I/O performance for VDI scalability. Calculating the IOPS per user budget is a key requirement for your VDI deployment.
SOLUTION BRIEF Networking
Scalable and Power Efficient Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) with Lenovo and Emulex VFA5 Increase VDI return on investment (ROI) and maximize workforce productivity and mobility VFA 5 for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) ToR 10GbE/FC Switch
VMware vCenter (Plug-in) Active Directory MS SQL Server
Broadcom-Lenovo advantages New features of the Emulex VFA5 from Broadcom result in VDI benefits:
File Server
VDI Server
APP OS
Highlights ●●
VFA5
Virtual Desktops
–– More VDI desktops per server due to up to 18 percent higher CPU effectiveness1,2 –– Higher power efficiency3 with up to 50W per server power savings, reducing energy and cooling costs –– Desktop-like user experiences with up to 1.5 million Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) or iSCI I/O operations per second (IOPS)
Domain Controller
FCoE. FC, or iSCSI Storage Virtual Desktops Server Cluster Access data faster
Save up to 50W per server per year
Support up to 18% more VDI desktops
I/O performance for VDI scalability Calculating the IOPS per user budget is a key requirement for your VDI deployment. It is critical to solving the ‘boot storm’ challenge as large number of users log in simultaneously. VMware recommends certain IOPS per type of user4, but whatever your calculations determine, you can rely on the VFA5 to support more VDI sessions than competitive adapters. This is achieved through Emulex VFA5 offload technologies, which minimize the impact of I/O on CPU usage. The VFA5 delivers up to 1.5 million FCoE/iSCSI IOPS, ensuring that storage will not be a bottleneck for your VDI implementation. Emulex VFA5 offload technologies also reduce power consumption by up to 50 watts/server making the VFA5 ideal for your VDI connectivity3.
I/O bandwidth for a satisfying user experience A satisfying user experience with VDI means an experience that replicates the desktop, especially during busy usage periods, such as logins and boot storms. It is estimated that for a Windows 7 desktop you should plan up to 1Mbps4 maximum bandwidth. As you calculate your bandwidth needs, consider that VFA5 connectivity delivers up to 1.5 million FCoE/iSCSI IOPS of storage performance, ensuring I/O bandwidth on a single adapter platform for storage and clustered server networking to run VDI alongside mixed workloads. Alternatively, Emulex 16Gb (Gen 5) Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters (HBAs), deliver up to 1.2 million IOPS on a single port, ideal for a superior VDI user experience when connected to high performance all flash storage.
Achieve scalable VDI desktop instances on 2 socket System x servers
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VDI solution benefits BYOD mobility for the workforce
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Reduce capital expenditures (CAPEX) on repeat PC purchases
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Increase security of user data
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Emulex 10Gb Ethernet (10GbE) VFA5 for System x Emulex 16Gb (Gen 5) Fibre Channel (FC) Dual-port Host Bus Adapter (HBA) for System x System x servers IBM Storwize V7000 disk systems System Networking RackSwitch G8124E 10Gb Top of Rack (ToR) switch
SOLUTION BRIEF Networking
SCALABILITY
I/O features ensure VDI resiliency Virtual Fabric technology delivers virtual network interface card (vNIC) partitioning, which adds flexibility and can help eliminate idle bandwidth. This technology can flexibly allocate bandwidth between clustered virtual desktop servers, shared storage, management tools, and virtual machine migrations to help ensure system both resiliency and optimal bandwidth provisioning. In addition, Emulex OneCommand® Manager provides single-console management of all Emulex adapters in the VDI deployment, with a VMware vCenter plug-in for even greater ease of use.
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More VDI desktops can be supported due to up to 18% higher adapter CPU effectiveness1,2 System x 2 socket servers that scale memory and CPU 16Gb (Gen 5) FC HBA capable of up to 1.2 million IOPS
USER EXPERIENCE ●●
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Lower accumulated response time and increase user productivity with 10GbE Achieve desktop equivalent experiences during “boot storms” and login events with up to 1.5 million IOPS over FCoE or iSCSI
RESILIENCY ●●
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Eliminate “stranded” VDI desktops on server directattached disk drives with shared FCoE storage Allocate bandwidth where and when it is needed with vNICs Single-console management of all Emulex adapters, with a VMware vCenter plug-in
Why Lenovo Lenovo is the leading provider of x86 systems for the data center. The portfolio includes rack, tower, blade, dense and converged systems, and supports enterprise class performance, reliability and security. Lenovo also offers a full range of networking, storage, software and solutions, and comprehensive services supporting business needs throughout the IT lifecycle.
For More Information To learn more about scalable Virtual Desktop Infrastructure solutions with Lenovo and Broadcom, contact your Lenovo Business Partner or visit lenovo.com/server/options 1
IT Brand Pulse Test Report, “OCe14000 Performance,” July, 2014
2
CPU effectiveness = Percentage of server CPU utilization for every 1Mbps of throughput
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Power effectiveness = Server power consumption in watts per 1Mbps I/O throughput
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VMware View 5 with PCoIP Network Optimization Guide
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