The following scenario combines network virtualization features with Oracle VM Server for SPARC to create a multilevel virtual network that parallels a cloud environment. This deployment method provides highly efficient, enterprise-class virtualization capabilities for Oracle's SPARC T-Series servers and supported M-Series servers.
This scenario assumes that you are running an Oracle VM Server for SPARC version that supports Oracle Solaris 11.2. For more information about Oracle VM Server for SPARC, refer to the documentation library at http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/documentation/vm-sparc-194287.html.
At a high level, the objective of this scenario is to carve up a SPARC based system into multiple Oracle Solaris VM Server guest domains, where each domain corresponds to a node within a cloud environment. You can deploy per-tenant workloads as zones within these Oracle VM Server for SPARC guest domains.
Configuring network virtualization features in this way enables you to build an entire cloud within a single SPARC based system. Or, you can use this type of configuration to integrate a SPARC based system into a larger cloud environment, where the system appears as a set of nodes within that environment.
Combining network virtualization features with Oracle VM Server for SPARC parallels a traditional cloud in the following ways:
Compute nodes are implemented as Oracle VM Server for SPARC guest domains.
Compute nodes communicate with each other through the virtual network infrastructure that is provided by Oracle VM Server for SPARC and Oracle Solaris 11 running on the service domain.
The vnet driver instances that are within each guest domain correspond to a physical NIC within a physical compute node.
The benefits of this type of configuration include the following:
Enables more flexibility by enabling you to run smaller domains that you can upgrade individually without affecting other workloads that are running on the system.
Takes advantage of SPARC Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS) features.
Uses a faster virtual network for communication between nodes instead of relying on a physical infrastructure.