| By Hovhannes Avoyan |
Article Rating: |
|
| May 13, 2012 08:30 AM EDT |
Reads: |
3,872 |
To answer this question we need to take a closer look at the requirements for a server system to be considered cloud ready and then investigate the different features of Windows Server 2012 that does or does not meet these requirements. Windows Server 2012 is the official name of Windows Server code name “8” and is now on its Beta stage of development.
The first thing to consider here is the ability of the operating system to virtualize its resources, meaning to make them available as part of a shared pool and managed by an administrator. The main features Windows Server 2012 has here are:
- Hyper-V extensible switch – the Hyper-V switch from Windows Server 2008 is now enhanced to support extensions. It is a platform for you to extend the functionality of a virtual switch to whatever your organization needs.
- Network Virtualization – allows you to continue using you IP address scheme in the cloud infrastructure. All your virtual machines will have two IP addresses – one that you’re used to, and one new, that will be unique from the cloud perspective. All your services that depend on the IP address scheme will continue to work in the cloud.
- Quality of Service (QoS) – gives you the opportunity to manage your network environment, identify problems, and prioritize traffic. You can use it to give priority to network-intensive applications such as voice traffic and to management messages indicating network connectivity problems.
- Enhanced Live Storage Migration – allows you to move the files of a virtual machine while it’s still running. If a physical volume hosting VMs is running out of space, you don’t have to worry about moving one of all of the VMs to another location. Windows Server 2012 will do this job transparently without even turning the machines off.
Self-service is another thing you have to consider if you intend to provide or consume public cloud services. This functionality gives the clients the ability to change only the settings that are relevant to what they’ve paid for. It usually happens via custom Web page serving as a portal. Windows Server 2012 gives you the necessary foundation for this to happen by PowerShell and WMI. Furthermore, Windows Server 2012 gives you the ability to monitor or to allow the customer to monitor the resources they’re using.
The next thing in our list would be elasticity. What it covers is the ability of the infrastructure to support the ever changing needs of the company using cloud services. If you host an application in the cloud, you would normally want more resources in peak user activity periods and less for the rest of the time. Furthermore, you may want to move your application from one geo-location to another. Windows Server 2012 has integrated support of IKEv2 VPN that can be used for hybrid cloud environments with interconnected public and private cloud infrastructures. IKEv2 VPN is an IPSec secured VPN connection allowing mobility of the connected users between different wireless access points or when moving from wireless to wired connection. The Network Virtualization functionality discussed earlier also helps Windows Server 2012 meet the elasticity requirements of today’s cloud infrastructures.
With all the Windows Server 2012 features mentioned we can definitely consider Windows Server 2012 a cloud ready operating system.
Keep eye on this block for further articles discussing Windows Server 2012’s advanced features!
Hovhannes Avoyan is the CEO of Monitis, Inc., a provider of on-demand systems management and monitoring software to 50,000 users spanning small businesses and Fortune 500 companies.
Prior to Monitis, he served as General Manager and Director of Development at prominent web portal Lycos Europe, where he grew the Lycos Armenia group from 30 people to over 200, making it the company's largest development center. Prior to Lycos, Avoyan was VP of Technology at Brience, Inc. (based in San Francisco and acquired by Syniverse), which delivered mobile internet content solutions to companies like Cisco, Ingram Micro, Washington Mutual, Wyndham Hotels , T-Mobile , and CNN. Prior to that, he served as the founder and CEO of CEDIT ltd., which was acquired by Brience. A 24 year veteran of the software industry, he also runs Sourcio cjsc, an IT consulting company and startup incubator specializing in web 2.0 products and open-source technologies.
Hovhannes is a senior lecturer at the American Univeristy of Armenia and has been a visiting lecturer at San Francisco State University. He is a graduate of Bertelsmann University.
Subscribe to Virtualization Journal Email News Alerts
Subscribe via RSS
