Advisory Overview: 1. Approved Virtualization Products

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1 Date: March 18, 2008 Advisory #: GA Subject: Approval for Server Virtualization through VMware Affected Versions: All CAD, Mobile and Browser Product Versions 4.3 and Newer Advisory Overview: Effective immediately, TriTech is approving the use of selected server virtualization products for virtualizing specific business and interfaces servers utilized with the VisiCAD and VisiNet product suite. The approval for virtualization is for the 4.3 product suite and newer. 1. Approved Virtualization Products TriTech is approving the use of VMware ESX version with the VisiCAD suite in the production environment. TriTech s testing utilized the Starter edition of VMware ESX; however the approval is extended to include the Standard and Enterprise versions. This approval allows this software to be an accepted platform for VisiCAD-VisiNet systems. TriTech did not test VMware VirtualCenter and its functions for VMware VMotion, VMware Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS), and VMware HA. Clients may elect to utilize these tools, but it will be the client s responsibility to support and administer them. The VMware GSX version is also approved for test/training systems. TriTech is testing the deployment of a virtualized CAD in a Box (CIB) for test/training systems. The CIB includes a virtualized CAD database server, web server and IPC/Messaging server (VisiCAD Communications Service/VisiCAD Notification Service server for C4.4). The CIB can be deployed on VMware ESX or the free GSX version. We are deploying these on a limited test basis at selected client sites to assess the procedures and cost of deployment and tracking of licenses. TriTech will separately announce information regarding costs for deploying virtualized CIBs for existing clients. We plan to deploy all future installations of test/training systems in a virtualized environment. TriTech urges caution regarding the use of GSX in a production environment. GSX runs on top of the Windows operating system on the host computer and the virtualized servers run an additional copy of Windows for each virtual server. This creates an additional workload when using GSX (ESX does not utilize this architecture). Therefore a server being successfully used as a VisiCAD-VisiNet business server may not have sufficient processor or RAM to provide the same performance with GSX. Clients electing to deploy GSX in production should carefully assess server capacity and should perform a limited rollout of GSX with a preplanned roll-back strategy. With proper planning and server capacity, the GSX version can be used effectively in a production environment. Clients should ensure that their personnel have been trained in the installation and deployment of VMware prior to attempting a deployment with a mission critical system. As 2008 TriTech Software Systems Page 1 of 6

2 an approved third party product, software support for problems with VMware will be through VMware support services. When purchasing VMware software, please purchase software support and services for applicable VMware products. TriTech did not test Microsoft Virtual Server or Virtual PC. Client requests for testing were consistently for VMware so that is where TriTech has focused its analysis. Clients that are comfortable with these Microsoft tools can deploy them; however they would be responsible for any issues arising from doing so. 2. Server Components Approved for Virtualization TriTech successfully tested and is therefore approving the following server components for virtualization utilizing VMware ESX: a. IPC Server (Command 4.3) b. VisiCAD Communications Service and VisiCAD Notification Service (Command 4.4) c. Messaging Service and SQL IPC Connection (Command 4.3 and 4.4) d. Web Services Server including Recall, Unit Swap, and Automatic Dispatch e. Web Server including Browser and CADLink f. Interface Servers operating NCIC State Message Server (Proxy), Records Check Server, ANI/ALI (911), Paging, Station Printing, Station Alerting, CAD to RMS and/or CAD to CAD interfaces 1 g. Mobile Server h. Mobile Interface i. Test/Training Server Clients should carefully plan the deployment of virtualized server components as each virtual server should be configured to meet the minimum processor, memory, disk and configuration requirements recommended for that server component as documented by TriTech. These servers are illustrated in the following diagram: 1 There is no current reason to project problems with other custom interfaces, however only these interfaces were QA tested. Interfaces that are not listed should be carefully monitored if converted to a virtualized server TriTech Software Systems Page 2 of 6

3 Diagram assumes the use of VisiCAD Command 4.4 Software Connection Software Connection VisiCAD Command Database Server (Windows 2003 Server) (SQL Server 2005) Hot Standby VisiCAD Command Database Server (Windows 2003 Server) VisiNet Web Services Server Recall, Browser (Intranet) Driving Directions (Windows 2003 Web Edition) (ESRI - components) VisiCAD Communications Service & VisiCAD Notification Service (IPC & Messaging with C4.3) Customer provided systems to be interfaced to VisiCAD system including 911 Controllers, ProQA Faircomm Servers, RMS Servers, and the like. Approved for Virtualization with VMware Site (Requires Supporting Servers and Workstations) VisiNet Mobile Device (Win XP Pro or Win 2000 Pro) (ESRI 1 mapobjects) Browser Users Internet VisiCAD Test/Training Server (SQL Server 2005) (Plan for business servers) VisiCAD Archiving & Reporting Server + Symantec BackupExec (SQL Server 2005) VisiCAD Interface Servers Tape Device WAN; IP enabled radio; or commercial wireless Software Connection Digi Port Server (4-Port) Firewall VisiNet Mobile Server (SQL Server 2005 Express) VisiNet IP (optional for radio systems) DMZ VisiNet NCIC State Message Switch Server (Proxy) Network Switch ` Citrix Server (optional) (Citrix Presentation Server) Unit Swap (optional)/ Auto Dispatch (optional) (ESRI components) ` Zetron TDD Network Switches GISLink Workstation Dispatch/Call-Taker (Windows XP Professional) Workstations (ESRI components) (Windows XP Professional) (ESRI components for GEO, Quickest Path or PnP) Firewall ` Template Version 2.1 VisiNet Mobile Device (Win XP Pro or Win 2000 Pro) (ESRI 1 mapobjects) VisiCAD Archiving & VisiNet Web Server Reporting Server Browser & CAD Link (Extranet) (SQL Server 2005) (Windows 2003 Web Edition) Active Directory Server/ Domain Controller (DC #1) Active Directory (Windows 2003) Active Directory Server/ Domain Controller (DC #2) Active Directory (Windows 2003) 3. Load Testing for Virtualization TriTech load tested a system with VisiCAD Command 4.4, VisiNet Browser 4.4 and Mobile 4.4 under the following conditions. a. Virtualized servers were loaded onto a single host server with two (2) dual-core processors; eight (8) GB of RAM and the VMware ESX Starter edition. The server was loaded with the following virtual servers: i. V-Server 1 - VisiCAD Communications Service, VisiCAD Notification Service, Messaging Service and SQL IPC Connection ii. V-Server 2 - Web Services Server including Recall, Unit Swap, and Automatic Dispatch iii. V-Server 3 - Web Server including Browser and CADLink iv. V-Server 4 - Interface Server including NCIC State Message Server (Proxy), Records Server, ANI/ALI (911), Paging, Station Printing and Station Alerting 2008 TriTech Software Systems Page 3 of 6

