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Aligning Data Center Hardware to Your IaaS Business Plan with Warren.io

As data centers, web hosting and cloud providers grow their infrastructure to accommodate more business requirements, they are oftenforced to ask themselves whether the hardware of their chosen IaaS platform will be able to meet these evolving needs of their customers? WithWarren.io’s comprehensive IaaS solution that ensures IT services are always up-to-date with the best technology and performance metrics available, navigating this challenge has never been easier. The entire organization from your customers, application developers right through to system admins can rest assured that their data center hardware is always in line with a service plan designed around your specific business goalsand objectives. Let’s explore how Warren.io helps you align your hardware investments for optimal support of your IaaS requirements today!

Table of Contents

  1. Maximize Computing Efficiency: Leveraging Compute Resources and Host Pools for Different Product Tiers
  2. Planning out local network performance: routers, switches and NICs for all the physical nodes
  3. Selecting the right block storage devices for Ceph distributed storage
  4. Energy efficiency and sustainability is increasingly important for the years to come
  5. Free consultation from Warren team on planning your hardware setup

Maximize Computing Efficiency: Leveraging Compute Resources and Host Pools for Different Product Tiers

Compute Host Pools for different performance tiersUsually a good business advice would be to go for the highest amount of cores the money can buy. Your customers can be kept happy by keeping the physical hypervisor server “over commitment” setting of Warren cloud platform within the optimal bounds for your specific end user profile who runs on the specific server. The use of “Platinum” CPU features is not common for a general public and the clock speed doesn’t have to be the highest for most common workloads. Unless of course you are deliberately aiming high to include the “GHz rate” in your marketing and sales materials to communicate the added value of your better CPU performance and flat even ratio of your vCPU to physical CPU core.

Configurable physical CPU time that a single vCPU unit is actually allowed to deliver in a scope of the given server or any logical group of physical servers know to Warren users as “Host Pools”. This type of segmented or tiered offering described above is easily set up from the Warren interfaces available to the IaaS provider.

More detailed overview can be found from the Wiki page about Host Pools https://warrenio.atlassian.net/l/cp/Nm1w0tg0 in Warren documentation.

Planning out local network performance: routers, switches and NICs for all the physical nodes

Warren.io recommends using network devices that can allow at least 25Gb throughput for faster access to Ceph distributed storage and better overall network performance. This is because Ceph is a high-performance distributed storage system that can generate a lot of network traffic, especially when running demanding workloads.

Here are some examples of Warren.io network devices that can support a minimum of 25Gb throughput:

  • Switches:
    • Arista 7280E
    • Cisco Nexus 9300
    • Dell PowerSwitch 9500
  • Routers:
    • Cisco ASR 9000
    • Juniper MX10000
    • Nokia MX9600

It is important to note that the specific network devices that you choose will depend on your specific needs and requirements. For example, if you are running a large-scale Ceph cluster, you will need to use network devices that can support a high volume of traffic.

Here are some tips for improving your overall network performance:

  • Use redundant network links to avoid bottlenecks and downtime.
  • Use a load balancer to distribute traffic evenly across your network devices.
  • Use a traffic management solution to prioritize traffic and optimize performance.
  • Monitor your network performance regularly and make adjustments as needed.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your network is able to support the demands of Ceph and your other workloads.

Selecting the right block storage devices for Ceph distributed storage

The cost of a distributed nature is evident with Ceph. Ceph is a distributed storage system, which means that it replicates data across multiple nodes to achieve high availability and scalability. However, this replication also adds to the cost of Ceph.

The price of Ceph redundancy may be high, but it offers unparalleled flexibility. Ceph can be deployed on a wide variety of hardware, and it can be scaled to meet the needs of even the most demanding workloads. Ceph is also highly reliable, and it can tolerate the failure of multiple nodes without losing data.

Balancing read/write performance is crucial when designing a Ceph cluster. Ceph can be optimized for either read or write performance, but it is important to choose the right configuration for your workload. For example, if you are running a database application, you will need to optimize for write performance. If you are running a web hosting application, you will need to optimize for read performance.

Understanding the true cost of high IOPS is important when designing a Ceph cluster. High IOPS performance can be achieved by using high-performance hardware, such as SSDs and NVMe drives. However, this hardware can be expensive. It is important to consider the cost of high IOPS performance against the actual requirements of your customers’ workloads.

