Infrastructure & production
Patrice’s career at Reymann · 2015–2017
The context
The 2015 discussions focus on an architecture combining network cores, ESX hosts, Fiber Channel storage and 10 Gb/s links. In 2017, discussions include vCenter and cross-site replication.
Understand the dependencies between network, storage and virtualization; coordinate discussions with stakeholders and specify operating conditions.
The experience also concerns diagnosis: the 2017 exchanges identified in particular a difficulty in time synchronization between sites. They do not allow us to assert that all replication was then operational.
What we remember
Can distinguish a configured service from a actually verified service. It is a useful discipline for any business infrastructure.
Understand and prepare
In Patrice's career at Reymann, the work from 2015 to 2017 combines production architecture and diagnosis. They show why understanding dependencies must accompany every infrastructure development.
Fiber Channel cores, backhauls, ESX hosts, and storage are all related. A virtual machine relies on this set to provide its service. A visible difficulty in an application may therefore call for a reading of the network, storage and systems. This historical architecture highlights the interest in representing connections and dependencies to coordinate stakeholders. The mapping then makes it possible to discuss the necessary changes and controls.
vCenter discussions address cross-site replication and difficulty with time synchronization. This observation gives an example of a dependency to be checked during diagnosis: configured components must also be able to communicate and operate under consistent conditions. She recalls that a replication project includes several stages of preparation and testing. In a new project, scenario verification and validation conditions must be part of the scope discussed with the company.
The mapping of services, access, backups and verification criteria must be defined with the specialists concerned. Cloudlab now carries the data center component; Agedis supports agreed system administration. For a business application, its publisher or Dtouch can complete the verification. The challenge is to maintain a clear difference between an applied parameter, a successful technical inspection and a use actually validated by the company.
Complementary expertise, the same high standards.