4 v. V-Server 5 - Mobile Server including Mobile Server and Mobile Interface vi. V-Server 6 - Interface Server including CAD to RMS, CAD to CAD The TriTech QA VisiCAD system was placed under a peak load of 1,400 new incidents an hour with a 50% cancellation rate. The system included the noted interfaces and had a simulated messaging (5,000 an hour) and AVL (50,000 an hour) load. Each virtual server was evaluated for processor and memory use and was determined to be operating within normal parameters. This test formed the basis of the approval for these selected servers (along with IPC Server). 4. Microsoft Licensing Clients should carefully review their Microsoft licensing provisions regarding Microsoft Windows operating system licenses utilized in a virtualized environment. While Microsoft does allow for special licensing provisions in a virtualized environment, it is not a global provision and may require special licensing. Microsoft has issued a briefing document regarding virtualization titled Microsoft Volume License Licensing Microsoft Server Products with Microsoft Virtual Server and Other Virtual Machine Technologies (October 2006). This document is available via the following link: Licensing Microsoft Windows Server and Other Microsoft Server Software for Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 or Other Virtual Machine Environment 5. Virtualizing an Existing Server VMware includes tools that allow the user to convert an existing server to a virtual server. It is important to note that this may require manual steps to change the server name, IP address and MAC address to avoid conflicts with the existing server (even if it is running on the existing server as the host server). These changes can negatively impact the operation of your VisiCAD-VisiNet system as server names and IP address may be stored in system settings so that the system knows how to contact the applicable server. Information on the type of settings that may require modification is reviewed in our System Administration training course and is consistent with the changes that need to occur when managing training systems. Clients should be especially cautious when attempting to virtualize an existing server such as the IPC Server or the VisiCAD Communications Service. Note: When virtualizing interface servers (or rehosting interface servers to new hardware), remember to account for connectivity to external systems including direct serial connections, serial connections via port server and inbound or bidirectional tcp/ip interfaces that are expecting to communicate with a specific computer name or ip address TriTech Software Systems Page 4 of 6

5 Note: When virtualizing web servers (or rehosting web servers to new hardware), remember to account for connectivity from external computers or devices including Browser users, PDA CADLink users, and Mobile Server connectivity for driving directions. Note: When virtualizing Mobile servers (or rehosting Mobile servers to new hardware), remember to account for settings in Mobile Clients that are configured for a specific ip address or server name. SQL Server can experience additional challenges when virtualizing an existing server as the database and selected internal settings are expecting the server name to be the same as when SQL Server was originally installed. For these reasons, TriTech has not approved the virtualization of server systems that utilize SQL Server with the exception of VisiCAD Test/Training systems and VisiNet Mobile Servers 2.TriTech has developed manual procedures to manage this for the virtualized test/training system CAD in a Box. Clients should use caution if they are planning to independently virtualize a server operating SQL Server. 6. Future TriTech Planning TriTech s next two projects regarding virtualization will focus upon 1) procedures for deploying virtualized CAD in a Box test/training systems to existing clients; and 2) developing procedures and pricing for providing services to deploy and rehost client systems utilizing VMware. We will announce more information on these projects in the next few months. Recommended Actions: 1. Evaluate the capabilities of VMware with your information systems team and develop a plan for deployment. 2. If you elect to deploy virtualized servers, have staff complete training on VMware. 3. Evaluate VMware on your test/training system with a free copy of VMware GSX. 4. Virtualize a single non-mission critical production server and gain experience with administration of a virtualized system. Do not virtualize a mission critical server as your initial effort. Select a system that can safely have some downtime. 5. Limit interface server virtualization to the standard interfaces that were tested by TriTech. 6. Do not attempt to consolidate systems initially ensure that systems operate appropriately in a virtualized environment before consolidating multiple virtual servers onto a single server. 2 Note: Older deployments of Proxy included a SQL Server database on the same server. Deployments of Proxy 4.3 and newer utilize a Proxy database on the CAD Database server and SQL Server is not running on the Proxy server. Virtualization testing was limited to the Proxy 4.3 non-sql Server deployment TriTech Software Systems Page 5 of 6

6 7. Plan for a broader deployment when you are ready. 8. Once you have created a virtual server, make appropriate back-ups of the virtual server. Consider having a back-up copy of a critical virtual server on a second host server to provide for a cold standby copy in case of a hardware failure of the primary server. Additional Resources: If you have any questions regarding the information in this advisory, please contact TriTech Technical Services at VisiCAD, to support@tritech.com, or visit TriTech Software Systems Page 6 of 6