For more information on Network Management visit: http://www.solarwinds.com/network-management-software.aspx When it comes to the network, data center managers can be overwhelmed with emerging challenges like storage, fiber channel networks, virtualization and even power management. But how do you get your hands around all of this and make it work together seamlessly? This AFCOM Datacenter World session presented by Josh Stephens, SolarWinds VP of Technology, discussed how to corral these issues and provide insight on best management practices and common pitfalls that can be avoided.

1. Simplifying Network Strategy in the
Data Center
Josh Stephens, VP of Technology
© 2012 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

2. Introduction
 A big “Howdy” from SolarWinds®
based in Austin, Texas
» Josh Stephens, VP of Technology & Head Geek
 Today’s Topic:
» Simplifying Network Strategy in the Data
Center

3. How to get a copy of this presentation
 Included on the flash drive you received from
the show
 E-mail me directly
 Searchable on slideshare.com

4. A Few Notes about Today’s Session
 Today’s content will be fairly high-level
 We only have an hour
 No attendee left behind…
 Ask questions!!!
 Don’t be afraid to ask deeper questions
 Don’t wait until the end – ask away

5. Agenda
 Understanding the challenge
 Data center evolution
 Common pitfalls
 Management best practices
 Summary and Q&A

6. Understanding the challenge
 The corporate landscape has changed
 Users are more distributed and have high
expectations
 Data centers have been consolidated
 Non-traditional deconsolidation (cloud)
© istockphotos

7. Data Center Evolution
 Our data centers are evolving!!!
 Density – beyond what we ever planned for
 Virtualization as a standard vs. an option
 Power no longer someone else’s problem
© istockphotos

8. Common Pitfalls
 Delaying too long to start thinking about IPv6
 Real migrations are happening now
 Requirements (not just mandates) are pushing
adoption forward
 Inadequate tools for virtualization
management
 Capacity optimization is a reality
 Easiest place to recoup resources and improve
application performance

9.  IPv4 allows for 4.3 billion IP addresses. How
many IP addresses do you think are
available in IPv6?
 Twice as many as in IPv4
 4 times as many as in IPv4
 96 times as many as in IPv4
 65,536 times as many as in IPv4

10.  IPv4 allows for 4.3 billion IP addresses. How
many IP addresses do you think are
available in IPv6?
 Twice as many as in IPv4
 4 times as many as in IPv4
 96 times as many as in IPv4
 65,536 times as many as in IPv4

11. Common Pitfalls
 Failure to plan for dense computing
requirements
 Power
 Bandwidth
 Monitoring
 Lack of common management tools
 Dashboards should cover all infrastructure components –
network, system, application, virtual, storage
 Monitoring is enough. Tools should include intelligent
reporting.
 The consequence of ignoring is the blame game…

12. A Simple Mistake – 32 bit counters
 32 bit counter wraps or rollovers
 10 Mbps in 57 minutes
 100 Mbps in 5.7 minutes
 1 Gbps in 34 seconds
 64 bit counters – you aren’t going to see them
wrap…

13. Top 10 Management Best Practices
1) Seek expert advice for areas you’re not an
expert in
 Power
 VoIP
 IPv6
2) Always baseline before you change anything
 Virtualization
 VoIP
 Consolidation
 Cloud

14. Top 10 Management Best Practices
1) Join a community for peer support
 Open source communities
 Expertise area communities
 Vendor communities
2) Always baseline before you change anything
 Virtualization
 VoIP
 Consolidation
 Cloud

15. Top 10 Management Best Practices
1) Test drive everything
 Software
 Vendors
 Best practice – drive 3, buy one
2) Establish and verify SLAs monthly
 Service providers
 Availability
 Performance
 Response time

16. Top 10 Management Best Practices
1) Remember that nothing is permanent
 How will you migrate from the public cloud?
 What if virtualization density starts decreasing?
 Build plans and measurements to make change
easier
2) More visibility is always better
 Flow analysis for analyzing network traffic
 Negotiate reporting into cloud and SaaS contracts
 Engage an expert if you don’t know

17. Top 10 Management Best Practices
1) Review management tools and technologies
after incidents
 Did the NMS detect the issue?
 Who found it first?
2) Invest in management tools with quick ROI
 Management tools should monitor entire
infrastructure
 ROI should be apparent in days not weeks

18. Summary and Q&A
Thank you for attending!
Contact information
Josh Stephens, Head Geek
headgeek@solarwinds.com
twitter: sw_headgeek
Blog: http://solarwinds.com/geek