Here are some tips for reducing the cost of high IOPS in Ceph:

  • ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”3″>Use Ceph features such as SSD journals and cache tiering to improve IOPS performance without using expensive hardware for all of your data.
  • It is important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for reducing the cost of high IOPS in Ceph. The best approach will vary depending on your specific workload and budget constraints.

    With the recently deployed Warren release it is now also possible to allocate different tier Storage Pools for the previously available compute Host Pools. 

    Energy efficiency and sustainability is increasingly important for the years to come

    It is important to consider the energy consumption of every single device inside of your logical chassis when choosing the required stack of infrastructure devices for Warren.io based cloud cluster. This is because energy costs can be a significant expense for data centers, and reducing energy consumption can also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    Here are some tips for choosing energy-efficient infrastructure devices:

    • Look for devices with Energy Star certification. Energy Star is a government-backed program that certifies products that meet high energy efficiency standards.
    • Choose devices that are right-sized for your needs. Oversized devices will consume more energy than necessary, even when they are not fully utilized.
    • Consider using renewable energy sources to power your data center. This can help to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels and lower your carbon footprint.

    Here are some examples of energy-efficient infrastructure devices that are suitable for Warren.io cloud platform:

    • Servers:
      • Dell PowerEdge R760xd
      • HP ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus
      • Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650
    • Storage:
      • Dell PowerStore 5500
      • HPE Nimble Storage HF450
      • Pure Storage FlashArray//X
    • Networking:
      • Arista 7280E
      • Cisco Nexus 9300
      • Dell PowerSwitch 9500

    These devices are all Energy Star certified and offer a variety of features to help reduce energy consumption, such as power management modes and intelligent cooling.

    By choosing energy-efficient infrastructure devices, you can help to reduce your data center’s energy costs and environmental impact. This is important for both financial and sustainability reasons.

    In addition to the above, you can also implement the following measures to reduce the energy consumption of your Warren.io cloud platform:

    • Use thin virtualization/containerization to consolidate servers and reduce the number of physical devices that you need to operate.
    • Use energy-efficient cooling systems, such as free cooling or water-based cooling.
    • Implement data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software to monitor and optimize your energy consumption.

    By taking these steps, you can make a significant impact on the energy efficiency of your Warren.io cloud cluster. Stay tuned for more news on what Warren platform will be able to deliver in terms of optimizing your data center energy bill while making your operation more sustainable as a byproduct.

    Free consultation from Warren team on planning your hardware setup

    Get in touch to get your hardware sourcing plans right from the beginning and have a piece of mind about the projected return on investment.

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Cloud Computing Platforms: Alternative To OpenStack and Proxmox

Open source, despite popular misconception, does not imply that it is entirely free of cost. While open source software is often available at no monetary expense, it signifies a different ideology – the freedom to access, modify, and distribute the source code. 

Proxmox

Proxmox VE is a more user-friendly and accessible solution for smaller to medium-sized environments. It is easy to set up and manage, and it provides a comprehensive set of features for managing virtual machines and containers. Proxmox VE also includes its own built-in storage solution, which makes it a good choice for organizations that want to avoid the complexity of managing multiple storage backends.

  • Limited support: Proxmox VE is an open-source project, so there is no single vendor that provides support for the entire platform. This can make it difficult to get help when you need it.
  • Stability issues: Proxmox VE has been known to have stability issues, especially in large-scale deployments.
  • Security vulnerabilities: Proxmox VE has been known to have security vulnerabilities, which have been exploited by attackers.
  • Performance bottlenecks: Proxmox VE can be complex to optimize for performance. Organizations have experienced performance bottlenecks due to poorly configured components or inadequate hardware.

OpenStack

OpenStack is a more powerful and scalable solution for large-scale cloud deployments. It offers a wide range of features for managing virtual machines, containers, storage, networking, and more. OpenStack is also highly customizable, which allows organizations to tailor it to their specific needs. However, OpenStack can be complex to set up and manage, and it requires specialized expertise.

  • Complexity: OpenStack’s many components require correct configuration and management, which can be a challenge for organizations lacking expertise.
  • Cost: Large-scale OpenStack deployments can be expensive due to specialized hardware, software, and support requirements.
  • Security: OpenStack’s complexity exposes potential vulnerabilities. Proper configuration and security measures are vital for data and application protection.
  • Lack of support: As an open-source project, obtaining comprehensive support can be challenging.
  • Fragmentation: OpenStack’s size and complexity contribute to fragmentation within the community, making resource and support discovery difficult.

Here is a more detailed comparison of Proxmox VE, OpenStack and Warren platforms:

Proxmox VEOpenStackWarren
Ease of useEasierMore complexEasy to use by design
ScalabilityGoodExcellentExcellent
CustomizabilityLimitedHighCustomized selectively by Warren
FeaturesComprehensive set for managing VMs and containersWide range of features for managing VMs, containers, storage, networking, and moreWide range of IaaS end user features. Unique set of features for effortless IaaS service delivery.
SupportActive community support and paid enterprise support optionsActive community support and paid support options from vendors and partnersManaged Service, Slack based support from core developers
TCO for IaaS deliveryAffordableExpensiveAffordable


Warren

Warren.io is a turnkey cloud platform that can be used to offer a public cloud service. It includes everything from advanced IaaS features to hourly billing and day-to-day operations. This makes it a good choice for organizations that want to offer a public cloud service without having to invest in the infrastructure and expertise required to build and manage their own cloud platform.
 
Here are some of the benefits of using Warren.io to offer a public cloud service:
 
  • Turnkey solution: Warren.io is a complete solution that includes everything you need to offer a public cloud service, from the infrastructure to the billing and management system. This saves you the time and effort of having to build and manage your own cloud cloud platform and integrations like for instance billing and metering.
  • Advanced IaaS features: Warren.io includes a wide range of advanced IaaS features, such as virtual machines, containers, block and object storage, networking and load balancing. This gives your customers the flexibility to choose the resources they need and to scale their applications up or down as needed.
  • Hourly billing: Warren.io uses hourly billing, which makes it easy for your customers to pay for the resources they use. This is a more transparent and cost-effective billing model than traditional upfront pricing models of most “old school” hosting providers who charge you a month up front.
  • Day-to-day operations: Warren.io platform prioritizes of all the day-to-day operations of your cloud service, such as easy live migration of provisioned resources, monitoring performance, and resolving issues. This frees you up to focus on other aspects of your business.

Which one is right for you?

If you are looking for a user-friendly and accessible virtualization management solution for a smaller to medium-sized environment, then Proxmox VE is a good choice. If you need a more powerful and scalable solution for a large-scale cloud deployment, then OpenStack is a better option.

Here are some additional things to consider:

  • Your budget: Proxmox VE is a free and open-source solution, while OpenStack can be more expensive, depending on the support options you choose.
  • Your skill level: Proxmox VE is easier to set up and manage than OpenStack, but it still requires some technical expertise. If you need a solution that is easy to use and maintain, then Proxmox VE is a good choice.
  • Your specific needs: If you have specific requirements for virtualization, storage, networking, or other features, then you should carefully compare the features of Proxmox VE and OpenStack to see which one better meets your needs.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which virtualization management platform is right for you is to carefully consider your specific needs and requirements.

Open source, despite popular misconception, does not imply that it is entirely free of cost. While open source software is often available at no monetary expense, it signifies a different ideology – the freedom to access, modify, and distribute the source code. 

Proxmox

Proxmox VE is a more user-friendly and accessible solution for smaller to medium-sized environments. It is easy to set up and manage, and it provides a comprehensive set of features for managing virtual machines and containers. Proxmox VE also includes its own built-in storage solution, which makes it a good choice for organizations that want to avoid the complexity of managing multiple storage backends.

  • Limited support: Proxmox VE is an open-source project, so there is no single vendor that provides support for the entire platform. This can make it difficult to get help when you need it.
  • Stability issues: Proxmox VE has been known to have stability issues, especially in large-scale deployments.
  • Security vulnerabilities: Proxmox VE has been known to have security vulnerabilities, which have been exploited by attackers.
  • Performance bottlenecks: Proxmox VE can be complex to optimize for performance. Organizations have experienced performance bottlenecks due to poorly configured components or inadequate hardware.

OpenStack

OpenStack is a more powerful and scalable solution for large-scale cloud deployments. It offers a wide range of features for managing virtual machines, containers, storage, networking, and more. OpenStack is also highly customizable, which allows organizations to tailor it to their specific needs. However, OpenStack can be complex to set up and manage, and it requires specialized expertise.

  • Complexity: OpenStack’s many components require correct configuration and management, which can be a challenge for organizations lacking expertise.
  • Cost: Large-scale OpenStack deployments can be expensive due to specialized hardware, software, and support requirements.
  • Security: OpenStack’s complexity exposes potential vulnerabilities. Proper configuration and security measures are vital for data and application protection.
  • Lack of support: As an open-source project, obtaining comprehensive support can be challenging.
  • Fragmentation: OpenStack’s size and complexity contribute to fragmentation within the community, making resource and support discovery difficult.

