The Future of Virtual Data Centers

Wrapping your mind around data center virtualization can be as tough as it sounds. Especially when the elements driving virtualization technology can be very diverse.

Virtualization technology was first introduced to IT and data centers when virtual machines (VMs) entered the market. While traditional hardware was growing in power, a steady growth of computing power resulted in more wasted power in traditional multi-programming operating systems.

One reason for the waste was due to applications needing to be isolated from other apps for better performance or security concerns. VMs offered an abstraction of hardware which looked like a server and was managed like a server but lived with other VMs on the same physical device.

Containers have also increased in popularity because they use fewer server resources than VMs and allow more applications to be packed into a data center. From mid-size to large companies, every data center will likely become fully virtualized by using one or both technologies.

Two Virtual Network Categories

Virtual networks come in two main categories. The first is the integrated virtual network model where the network devices, such as the switches to create the data center LANs, create and sustain the virtualization. This approach is known as the VLAN, or now the extended-address-space VLAN called XVLAN. While these are native to Ethernet, they need all switching devices in a data center to support them and are limited by traditional Ethernet LAN features.

The second virtual data center network model is from Nicira which was later bought by VMware. This approach is to build an overlay virtual network (OVN) by adding tunnels atop current network protocols. Overlay-modeled virtualization is becoming increasingly popular due to the many advantages it offers.

OVN model benefits allow you to:

• Use any lower-level switching technology or vendor of any mixture. If you can carry traffic between devices, you can carry OVNs to the VMs or containers on those devices. 
• Create and manage OVNs without giving applications or users access to features of the real network devices. This keeps users from being able to change network behavior for applications or other users. 
• Prioritize traffic or add encryption within an OVN while not involving anyone else. 

Essential Operations Automation

Most current data center technologies unite server and network virtualization. A limited form of virtual networking to steer traffic between containers or VMS is helped by cloud stacks (like OpenStack) and container tools (like Docker). VM and container systems are often expanded using DevOps tools offering more virtual-support features.

DevOps tools are reaching popularity thanks to data center virtualization technology. Operations automation for virtual data centers is essential due to virtualization increasing management issues. Running and connecting hosts in a single server with six VMs and up to 24 containers could prove challenging when multiplied byeven more.

With time, data center virtualization and cloud computing will change applications. We’ve seen this already with Twitter’s use of functional programming. With cloud providers like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft leading the charge for innovation, virtualization capabilities will one day be a requirement for future applications. While it may take time to mature, it will eventually happen.

Interested in accomplishing more with fewer resources? At Advanced Systems Group, we help you select the right technology for your business and budget. Contact us today to learn more.

How to Leverage Cloud Computing for Maximum Value

If you’re considering cloud computing solutions for your business, you’ve probably heard the benefits of cost savings, efficiency, and accessibility. But adding new technology for technology’s sake isn’t always the best approach. With any new or emerging technology, it’s important to step back and validate a purpose or reason for introducing it.

Through analysis, cloud consulting services may reveal that introducing cloud computing could positively impact your broader business goals and objectives. Here we’re diving into cloud computing solutions and how it supports common business goals.

What Is Cloud Computing Again?

The cloud is a service or software solution not hosted internally on a server or workstation. Cloud computing infrastructure is located at a datacenter or hosting provider. Users access an interface through desktop software or a web browser. This leaves all the administrative tasks of running the software to the service provider who ensures the data is safe and secure.

Previously, new technology tools required high capital expenditure for the software, customization, hardware, and deployment. While cloud computing doesn’t eliminate everything, it reduces costs and increases the speed of deployment. The main benefits include:

• Accessibility: Offers an affordable price-point for all with a per-user model.
• Global Access: Solutions are available wherever you are, whether you’re at the office, on the road, or traveling around the world. 
• Fast Deployment: Introducing new software can be achieved significantly faster.
• Scalability: It’s easy to add new users or devices by simply paying more.  

4 Ways Cloud Computing Helps Your Company Achieve Common Business Objectives

The following are a few ways cloud computing infrastructure can help your company achieve common business objectives.

1. Reduce Costs

Perhaps the most common reason a company moves to cloud technology is to reduce costs. It may allow a company to reduce the number of servers needed to run their business. For example, a company may use a traditional server-based accounting system and replace it with a hosted cloud-based solution. The business can then decommission the servers running an older system. The company reduces costs through energy savings, no longer needing to refresh the server environment, reducing staff to support the servers, and lowering stress on data protection or backup solutions.

