 Hardware and Software Resources 20 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication

21 Appendix A Hotfixes This appendix presents this topic: Hotfixes EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication 21

22 Hotfixes Hotfixes [20]: Q [21]: SP1 - SP [22]: KB925398_WMP64 [23]: KB Service Pack [24]: KB Update [25]: KB Update [26]: KB v2 - Update [27]: KB Update [28]: KB Update [29]: KB Update [30]: KB Update [31]: KB Update [32]: KB Update [33]: KB Update [34]: KB Update [35]: KB Update [36]: KB Update [37]: KB Update [38]: KB Update [39]: KB Update [40]: KB Update [41]: KB Update 22 EMC Solutions for Microsoft Exchange 2007 Virtualized Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication