IBM PureApplication System for IBM WebSphere Application Server workloads Use IBM PureApplication System with its built-in IBM WebSphere Application Server to optimally deploy and run critical applications and accelerate cloud environments
2 IBM PureApplication System for IBM WebSphere Application Server workloads Contents 2 Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Building on the capabilities of WebSphere Application Server 4 Providing an expert, integrated environment 7 Accelerating application development and deployment 9 Comparing IBM PureApplication System to traditional environments 10 Experiencing the value of IBM PureApplication System 10 Accelerating the transition to the cloud 11 Empowering the organization Abstract Businesses that depend on web applications are constantly looking for ways to increase the efficiency of developing new applications and reduce the complexity of administering the environment. But many of the tasks required for application development, configuration and deployment are timeconsuming and expensive. IT is under pressure to control these costs while ensuring that applications will run smoothly and web-based interactions will be fast, responsive and secure. The complementary capabilities of IBM WebSphere Application Server and IBM PureApplication System can help address these challenges. Organizations around the world use WebSphere Application Server to host the Javabased web applications that make today s commerce possible, and WebSphere Application Server Version 8.5 provides the resiliency, simplicity and control organizations need today. With IBM PureApplication System, organizations can further reduce IT lifecycle complexity in order to speed application deployment and enable simplified management of cloud and virtualization environments. This paper describes how organizations can save time and money through consolidation and acceleration of applications onto a flexible IBM PureApplication System environment with built-in expertise.
IBM PureSystems 3 Introduction Because of modern business complexity, many critical projects are delivered behind schedule and over budget, limiting the business agility that organizations need to be truly competitive. Demands for rapid application development and delivery are driving simplified, integrated and automated development and operational lifecycles for businesses. Achieving these goals requires organizations to take action in several key areas: Consolidation: Consolidate applications and underlying systems more efficiently to reduce operating expenses Optimization: Better tune and automate applications to improve performance, scalability and reliability Innovation: Deliver new applications and services more rapidly to meet business needs Acceleration: Deploy applications into a secure and integrated private cloud environment more quickly Three basic approaches have emerged to address these requirements. Some organizations are tuning their own systems using the flexibility of general-purpose systems to optimize them for their businesses. However, the time and effort involved can be very significant. Other organizations are taking advantage of the simplicity of appliances, but are hampered by the limited flexibility of these dedicated systems. The elasticity of cloud helps increase efficiency but comes with its own issues around shared dependence of resources. An ideal solution would provide the best of all three of these options in one system.
4 IBM PureApplication System for IBM WebSphere Application Server workloads Building on the capabilities of WebSphere Application Server The combination of IBM PureApplication System and WebSphere Application Server is designed to provide the best features of self-tuned systems, appliances and the cloud. Organizations that are already realizing the benefits of WebSphere Application Server can gain further advantages including increased agility and substantial savings of time and resources by running WebSphere Application Server applications on IBM PureApplication System. The flagship product in the IBM WebSphere software suite, WebSphere Application Server supports a broad range of platforms and flexible approaches to application management, from simple solutions to those requiring high availability and high quality of service. The newest release of WebSphere Application Server, V8.5, provides advanced capabilities, including improved application resiliency and intelligent application management. Operations, security, control and integration have all been streamlined. Fast, flexible, simplified tools and processes provide an enhanced developer experience. IBM PureApplication System adds additional value to WebSphere Application Server V8.5 capabilities (see Figure 1). The system provides an integrated, cloud-ready application platform with: Factory integration of the infrastructure with WebSphere Application Server Integrated IBM DB2 database software Built-in application migration capability Application readiness with workload deployment capability, built-in elasticity and data placement optimizations Enhanced application developer control for simplified test and development A single management console and monitoring view for complete platform and infrastructure management Providing an expert, integrated environment With IBM PureApplication System, applications can be dropped into the preconfigured middleware engine that already includes WebSphere Application Server. IBM PureApplication System integrates multiple hardware and software components in addition to WebSphere Application Server, including a rackbased server system, networking and storage. The components dynamically adjust to demand spikes and reallocate system resources automatically.
IBM PureSystems 5 Capabilities Self-service, single management console for VM provisioning Cloud administration Multi-tenancy, isolation Basic, single image composition, manipulation Rapid, scalable provisioning Automatic fault-tolerant hardware and software Image library (search/compare, versioning and software stacks) Virtual system patterns Virtual application patterns Runbook automation Solution extensibility and integration Service usage and accounting Capacity planning analytics Built-in cloud monitoring (virtual and physical) Delivered on integrated, optimized system Integrated hardware management Integrated expertise, infrastructure patterns Built-in workload-optimized platform patterns Workload-aware management IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 8.5 IBM PureApplication System Figure 1: Capabilities provided by WebSphere Application Server 8.5 and IBM PureApplication System.
6 IBM PureApplication System for IBM WebSphere Application Server workloads The pre-entitled, pre-integrated stack combines infrastructure and application platform components with proven expertise (see Figure 2). Expertise is delivered through built-in patterns that come preloaded on IBM PureApplication System, including an IBM web application pattern. Patterns of expertise A deployable form of proven best practices from years of experience and expertise to simplify complex tasks This built-in expertise drives automated features that help reduce operational costs while enhancing availability, security and responsiveness of the WebSphere Application Server environment. For example, environments automatically scale up and down based on business service-level agreements (SLAs) specified by the organization. Failed virtual machines are replaced with new virtual machines (VMs) that are configured with the old VM s identity. And web requests are automatically load balanced across multiple virtual application servers. Security is also built in, with access control lists (ACLs) for application sharing and management access and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) integration for application security. Application platform Application optimization Systemwide management Automation and scaling Caching and elasticity Application-centric provisioning Usage metering Security Monitoring Application lifecycle management License management Self-service Data management IBM PureApplication System patterns are not just blueprints or sets of instructions; the expertise is codified and immediately executable. These patterns are learned from decades of client and partner engagements that are captured, tested and refined in the development lab. IBM PureApplication System is preoptimized for IBM application patterns that ship with the system, and more than 200 patterns optimized by independent software vendors (ISVs) and IBM Business Partners are also available online through the PureSystems Centre. Additionally, businesses can build and capture their own custom patterns with the IBM PureApplication System pattern development kit. System infrastructure Integrated server, storage, network Power management Storage and VM optimization Virtualization Integrated system management Provisioning Security Monitoring IT lifecycle management System design Figure 2: Infrastructure, application and pattern components of IBM PureApplication System.
IBM PureSystems 7 For more information on patterns and their uses, see the white paper Understanding Patterns of Expertise: Virtual Application Patterns at ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?subtype=w H&infotype=SA&appname=SWGE_WA_WA_USEN&htmlfid=WA W12350USEN&attachment=WAW12350USEN.PDF Accelerating application development and deployment In many organizations, it can take days to request and set up a development environment, leaving less time for testing and innovation. To address this challenge, organizations can use the patterns in IBM PureApplication System to enable faster setup of test and development environments and quicker application deployment than is possible with most standard approaches. Once a developer creates an application, there is no need to request the opportunity and resources for testing the application. Using self-service, the developer can perform all the necessary tasks by remotely leveraging virtual instances through a web browser. Patterns simplify the installation, integration and management of numerous components that make up an application deployment. The IBM Virtual Application Builder graphical user interface enables choices to be made based on desired business outcomes for the application (see Figure 3). As these selections are made, the system s built-in expertise provisions the environment and performs all of the configuration and integration necessary to deploy virtual machines running in the cloud. Application developers can also access the PureSystems Centre online catalog of applications and solutions to quickly extend IBM PureApplication System capabilities. In addition to simplifying application development, the system enables a simplified experience across the spectrum of IT responsibilities. For example, IT technicians can set up the factory-installed, fully packaged solution out of the box by simply plugging it in and booting it up. IT architects benefit from management integration across the system and open standards for easy integration into existing environments. And data center managers can upgrade with zero downtime based on integrated patches and system design. This simplification extends from one end of the solution lifecycle to another. Ordering, tracking and receiving are streamlined because IBM PureApplication System is a single, integrated product. As time goes on, the preconfigured, tuned and tested components enable efficient, minimal maintenance.
