Nutanix gets Microsoft blessing for unique ESRP for a real world MS Exchange ESRP solution on All Flash

I am pleased to announce that Microsoft have approved Nutanix latest ESRP (Exchange Storage Review Program) submission for a 50,000 user deployment of MS Exchange on Nutanix NX-8150 all flash platform running the next generation hypervisor, AHV!

What’s unique about this you might ask?

  1. It’s the first hyper-converged (HCI) all flash ESRP solution (to compliment Nutanix existing Hybrid ESRP solutions for 24k users on Hyper-V and 30k users on AHV)
  2. The first multiple Exchange VM per node solution!!
  3. The first ESRP to provide MS Exchange Server role requirements calculator solution design
  4. The solution was performance tested/validated with N-1 nodes to simulate performance in the event a node had failed and was not replaced
  5. The solution supports the 1GB mailboxes without any assumed data reduction from compression, deduplication or Erasure Coding (EC-X)

The last point is key. Many vendors/solutions assume high data reduction ratios when sizing which adds risk to a project as I explained in Sizing infrastructure based on vendor Data Reduction assumptions. Nutanix (and me personally) rather give customers a guaranteed business outcome and while our data reduction is very effective especially for MS Exchange data, it can and does vary between customers. An ESRP should be a guaranteed outcome, and that’s what this unique ESRP from Nutanix delivers.

A major problem with many, if not most ESRP submissions is that they are not real world solutions, just storage platforms which can deliver high enough IOPS to potentially support a real world solution.

When designing the solution I planned to put forward for ESRP, I used an actual real world design for a Nutanix customer and ensures it was sized to be 100% real world.

For example, from a compute perspective the solution was sized with no CPU overcommitment and within the recommended maximum of 24 CPUs both of which ensure optimal CPU performance.

CPU sizing also ensures Exchange VMs fit within the NUMA node of the Nutanix node which ensures optimal memory performance, which is another key area to ensure optimal Exchange performance.

In addition, The VMs are sized to be under the Microsoft recommended CPU utilization threshold for a “Worst Failure Mode” of ≤ 80 percent.

From a real world perspective, MS Exchange is dependant on Active Directory. As a result the solution is also sized to support all the required Active Directory Global Catalog cores running on the same infrastructure.

From an availability and resiliency perspective, the solution is sized for N+1 at the infrastructure layer to compliment the N+1 at the MS Exchange DAG layer. This delivers customers a solution which has protection from multiple concurrent failures which is essential for Mission Critical applications.

In the real world, things change and having a solution which scales to support more users, more messages per day and greater mailbox capacity is essential.

The Nutanix NX-8150 All Flash ESRP discusses a scalable and repeatable model where the solution can be increased in size from supporting 1 GB mailboxes to >2 GB simply by choosing (configure to order) 3.84 TB drives vs. the 1.92 TB drives tested for this solution.

Another option is when the storage capacity is reaching a high threshold such as 80%+, customers can non disruptively add storage nodes to expand capacity. This can be done without any change at the OS or MS Exchange application layer and new capacity (and performance!) is available instantly.

Did you know Nutanix allows mixing all-flash & hybrid? This means the most active data (e.g.: Most recent email) is running in an all flash configuration and older mail is automatically and transparently migrated to the lower cost hybrid nodes.

From a storage performance perspective, the solution was tested with in-line compression enabled which is Nutanix official recommendation for MS Exchange as it provides excellent data reduction with no significant overheads.

Another focus are for Nutanix in the real world is reducing CAPEX and OPEX. A great example of this is the entire solution (excluding networking) uses just 10 rack units (RUs) per datacenter. While other vendors storage ESRPs will claim lower RU requirements, they excluding the physical servers required for the solution. Nutanix is advising the requirements for the compute and storage for the solution to be totally transparent.

This means the solution does not require a large investment in your datacenter or co-location and is cost effective to power and cool making the solution environmentally friendly as well.

From a performance perspective, the Nutanix solution was tested in an N-1 configuration to show the performance which can be achieved after the failure of a node within the cluster.

Even with a failed node, the solution achieves excellent performance with average database read and log write latency in the low 1ms range sustained for the 24 stress test required for ESRP submissions.

A few performance highlights:

  1. Nutanix achieved an average of 5172 IOPS per MS Exchange Jetstress instance with just 4 threads!
  2. Database read latency avg of just 1.05ms
  3. Log write latency avg of just 1.21ms
  4. Database backup performance of 215MB/sec per database which equates to more than 1.7GBps per node!