Here is a more detailed comparison of Proxmox VE, OpenStack and Warren platforms:

Proxmox VEOpenStackWarren
Ease of useEasierMore complexEasy to use by design
ScalabilityGoodExcellentExcellent
CustomizabilityLimitedHighCustomized selectively by Warren
FeaturesComprehensive set for managing VMs and containersWide range of features for managing VMs, containers, storage, networking, and moreWide range of IaaS end user features. Unique set of features for effortless IaaS service delivery.
SupportActive community support and paid enterprise support optionsActive community support and paid support options from vendors and partnersManaged Service, Slack based support from core developers
TCO for IaaS deliveryAffordableExpensiveAffordable


Warren

Warren.io is a turnkey cloud platform that can be used to offer a public cloud service. It includes everything from advanced IaaS features to hourly billing and day-to-day operations. This makes it a good choice for organizations that want to offer a public cloud service without having to invest in the infrastructure and expertise required to build and manage their own cloud platform.
 
Here are some of the benefits of using Warren.io to offer a public cloud service:
 
  • Turnkey solution: Warren.io is a complete solution that includes everything you need to offer a public cloud service, from the infrastructure to the billing and management system. This saves you the time and effort of having to build and manage your own cloud cloud platform and integrations like for instance billing and metering.
  • Advanced IaaS features: Warren.io includes a wide range of advanced IaaS features, such as virtual machines, containers, block and object storage, networking and load balancing. This gives your customers the flexibility to choose the resources they need and to scale their applications up or down as needed.
  • Hourly billing: Warren.io uses hourly billing, which makes it easy for your customers to pay for the resources they use. This is a more transparent and cost-effective billing model than traditional upfront pricing models of most “old school” hosting providers who charge you a month up front.
  • Day-to-day operations: Warren.io platform prioritizes of all the day-to-day operations of your cloud service, such as easy live migration of provisioned resources, monitoring performance, and resolving issues. This frees you up to focus on other aspects of your business.

Which one is right for you?

If you are looking for a user-friendly and accessible virtualization management solution for a smaller to medium-sized environment, then Proxmox VE is a good choice. If you need a more powerful and scalable solution for a large-scale cloud deployment, then OpenStack is a better option.

Here are some additional things to consider:

  • Your budget: Proxmox VE is a free and open-source solution, while OpenStack can be more expensive, depending on the support options you choose.
  • Your skill level: Proxmox VE is easier to set up and manage than OpenStack, but it still requires some technical expertise. If you need a solution that is easy to use and maintain, then Proxmox VE is a good choice.
  • Your specific needs: If you have specific requirements for virtualization, storage, networking, or other features, then you should carefully compare the features of Proxmox VE and OpenStack to see which one better meets your needs.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which virtualization management platform is right for you is to carefully consider your specific needs and requirements.

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Starting out as a Cloud Service Provider (CSP)

Understanding Warren partnership

Warren’s offering consists of a software platform and accompanying managed services provided by an experienced team based in Europe, Estonia.

Introducing Warren platform

Warren is a complete self-service cloud platform for regional infrastructure service providers. Functionally rich, technologically modern and architecturally reliable turnkey cloud commercialisation solution packaged as a service and driven by your success to compete in the global landscape.

Warren services provided

The cloud hosting platform of Warren is offered as a managed service.

That means that Warren’s team deploys the Warren platform on your hardware in your data center and keeps it up and running and up to date.

Technical support team

The technical support is carried out via a support ticketing system and a dedicated Slack channel. The Slack channel is used for the day to day technical support where Warren developers are always available to support, make amends (if necessary) and offer advice however they can.

The Warren technical support team operates during working hours (GMT+3).

Around the clock tailored support is available as a part of a separate SLA contract.

Continuous platform upgrades

Warren delivers planned bi-monthly deployments of software upgrades to deliver new features and maintain the existing functionality. The upgrade deployments do not involve any downtime or maintenance window. This keeps the platform up to date and keeps the software delivery process very flexible and robust.

Feature requests

Warren and the team accept feature requests from the partnering cloud providers. Moreover, we expect our partners to provide constant feedback on both the platform and accompanying services alike.

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  • Warren is a high availability and decentralized hybrid cloud management platform based on sophisticated proprietary machine learning algorithms that makes application production much more coherent, synoptic, efficient and affordable. Warren platform is supported by European Regional Development Fund in the sum of 301 500 EUR (07.08.2017 - 31.12.2018).

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