2. Improved Functionality and Efficiency

The cloud also allows organizations to introduce technology solutions that were once cost prohibitive. For example, many companies can’t afford a traditional CRM solution but can afford a monthly subscription to a cloud-based CRM. As new technology emerges, cloud computing solutions allow for the faster introduction of new features and capabilities to improve the user experience.

3. Better Accessibility

No longer are we limited to working in the office. Now users can use software tools at home, on the road, or on an airplane. With many solutions being web-based, a user can access systems anywhere they have internet connectivity. Apps allow the software to be accessed on smartphones and tablets.

4. esilient to Disasters

Cloud computing is rapidly replacing onsite hard drive backup solutions protecting companies from on-premise disasters such as floods or fire. Data is now held in data centers with robust cloud-based backups to ensure your data is safer than locally configured server environments.

At Advanced Systems Group (ASG), we help you choose the right technologies for your business needs and budget. Contact us today to learn more.

Advantages of Implementing an Object Storage System

Object storage systems are a complete shift to a new dimension over traditional file systems. If you’re an IT professional who is used to working with traditional file systems, wrapping your mind around object storage requires rewiring your thoughts about how data is indexed and stored.
Unstructured data is rapidly increasing on the internet each year with text documents, emails, presentations, videos, images, audio files, etc. With so much unstructured data floating around, it needed to be handled in a secure and reliable way.

With an object-based storage platform, the existing file system approach is removed completely. No more complex hierarchies, folders, or directories. An object storage system uses a structurally flat data environment where you can simply ask for an object by presenting its object ID.

Object storage devices operate as modular units which can become components of a larger storage pool and can be aggregated across locations. Distributed storage nodes allow companies to increase data resilience and initiate disaster recovery solutions.

An object storage platform contains stackable, self-contained disk units just like any other SAN. But unlike traditional storage, object-based systems are accessed by HTTP. By being accessible and easily scalable, object storage is a great solution for public cloud storage. An object storage cluster of different nodes can be combined to become an online, scalable file repository.

Rapid Data Retrieval

In an object storage platform environment, data is retrieved by the storage OS reading metadata and object ID numbers associated with the data. This eliminates the need to dive deep into file structures and intelligent caching making the process incredibly fast. Metadata also allows storage administrators to apply preservation, retention, and deletion policies to data.

Easy to Scale

Need more storage space? No problem. Object storage is faster and easier to scale versus traditional storage methods so you never experience downtime.

Excellent Solutions for Static Data

Object storage systems are optimized for serving static data. For example, the digital archive files for a museum. This gives object storage a niche in the current market. It’s a great fit for companies or organizations who need static, scalable archive storage. In these situations, the use of SAN arrays designed to host virtual servers or highly dynamic applications systems would cost entirely too much.

If you’re an IT professional working in environments with significant archival and static data retrieval requirements, you know how hard it has been to find a cost-effective storage solution. With object-based storage, you have a range of affordable product options to consider.

To find out if object storage is right for you, contact Advanced Systems Group (ASG)today to discuss your current data needs, forecast expected future growth, and explore scalability options.

The Future of IT Consulting

Technology consulting today isn’t all long lunches, happy hours, or golf meetings. Technology consulting firms would tell you about the long hours and late nights for often thankless work and unexpected detours in projects.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. The future of IT consulting is bright and can be a fulfilling career as you help improve your client’s business and fortunes. To be a successful IT consulting company, there are a few best practices to guide the way. Be a part of the future of technology consulting by following these guidelines.

The Client Defines Success
Before you sign a new contract, check yourself and remember that in any IT consulting project, the client is the hero. Not you, your company, or the technology solution. As a consultant, your job is Chief Mentor. Guide your client in a way that ensures they succeed on their terms. A typical project could have several “heroes” involved with multiple requests coming at you. Your job is to find technology solutions to support allthe hero requests.

Don’t Judge
Avoid shooting down a client’s ideas just to look smart. Try instead to understand where they are coming from with their idea, then find a better way to get them there. Letting them know you think it’s a “bad” idea will keep you from seeing a good idea hidden within.

No Technology Comes Before Client Success
There’s no particular technology that is more important than reaching your client’s level of success. Good technology consulting firms resist the shiny things and advocate for practical tools. A functioning system is far more important than industry awards or accolades. Take into consideration your client’s current constraints and future plans. Choose the right tools to manage both.

Keep Projects Moving
Often when momentum slows down, it’s because the next decision or commitment is bigger than expected. Don’t let a project lose momentum. Take smaller steps to keep projects moving gradually.

