Choosing a Pre-configured Scenario

When creating a host consolidation project, you can optionally choose to generate pre-configured consolidation scenarios to add to the project.

These scenarios are generated using data collected for the sources defined in the consolidation project at the time the project is created. If insufficient data is available when the project is created, the pre-configured scenarios will be automatically generated once the minimum amount of data has been collected.

Host Consolidation Planner ships with three out-of-the-box scenarios that represent aggressive, medium, and conservative consolidation schemes.

1. Choose whether to use a pre-configured scenario by clicking the appropriate radio button. Choosing the option displays a list of the out-of-the-box consolidation scenarios available. By default, the scenarios are designated by the method used to aggregate source target resource usage:

   • Aggressive: Aggregate data based on average daily usage per hour.

     This typically results in a high consolidation (source:destination) ratio, because more sources will “fit" into each destination. But because more sources are involved, the odds that one or more will not meet the resource requirements are higher.

   • Medium: Aggregate data based on the 80 percentile usage.

     This typically results in a source:destination ratio somewhere between Aggressive and Conservative aggregations.

   • Conservative: Aggregate data based on maximum daily usage per hour.

     This typically results in a lower source:destination ratio, because fewer sources will “fit" into each destination.

   Usage statistics are calculated based on the following criteria:

   • Resource Requirements: Source requirements, such as CPU, memory (GB) and disk capacity, that must be met by destinations.

   • Applicable Dates: The days of the week on which resource usage metrics are collected.

   • Target Server Utilization Limit: The maximum resource utilization (percentage) that can be used on destinations. The scenario method in effect determines utilization percentage.

2. Select the pre-configured scenario you want to use. You can select any or all scenarios.
3. Select whether to factor new (phantom) or existing destinations in the scenario.
4. Proceed as follows, based on project type and selections:

   • For P2V projects using new servers, specify resource requirements for CPU capacity, memory, and disk storage. Optionally, you can enter quantities of resources to hold in reserve for virtualization software. These reserves are deducted from system capacity before calculating utilization percentages.

   • For P2V projects using existing servers, there is nothing to specify. The scenario method determines resource requirements. Note that this option is available only if existing virtual servers were added as destination candidates in step three of the wizard.

   • For P2P projects using new servers and engineered systems, there is nothing to specify. The system selects an appropriate Exadata configuration based on requirements.

   • For P2P projects using new servers and generic servers, specify resource requirements for CPU capacity, memory, and disk storage. You do not, however, have the option to enter resources to hold in reserve.

   • For P2P projects using existing servers, there is nothing to specify. The scenario method determines resource requirements. Note that this option is available only if existing virtual servers were added as destination candidates in step three of the wizard.

5. Click Next to review the consolidation project.

The pre-configured scenarios will be generated when the project is created using data collected for the source servers defined in the consolidation project.

You can also opt to create your own custom scenario once the consolidation project has been completed.