CC4 and virtualisation

[limawhiskey]

So, whats' the underlying hardware / software for your CC4 install?

 

I'm considering Scale HC3 but RM don;t seem keen to want anything to do with it. I can't really see the problem; as far as I can tell, RM don't do anything intelligent to talk to the underlying architecture.

 

RM's fixed price menu for virtualisation is "X hosts and a SAN", or "we'll sell you a Dell VRTX if you really want it".

 

I'd be interested to see what other people are running. Feel free to educate me about what I might be missing.

Edited May 23, 2017 by limawhiskey

[bossman]

@limawhiskey

 

We run 3 Dell R620s as hosts connected to 2 Synology RS3614xs+ units in HA cluster with another Synology unit for backups using Veeam on the hosts direct then from the Synology unit up to cloud storage for offsite backups.

 

All in all for the Synology units and the setup cost was £20k the Dells we had given secondhand by a kind friend of mine @FN-GM thanks!

 

Been running for the best part of 12 months now without a hitch, a company called Vital Service did the initial setup and RM just followed on from there.

 

Absolutely solid and quick!

 

Synology

[deano3693]

We have a Dell VRTX (Not installed by RM) and absolutely love it! It's been rock solid - 3 blades VM Ware HA Cluster and it all just works!

[limawhiskey]

@steve_forbes - is there an official line on virtualisation with CC4?

 

Any flexibility for other platforms, assuming we manage support of the platform? I understand that the hardware would not come under the list of technologies for network support.

 

If the guest OS (Windows Server 2012) and RM service software can see CPU, memory and disk as normal then I take it all the RM side will run ok and be none the wiser?

[limawhiskey]

@bossman @deano3693

 

Thanks. You both mention RM did not commission the hardware so that's promising. Were there any problems when they came to commission servers or add their services on top? How did you deal with that?

[NB9457]

It's a difficult one.

 

I've been looking and for around £14k, I could get two Dell Servers, each with 16x960GB Enterprise SSDs, 128GB RAM and 8C/16T CPU instead of a Cluster setup. With Veeam and the VMs spread carefully between the 2 hosts or even replication, it could be cheaper and faster than a cluster setup.

 

There are pros and cons to each, SANs can be expensive, but the benefits could be better. Your best bet is write up the different options, costs, pros and cons and put it towards the school and let them decide which they think will work best for them.

[steve_forbes]

@steve_forbes - is there an official line on virtualisation with CC4?

 

Any flexibility for other platforms, assuming we manage support of the platform? I understand that the hardware would not come under the list of technologies for network support.

 

If the guest OS (Windows Server 2012) and RM service software can see CPU, memory and disk as normal then I take it all the RM side will run ok and be none the wiser?

 

Hi,

 

As you mention, we would only support the hardware if it was on our supported technologies list but in terms of CC4, we will support that on your chosen platform as long as you follow the guidance in terms of the resources that need to be allocated to the VM etc.

We have carried out plenty of CC4 installations on platforms that have either been installed by a third party or the customer themselves and as long as they have been properly configured then there tend to be very few issues.

 

Troubleshooting issues and determining the causes are of course a little more complicated when we haven't installed the hardware or platform but in every case we will do whatever we can to determine and fix the issues or in the very least give you direction as to what needs to be addressed by the relevant 3rd party support.

 

I hope that helps,

Steve

[bossman]

@limawhiskey

 

Hiya, in answer to your question, I have always specified my own hardware when dealing with RM and they have always been fine with it, as long as it is setup properly then they don't complain.

 

We are now fully virtualised (Hyper-V) and its solid as solid can be.

 

I had to engage with outside companies due to the JRE which my new JD stated I could only assist with building infrastructure and I could only assist in building servers etc, so hence taking on SLA's with outside companies.

[limawhiskey]

Thanks @steve_forbes.

 

Troubleshooting issues and determining the causes are of course a little more complicated when we haven't installed the hardware or platform but in every case we will do whatever we can to determine and fix the issues or in the very least give you direction as to what needs to be addressed by the relevant 3rd party support.

Yes, I realise this grey area will exist but by all accounts, Scale's support is exemplary, so to me that will be a very small risk. I fully expect we will fall into your "very few issues" camp.

[deano3693]

Nope we had no issues and still don't to this day.