Maintain Strong Communication
A strong connection is achieved through efficient and responsive communication. Don’t waste the client’s time with unnecessary meetings or requests and don’t waste your time with nonproductive activities requested by clients. Discuss what is truly necessary.

No Project Is Worth Losing Your Reputation
Your reputation and that of your IT consulting company is your most important asset. When considering new projects, it’s better to say no and keep your reputation than saying yes and losing your integrity. Don’t make outrageous claims in the sales process or accept projects outside of your scope.

Speak Honestly and Openly with Clients
Even if clients don’t want to hear it, speak the truth openly. While no one enjoys hearing bad news, sometimes someone needs to deliver it anyway. Don’t shield them from unpleasant facts, but present the information neutrally without your personal interpretation or conclusions. Allow the client to come to their own conclusions.

At Advanced Systems Group, we help you choose the right technology for your business needs and budget. Contact us today for personalized technology consulting services.

5 Key Data Center Relocation Considerations

Data center relocations are common occurrences when moving applications from one data center to another or into the cloud. Relocations are often due to limited storage on an old platform, keeping up with regulatory requirements, acquisitions, mergers, or cost savings.

While data center relocations are common, they’re also somewhat complex. It involves moving application software, infrastructure software, hardware, and important interdependencies. It’s crucial to make sure data isn’t lost or unplanned downtime occurs. Data center relocation services help ensure all dependencies between applications and infrastructure are moved to the new location and work correctly.

To enjoy the benefits of a successful data migration, follow these five rules.

• Understand the Current Setup

Many IT departments don’t have full knowledge of the data center setup, especially if their assets are older. To improve your chances of a smooth data migration, review your current data centerand find out as much as you can about the setup.

Each application may have multiple relationships and dependencies with other applications and infrastructure. It’s common for some to be several years old and involve legacy technology. If staff with knowledge of older systems have left the company, it’s important to fill these gaps.

Network tracing tools can help detect which components are communicating with others. Use tracing tools farbefore your scheduled data migration as some applications may only communicate every few months or once a year. Over time, create a complete picture of how your data center works before launching into migration.

• Choose the Right Method for Each Application

Each application may have several migration methods. Choosing the best method depends on which technology the application is using. Applications using current technology typically run on virtual machines and are easily copied to a new data center. “Lift and shift” methods are best for applications using older technology.

Once you decide the migration method, decide how many trials or testsneed to happen for critical applications. These applications, such as banking or air traffic control, may require a trial migration followed by testing to ensure success.

• Test Migration for Important Applications

It’s critical to avoid downtime for important applications involving sensitive information. To avoid data loss, involve backups at each major stage with a roll-back plan if problems occur.

With trial migrations, you test the migration method and work through any problems in advance. Only after testing the migration and solving any problems are you safe to try the live migration.

• Decide Where Applications Will Go in the New Network

Since the infrastructure needs to be sized correctly, it’s important to know where each application will go in the new network. Consider the requirements of each app before the migration occurs.

This process takes time and work. You must consider the complete infrastructure including servers, local network design, external connectivity, virtualization, monitoring, and more. Also, plan for older applications which may not be compatible with new data center security.

• Expect Latency

Migrating data could cause network latency which affects app performance. Legacy systems are more at risk for latency issues. The most cost-effective way to fix the problem is by modeling. If it shows latency will be an issue for a certain app, you can take steps to correct it.

You may address temporary latency by scheduling the migration of interdependent applications closely together. Other solutions would be necessary if latency is predicted to affect app performance in its permanent end state. It may require rewriting or reconfiguring parts of the app, or replacing it altogether.

At Advanced Systems Group, we help companies migrate data successfully with professional data center relocation services. Contact us today for more information about data center relocation services to make sure your data is secure.

Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) – Solutions for Modern Apps in the Cloud

Members of the IT industry are all talking about the new concept of a software-defined data center (SDDC). But many wonder, how is this different than a traditional data center? Is it indeed revolutionary?

Some think the SDDC is an extension of existing physical assets, but at its core, it frees the application layer from the physical infrastructure layer. This allows for a wide range of uses including deploying, managing, storing, computing and networking various business applications in the cloud.

Here we’re examining the software-defined data center industry and identifying what makes SDDC solutions truly revolutionary.

Application Layer Focus with Customization and Automation for Business Applications

So, what’s the real difference between this data center and hardware at the office? The software-defined data center frees the application from the hardware layer. Computing as we know it is about to make a quantum leap to data centers that can live in multiple physical locations.

The software-defined data center is a unified data center platform that helps transform the way companies deliver IT with automation, efficiency, and flexibility. It’s built for the cloud and geared toward modern applications. This platform is ideal for businesses interested in modernizing without the expense of a physical overhaul.

