Case Study:

Setup of Virtualised Infrastructure for Software Development Project

Background:

An international information technology corporation had won a software development project that would employ six people over a number of years. The project would require a large number of servers and applications to emulate their customers’ actual production environment.

Requirement:

Design and implement a software development and test infrastructure including web, database, application, and build servers within their own domain. Ensure the database server is able to benchmark performance in a similar environment to their customers. Provide a system where developers and testers can run their customers’ client environment on their existing machines. Backup the entire server infrastructure.

Solution:

An initial environment was planned working in conjunction with the development project’s solution architect. Where possible existing infrastructure was used and for the remainder a comprehensive parts list was drawn up and two servers and parts, rack accessories, desktop RAM and software licenses were ordered.

A server was set up to run VMware ESX and this could host six virtual servers running Windows Server 2003. A single VMware virtual server image was then created, and rolled out multiple times to create the virtual servers. The virtualisation saved on initial hardware costs and setup time, ongoing hardware maintenance, and provided excellent performance for intended purposes.

One virtual server was setup to run an Active Directory (AD) and Domain Naming Service (DNS). The other virtual servers were used to create two instances of web and application servers for development and testing, and one build server.

VMware workstation was installed on existing client machines and where necessary additional RAM was also installed. Virtual images of their customers’ client machines were created and these were run on client machines as members of the newly created domain.

All servers and virtual desktops were configured to be part of the separate AD but to also be accessible from the existing environment by integrating the new DNS into existing DNS infrastructure.

Another server was setup to run two database server instances which could be used for testing or development, and this emulated the production environment as closely as economically feasible.

All servers were integrated into the existing backup infrastructure which utilised a networked backup application and a dual drive tape library. Backup Agents were installed on the VMware ESX server’s Linux console, the database server, and also within all the virtual servers. The backup schedule, including weekly full and daily incremental backups, allowed restoration of any individual file from any of the servers.