8 IBM PureApplication System for IBM WebSphere Application Server workloads Figure 3: IBM Virtual Application Builder interface.
IBM PureSystems 9 Comparing IBM PureApplication System to traditional environments IBM PureApplication System is designed to deliver faster timeto-value, a more integrated service and software management view, and simpler workload scalability, support and flexibility compared to traditional environments. Time-to-value Traditional environments can require months to buy, integrate, test and deploy new servers, storage, networking, operation systems and middleware. With IBM PureApplication System, the complete infrastructure stack can be up and running in hours. Service and software management Traditional methods can require multiple management tools for individual components with different interfaces. IBM PureApplication System provides a single point of management for the entire system and all included components. Workload scalability Organizations using traditional systems often feel the need to over-purchase and over-provision systems to address worstcase workload spikes. IBM PureApplication System includes built-in workload elasticity and automation to cost-effectively handle changing workload demands. Support Traditionally, multiple support contacts are required for the various hardware and software components. With the complete, pre-integrated IBM PureApplication System, organizations have a single point of contact for support of the entire solution. Flexibility The complexity of traditional and custom solutions can slow down change. IBM PureApplication System is easily extendable and adaptable to meet new needs. Real-world results on IBM PureApplication System As a built-for-cloud platform system that simplifies deployment and management of WebSphere Application Server applications, IBM PureApplication System delivers tangible results. Organizations can: Have the system up and running including installation, configuration and tuning in less than four hours 1 Deploy a three-tier web application in under 15 minutes 2 and automatically scale it in minutes 3 Concurrently manage 1,000 or more virtual machines on a single IBM PureApplication System W1500-608 4 Optimize for up to 60 percent better price/performance running typical web and database applications over a competitor s configuration 5 Automatically gain a throughput improvement of up to 2.3 times for data-intensive applications 6
10 IBM PureApplication System for IBM WebSphere Application Server workloads Experiencing the value of IBM PureApplication System Organizations using IBM PureApplication System for Web Application Server applications benefit from the removal of manual steps and automated delivery for fast time-to-value and increased agility in responding to business opportunities. Costs and resource requirements are reduced with the preintegrated and optimized environment, and the patterns built into the system reduce the amount of in-house expertise needed. The system also enables applications to be implemented in a repeatable, optimized way that significantly lowers the risk of human error. Real-world experience shows how the value adds up. Case in point: Government agency Business need: Rapidly create a highly responsive, private cloud computing environment for analytics workloads related to national security With IBM PureApplication System: Pre-integration and rapid implementation meet the demanding timeline System successfully meets the extreme peaks and troughs inherent in analytics workloads Costs reduced across the development and operations lifecycle Case in point: Global UK bank Business need: Reduce the time and cost of delivering application and platform services With IBM PureApplication System: Application delivery time shortened from six weeks to two minutes Patterns and tooling reduce application migration costs by GBP800,000 Systems monitoring and administration costs reduced by GBP670,000 Provisioning and patching costs reduced by GBP500,000 Accelerating the transition to the cloud IBM SmartCloud supports application patterns across deployment options. For private clouds, organizations can deploy patterns to an IBM PureApplication System infrastructure in a repeatable, self-service manner. For public clouds, organizations can deploy patterns to SmartCloud Application Services, or leverage the public cloud for testing of their applications that will later be deployed into production in a private cloud environment. Organizations have the flexibility to easily change deployment back and forth between private and public clouds. IT can make an investment in pattern-based technology now and expand into the public cloud later if that meets the needs of the organization. IBM also offers a choice of financing designed to help organizations conserve their cash for other strategic needs, accelerate the cash flow breakeven point and better align cash outlays to anticipated benefits.