True to Its Name – Defined in Software

The software-defined data center is exactly what it states – defined in software. Deployment, management of applications, and virtualizedcomputing storage and networks exist as software.

Allow someone else to own the hardware, guards, gas, batteries, generators, and employ the hundreds of people to service them. Software-defined data centers can be pursued now and deliver a return on investment one application at a time – not one physical data center at a time.

Companies Migrate Specific Applications

Organizations aren’t migrating entire data centers to the cloud. They migrate specific applications that collectively perform a business function. Using the application as a target allows IT departments to get instant ROI when they deploy and migrate their first cloud application.

A more agile approach uses cloud containers to avoid involving existing physical assets and infrastructure. SDDC architecture allows for containers with business systems of record and systems of engagement within the context of integration and security. This allows companies to use virtualization principles of pooling, abstraction, and automation so it’s cloud-ready.

No More Data Center Limitations

Limitations to SDDCs previously included physical constraints and a lack of application-layer focus. Companies were leery of sending applications to the cloud without proper context for governance, security, and integration.

While cloud computing saves money, is more efficient, and has more raw computing power, containers take it a step further by allowing IT teams to migrate, deploy, and control apps within the cloud.

The SDDC of the Future

The software-defined data center is a proper solution for cloud customization and integration. Companies can use the growing number of virtualized services, networks, and APIs to grow their data centers beyond their physical walls one cloud container at a time.

The SDDCs of the future will offer a cross-cloud connection with cloud-deployed data centers, existing data centers, and all virtualized elements in between. To make SDDC solutions a reality for companies, certain features must be provided and certain objectives met.

A true software-defined data center will be:

·         Adaptive

·         Automated

·         Holistic

·         Resilient

·         Standardized

SDDC solutions will contain features including:

·         File system virtualization

·         Image automation

·         Network virtualization

·         Topology automation

·         Topology centric services

These are key to customizing, automating, and controlling application-focused features. Then companies can securely transition to the cloud and use SDDC architecture to innovate with greater utilization, resiliency, and cost savings on a common platform. 

7 IT Consulting Rules to Master

IT consulting gurus understand the business isn’t all about golfing and happy hours. Expert IT consulting services involve thankless work, unexpected detours, and changing goals.

However, as an IT consultant or IT economist, the job can be fulfilling as you improve your client’s bottom line. While there’s no exact guidebook for IT consulting, here we’re gathering a few pro tips and ideas to enhance your IT consulting services and gain the respect of clients.

1.    The Client Defines Success – Not You

Each project brings its own IT consulting hurdles and challenges to deliver the right solution on time and on budget. But keep in mind, with each contract you sign, the client is the hero and they define success.

As a consultant, your role is a mentor. The goal is guiding your clients to ensure they succeed on their terms. You may be held to a definition of success made by multiple parties involved in the project – the IT manager, the production manager, inventory specialists, CFO, and more. Every person may have a different goal in mind.

2.    Actively Listen to All Vantage Points

Each player in a project has an issue to be solved. Actively listen to understand the role and environment of each person.

At the same time, be discerning. Some feedback may be speculation and fantasy. Be aware, but don’t dwell on them. Take note of unusual or unexpected issues that come up. These could double as a problem and an opportunity.

3.    Respect Your Client’s Privacy and Reputation

Never mention your client’s name to others without permission. They may not want other groups, including their competitors, knowing they work with you. Talking about other clients who use your IT consulting services can sometimes come back to haunt you.

4.    Keep Up the Momentum

Certain stages of a project may be technical and require more time to absorb. Give yourself and the client time, but be mindful of momentum.

Don’t wait too long to connect. Take smaller steps if needed to keep moving in the right direction.

5.    Maintain Great Communication

Connections stay strong through effective and responsive communication. Don’t waste anyone’s time with unnecessary meetings and don’t waste a client’s time with unnecessary requests. Above all, don’t waste your own time doing nonproductive activities, even when requested by the client.

6.    Always Be Truthful

Speak the truth, even when they don’t want to hear it. The truth should be a window of opportunity, not a hammer.

While no one wants to receive bad news, especially if it results from their actions, the news still needs to be delivered. Remember, it’s not your job to shield your client from unpleasant facts.

7.    Turn the Other Cheek

Regardless of if the project ends as planned or unexpectedly, be grateful for the trust and work received. Make sure the client has everything they need to continue without you and always keep a professional and helpful demeanor.

Looking for professional IT consulting services? We can help. Get in touch with Advanced Systems Group to learn more.