While the achieved performance vastly exceeds the requirements for Exchange, the key factor is the reduced CPU WAIT time achieved which results in much greater CPU efficiency than a physical Exchange server with JBOD storage. Meaning a virtualised exchange server on Nutanix (even hybrid systems) is more efficient than Microsoft Preferred architecture using physical servers and JBOD storage.

You may be asking yourself, why does this matter? The answer is simple. MS Exchange becomes inefficient when scaled up beyond 24 cores so the more efficient the usage of those cores, the more users, messages per day and better user experience can be achieved without scaling up or adding more servers.

So without further delay, I have provided the direct link to the document below for you convenience.

Nutanix ESRP – NX-8150-G5 All Flash 50,000 Users

ntnxallflashesrp

My Journey to Double-VCDX

It was back in 2011 when I started my journey to VCDX which was a fantastic learning experience which has helped improve my skills as an Enterprise Architect.

After achieving VCDX-DCV in May 2012, I have continued to put the skills and experience I gained during my VCDX journey into practice, and came to the realization, of how little I actually know, and how much more there is learn.

I was looking for another certification challenge however there was no additional VCDX certification tracks at the time. Then VCDX-Cloud and VCDX-Desktop were released, I figured I should attempt VCDX-Cloud since my VCDX-DCV submission was actually based on a vCloud design.

At the time I didn’t have my VCAPs for Cloud, so as per my VCAP-CID Exam Experience and VCAP-CIA Exam Experience posts explain, I formed a study group and sat and passed both exams over a period of a few months.

Next came the VCDX application phase, I prepared my design in a similar fashion to my original application which basically meant reviewing the VCDX-Cloud Blueprint and ensuring all sections have been covered.

I sad part about submitting a second VCDX is that there is no requirement to redefend in person. As a result I suspect the impression is that achieving a second VCDX is easier. While I think this is somewhat true as the defence is no walk in the park, the VCDX submission still must be of an expert standard.

I suspect for first time VCDX applicants, the candidate may be given the benefit of the doubt if the documentation is not clear, has mistakes or contradicts itself in some areas as these points can be clarified or tested by the panellists during the design defence.

In the case of subsequent applications,  I suspect that Double-X candidates may not get the benefit of the doubt, as these points cannot be clarified. As a result, It could be argued the quality of the documentation needs to be of a higher standard so that everything in the design is clear and does not require clarification.

My tips for Double-X Candidates:

In addition to the tips in my original VCDX Journey Post:

  1. Ensure your documentation is of a level which could be handed to a competent engineer and implemented with minimal or no assistance.
  2. Ensure you have covered all items in the blueprint to a standard which is higher than your previous successful VCDX submission
  3. Make your design decisions clear and concise and ensure you have cross referenced relevant sections back to detailed customer requirements.
  4. Treat your Double-VCDX submission equally if not more seriously than your first applications. Ensure you dot all your “I”s and cross your “T”s.

I was lucky enough to have existing Double-VCDX Magnus Andersson (@magander3) and Nutanix colleague review my submission and give some excellent advice. So a big thanks Magnus!

What next?

Well just like when I completed my first VCDX, I was already looking for another challenge. Luckily I have already found the next certification and am well on the way to submitting my application for the Nutanix Platform Expert (NPX).

The VCDX-DCV and VCDX-Cloud have both been awesome learning experiences and I think both have proven to be great preparation for my NPX attempt, so stay tuned and with a bit of luck, you’ll be reading my NPX Journey in the not to distant future.

The new standard in Enterprise Architecture certifications

I am very proud to have been selected to be part of a team of absolute superstars who in the last few months have developed what I believe will be the new standard in Enterprise Architecture certifications, the Nutanix Platform Expert (NPX).

The NPX was developed under the guidance of Lisa O’Leary, a PhD psychometrician and recognized authority in the development of expert-level panel-based assessments for the IT industry. This was a real eye opener for me into how to create a scoring rubric and how to ensure different examiners score as evenly as possible to ensure consistent results.

The NPX certification (along with Nutanix nu.School Education) is designed to produce and certify the best of the best enterprise architects with the main goal of ensuring customers get the best architects to design and deliver solutions which solve real world business problems while maximizing value and reducing ongoing costs.

During the development of NPX, myself and other members of the group basically decided that none of us should be able achieve NPX without each of us putting in significant time and effort to improve our skills, especially as it is required to demonstrate expertise both architecturally and hands on in multiple hypervisors and vendor software stacks. Considering the talent in the group, this was a big call!

I personally am enjoying the challenge of preparing my submission for the NPX based on a large scale project I am working on at the moment, and look forward to submitting my application and hopefully being invited to the Nutanix Design Review (NDR) to defend. I can already tell you this is more comprehensive than any single design I have done to date, and it will be a blast to defend.