IBM PureSystems 11 Empowering the organization Organizations that run WebSphere Application Server applications on IBM PureApplication System can deploy new applications and services much faster than with traditional approaches. They can also use repeatable patterns to help ensure adherence to IT policies, such as security or architecture mandates, for improved governance. They no longer need to manually scale out the topology to support a demand spike, because the system detects changes in demand and reacts based on policies helping to reduce support costs. Ultimately, IBM WebSphere Application Server plus IBM PureApplication System add up to increased business agility for organizations in today s fast-paced competitive environment. For more information To learn more about IBM PureApplication System, see your IBM representative or visit: ibm.com/ibm/puresystems/ pureapplication
Copyright IBM Corporation 2013 IBM Corporation Software Group Route 100 Somers, NY 10589 Produced in the United States of America February 2013 IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com, DB2, EasyTier, PureApplication, SmartCloud, Storwize and WebSphere are trademarks of International Business Machines Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the web at Copyright and trademark information at ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. This document is current as of the initial date of publication and may be changed by IBM at any time. Not all offerings are available in every country in which IBM operates. 4 Based on testing of IBM PureApplication System W1500-608 (9.7 TB RAM, 6.4 TB solid-state disk, 48 TB heard-disk drive and 2.6 GHz Sandy Bridge processors). VMs were deployed using the Virtual System Pattern methodology and were deployed as a WAS 8.5 five-node cluster that deploys five virtual machines consisting of one deployment manager, three custom WebSphere nodes and one IBM HTTP Server. Each VM had default CPU and memory settings of one virtual CPU and 2 GB of memory. 5 Based on IBM internal tests of IBM PureApplication System W1500-96 compared to results of testing of a competitor s configuration (previous version; no longer available) executing an online Java Enterprise Edition trading application workload in a controlled laboratory environment and a three-year total cost of acquisition (based on US list prices). The cost calculation compares the average cost per request. Three-year total cost of acquisition includes expected hardware, software, service and support. Users of this document should verify the applicable data for their specific environment. 6 Up to 2.3x performance, measured in transactions per second, of a Virtual System Pattern consisting of a disk I/O-intensive application workload based upon testing of IBM PureApplication System W1500-96 when IBM Storwize Easy Tier capability leverages a solid-state disk for frequently accessed data versus the same workload running on hard disk drives prior to automated optimization. Please Recycle The performance data discussed herein is presented as derived under specific operating conditions. Actual results may vary. THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED AS IS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND ANY WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF NON- INFRINGEMENT. IBM products are warranted according to the terms and conditions of the agreements under which they are provided. The client is responsible for ensuring compliance with laws and regulations applicable to it. IBM does not provide legal advice or represent or warrant that its services or products will ensure that the client is in compliance with any law or regulation. Actual available storage capacity may be reported for both uncompressed and compressed data and will vary and may be less than stated. 1 Based on testing of IBM PureApplication System W1500-96 with time measured from powering on the system to when it is ready to support application deployments. 2 Based on testing of IBM PureApplication System W1500-192 deploying a single Virtual Application Pattern consisting of two WAS VMs plus a DB2 VM, and updating the Elastic Load Balancer. The WAS VMs were allocated four vcpus, 4 GB of memory and 12 GB of disk while the DB2 VM was allocated eight vcpus, 6 GB memory and virtual disks of 12 GB and 4 GB. 3 Based on testing, under various workload conditions, of IBM PureApplication System W1500-192 automatically scaling a Virtual Application Pattern of WAS VMs by adding an extra WAS VM. WAW12361-USEN-00