more about IT transformation

Performance testing, and what wie can learn from it.

A performance test provides a better overview of your existing IT infrastructure. You are suddenly able to see clearly exactly where the bottlenecks are in your system. Are latency times too high or is it actually the write speeds? Is it the memory that's limiting performance or is it the CPU? Or is there still RAM potential?

A performance test is quite complex making it all the more important not to interpret the results one-dimensionally, but in the context of other important factors. This results in different courses of action, one of which is an optimal mix of different infrastructure solutions individually tailored to the needs of our customers.

Infrastructure modules in detail.

Module 1

VxRail, VxRack, XC (Nutanix), CI/HCl, All Flash

• Easy to manage
• Reduced complexity
• Cloud-ready
• High degree of automation
• Simple scaling via building blocks

Module 2

Data Domain

• Simplified data security, backup handling and data storage
• High security standards
• Comprehensive disaster prevention
• By isolating the data, attacks after backup are impossible
• Protected backups an integral part of the business process

Module 3

Isilon

• Dynamic system grows according to your needs
• Native Hadoop for Data Lake as an analytics basis
• Increased file data efficiency thanks to an innovative file system
• Optimal system work load due to data consolidation

Module 4

Unity/SC
(Modern Storage Platform)

• Simplified storage management
• Excellent system stability
• Flash performance
• Reliable base technology
• Granular scaling possibilities
• Perfect for multiple workloads

We take a holistic approach to assessment and look at the results of the test in their entirety while also taking external factors into account: When was the existing hardware purchased and what is its depreciation period? What challenges does the customer face? How can precise modernisation help to achieve their goals?

Our analysis approach encompasses all areas of the data centre resulting in valuable subprojects for you. In order to give you an impression of how variable results and interpretation possibilities can be, we have outlined various scenarios below.

Use cases from performance measurement:

1. Too high latency rates.

Considerations:

• Too high VDI workload
• Unbalanced employee access rates
• poor performance

Specific Dell EMC solution:

All Flash, possibly HCI (VxRail) or XtremIO

Module 1

Advantages:

• Enabling simultaneous access through new memory and CPU technology
• Improved integration into virtualisation environments
• Faster application response times

2. Poor storage performance (IOPS).

Considerations:

• How can I adapt/renew my existing data centre-infrastructure to meet my new requirements?

Specific solution Dell EMC:

Unity, SC in All Flash

MODULE 4

Advantages:

• Accelerations of common applications (Oracle/SAP/SQL etc.)
• Improved efficiency: higher capacity/performance with less space required, and sustained data growth cost savings through simplified management

Considerations:

• In timeframe X, the infrastructure becomes slow, what could be the reason? Has the backup process possibly not completed? Backup timeframe too small, backup volume therefore too large

Specific solution Dell EMC:

Datadomain

MODULE 2

Advantages:

• More efficient use of the existing backup window, backup data volume that needs to be secured can be distributed more effectively
• More efficient use or adaptation of the existing backup window
• More effective distribution of the backup data volume to be secured
• Use of deduplication and boosts

3. Increasing complexity in deployment and management.

Considerations:

• Deployment of the required infrastructure in a decentralised IT customer environment consumes time and resources
• Increased management costs

Specific solution Dell EMC:

HCI

Module 1

Advantages:

• Absolute flexibility by deploying various nodes
• Possibility of node by node extension
• Pay-as-you-grow principle
• Save time and resources due to high level of automation

4. Average write speeds per day.

Considerations:

• Traditional capacities: Capacity gap between the customer's data growth plans and the existing volume for sizing the infrastructure solution

Specific Dell EMC solution:

Affects all modules and solutions

MODULES: All

Advantages:

• Determining exact capacity and performances
• Precise determination of the required sizing in terms of data growth and backup

Considerations:

• Capacity on demand: too high reserve capacities, backup log files and overcapacities

Specific solution Dell EMC:

All modules: Storage-on-Demand with financing concepts (pay-as-you-go)

MODULE 4

Advantages:

• Pay-as-you-grow-principle: Provision of the required capacity with on demand option for additional purchase
• High degree of flexibility for the customer

5. CPU performance and RAM.

Considerations:

• Full utilisation of the virtualisation infrastructure and storage controller

Specific Dell EMC solution:

Dell EMC Power Edge Unity/SC or Data Domain

MODULES 1 & 4

Advantages:

• Correct sizing of the required hosts through exact performance data from performance measurement 
• Optimal use of the available budget
• Latest architecture and simple management with best scaling possibilities

6. Large growth/volume of unstructured data.

Considerations:

• Unstructured amounts of data caused by large file data (e.g. video and image files)
• Missing measureability in the file area
• Use of expensive block memory for file data

Specific Dell EMC solution:

Isilon

MODULE 3

Advantages:

• Growth/scale out in pay-as-grow principle
• Performance increases in line with capacity
• Unlimited storage options with a single file system
• Multi-protocol capability