So what will being an NPX mean?

Certified graduates of the NPX Program will have a very unique set of skills, including the demonstrated ability to deliver enterprise-class Web-scale solutions using multiple hypervisors and vendor software stacks on the Nutanix platform (VMware® vSphere®, Microsoft® Hyper-V®, and KVM).

This hypervisor agnostic certification for Enterprise Architects is a first in the industry; our groundbreaking approach allows an NPX the freedom to design cutting-edge Web-scale solutions for customers based solely on their business needs.

The depth and breadth of the solution design and delivery skills validated through our peer-vetted program make NPX the new standard for excellence. In accordance with program goals every NPX will be a superb technologist, a visionary evangelist for Web-scale, and a true Enterprise Architect – capable of designing and delivering a wide range of cutting-edge solutions; custom built to support the business goals of the Global 2000 and government agencies in every region of the world.

So what’s required to achieve NPX?

The first prerequisite is the Nutanix Platform Professional (NPP) certification. The NPP is really the entry level certification showing core Nutanix knowledge.

As per the NPX Application, the NPX certification is a two-stage process;

Stage 1 being a review of a candidate’s NPX Program Application.

If a candidate’s application is accepted they will be invited to participate in the NPX Design Review (NDR).

Now at this stage you’re probably saying, this doesn’t seem that hard, right?

Well, here is an idea of the required documentation:

  • A current state and operational readiness assessment
  • A Web-scale migration and transition plan
  • Documentation of specific business requirements driving the solution design
  • Documentation of assumptions that impacted the solution design
  • Documentation of design constraints that impacted the design and delivery of the solution
  • Documentation describing risks identified in the design and delivery of the solution and how those risks
  • A solution architecture including a conceptual/logical and physical design with appropriate diagrams and descriptions all functional components of the solution
  • Documentation of operational procedures and verification

The documentation set goes well beyond any certification I am aware of, but more importantly demonstrates a candidates ability to produce documentation which ensures the solution can be implemented , validated and operated in the event the lead architect is unavailable. This is a very high standard of documentation which I’ve rarely seen in my career.

In addition, 3 Professional references will also be required to validate the candidates experience.

Stage 2 being the NDR is modeled after an academic viva voce defense (live, oral exam) and requires candidates to present their solution to, and answer questions posed to them by NPX-Certified Examiners (NCE). The NDR also includes a series of hands-on exercises, which must be completed by the candidate. Successful completion of both stages is required to earn the NPX credential.

The NPX has a strict policy regarding fictitious solution designs.

NPX candidates may not submit wholly fictitious designs.

I pushed for this during the development of the certification as in my opinion, an enterprise architect should have a portfolio of work to choose from which negates the requirements to create a fictitious design.

In saying that, Partially fictitious designs are permitted when an existing design requires additions or enhancements in order to demonstrate competence in required knowledge areas (e.g., a backup or DR solution may be added if this component was outside the scope of the original design).

Adapting an existing 3-tier solution design to the Nutanix platform is also permitted. In either case the submitted design should contain a majority of solution components architected to support applications with service level agreements specified by actual business stakeholders.

The NDR itself requires the completion of an exercise involving a live Nutanix environment and completion of a design scenario. Both exercises will require demonstration of NPX-level solution design and delivery skills with a second solution stack/hypervisor.

An NPX candidate is permitted to choose the hypervisor you will be tested on during your NDR (it must be different from the hypervisor utilized in the submitted solution design). The hypervisor selected will be used for the Hands-on and Design scenarios during the NDR.

The Hypervisor choices are:

  • VMware® vSphere®
  • Microsoft® Hyper-V®
  • KVM

What next?

I would encourage all enterprise architects to stay tuned for the release of more NPX details via the Nutanix nu.School website and take on the challenge of NPX and become a better architect in the process.

The Nutanix Platform Expert Official Certification Guide is currently being written and should be released at Nutanix .NEXT this coming June.

Summary:

I really enjoyed working with such a talented group of people in developing NPX, and I look forward to being a part of the program firstly as a candidate and as a certified examiner in the future to ensure the quality of Enterprise Architects in the industry only gets better!

Here is a group shot of on the final day of NPX development in San Jose.

Names (Left to right): Derek Seaman , Steven Poitras, Jon Kohler, Ray Hassan, Bas Raayman, Raymon Epping, Josh Odgers, Michael Webster, Artur Krzywdzinski, Samir Roshan, Lane Laverett, Mark Brunstad and Richard Arsenian.

Absent for Photo: Magnus Andersson , Lisa O’Leary, PhD Psychometrician.

NPXDevTeam