Bootstrapping DCs at the Edge and Enterprise (CIDC) - Oct 2019

Introduction to RackN Digital Rebar Platform discussing how we are changing the operational pattern of data centers using Continuous Integration and IaC to deliver multi-site distributed management.

Video giving this presentation: https://youtu.be/wHtTycR-rPY
Demo Video: https://youtu.be/4yINEqYTiWg
Setup for Demo Video https://youtu.be/7gYeyEAASrk

Transcript

1. Bootstrapping Data Centers
   at the Edge and Enterprise
   RackN Digital Rebar Platform v4
   

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2. RackN
   Physical Layer Automation
   “The Forgotten Layer”
   Data centers have become too
   fragile and hard to manage.
   

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3. RackN
   Stop fixing in silos with duct tape!
   We redesigned DC Ops to be
   Integrated, fast, and flexible.
   Physical Layer Automation
   Redesigned DC Ops
   from the Bare Metal up
   

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4. RackN
   Uniquely Integrated
   Vendor Neutral
   Multi-Site Automation
   RackN is physical layer automation
   for legacy & new multi-vendor
   hardware.
   We control from zero to full cluster
   plus Day 2 compliance & upgrades.
   This is proven software running
   customers data centers.
   

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5. Edge
   Initially, Enterprise and Edge appear different
   But the storage, compute and networking components for each are the same
   Enterprise
   Many Sites
   Few Servers
   Few Sites
   Many Servers
   Data
   Center
   Edge
   Edge
   Data
   Center
   Edge
   Edge
   Edge
   Edge
   Edge
   Edge
   

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6. Edge
   Edge
   Data
   Center
   Edge
   Edge
   Data
   Center
   Edge
   Edge
   Edge
   Edge Edge
   Edge
   In practice, Enterprise and Edge have same requirements
   But, Critical Features Overlap In Practice
   Security
   Zero Touch
   Application Mix
   Commodity H/W
   Enterprise = Edge
   

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7. Shared Infrastructure and Dedicated Infrastructure
   Distributed Multi-Infrastructure mixes shared, dedicated, and edge locations
   Shared
   Infrastructure Dedicated
   Infrastructure
   Dedicated
   Infrastructure
   Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site
   

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8. RackN Opportunity Is Enormous
   Universal Control Plane for Operator Managed Infrastructure
   Shared
   Infrastructure Dedicated
   Infrastructure
   Dedicated
   Infrastructure
   Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site
   

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9. RackN is NOT Targeting Hybrid or Multi-Cloud
   Cloud-like Multi-Site Management, but NOT Multi-Cloud Management
   Shared
   Infrastructure Dedicated
   Infrastructure
   Dedicated
   Infrastructure
   Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site Edge
   Site
   Edge
   Site
   

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10. And Enabling Hybrid Tooling
    For example, RackN allows Terraform to treat bare metal like a cloud
    Shared
    Infrastructure Dedicated
    Infrastructure
    Dedicated
    Infrastructure
    Edge
    Site
    Edge
    Site
    Edge
    Site
    Edge
    Site Edge
    Site
    Edge
    Site
    

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11. RackN is Customer Managed (No SaaS or MSP)
    Runs behind their firewall without any RackN supervision or connection.
    Dedicated
    Infrastructure
    Dedicated
    Infrastructure
    Edge
    Site
    Edge
    Site
    Edge
    Site
    Edge
    Site Edge
    Site
    Edge
    Site
    

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12. RackN
    Business Outcome:
    Regain IT Control
    Critical Needs
    1. Compliance & Visibility
    2. Multi-Vendor
    3. Agile Security
    4. Zero Touch Automation
    5. Integration to SoR
    

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13. Bare Metal
    Inventory
    Firmware
    O/S & Net
    Application
    Integrate
    System
    Cluster
    Cluster
    Build
    Cluster
    Discover Deploy
    Conform Configure Orchestrate
    Zero to Cluster in Minutes: any vendor hardware
    Time
    Zero
    Bare Metal
    Discover
    5 mins
    

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14. Bare Metal
    Inventory
    Firmware
    O/S & Net
    Application
    Integrate
    System
    Cluster
    Cluster
    Build
    Cluster
    Discover Deploy
    Zero to Cluster in Minutes: verified and updated
    Verify Configure Orchestrate
    Bare Metal
    Inventory
    Firmware
    Discover Conform
    Time
    Zero 10 mins
    

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15. Bare Metal
    Inventory
    Firmware
    O/S & Net
    Application
    Integrate
    System
    Cluster
    Cluster
    Build
    Cluster
    Discover Deploy
    Verify Configure Orchestrate
    Zero to Cluster in Minutes: Windows, Linux, ESXi ...
    Bare Metal
    Inventory
    Firmware
    O/S & Net
    Application
    Discover Deploy
    Conform
    Time
    Zero 15 mins
    

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16. Bare Metal
    Inventory
    Firmware
    O/S & Net
    Application
    Integrate
    System
    Cluster
    Cluster
    Build
    Cluster
    Discover Deploy
    Verify Configure Orchestrate
    Zero to Cluster in Minutes: integrated to SoR
    Bare Metal
    Inventory
    Firmware
    O/S & Net
    Application
    Integrate
    System
    Discover Deploy
    Conform Configure
    Time
    Zero 20 mins
    

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17. Bare Metal
    Inventory
    Firmware
    O/S & Net
    Application
    Integrate
    System
    Cluster
    Cluster
    Build
    Cluster
    Discover Deploy
    Verify Configure Orchestrate
    Zero to Cluster in Minutes: fully operational
    Bare Metal
    Inventory
    Firmware
    O/S & Net
    Application
    Integrate
    System
    Cluster
    Cluster
    Build
    Cluster
    Discover Deploy
    Conform Configure Orchestrate
    Time
    Zero 30 mins
    

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18. Bare Metal
    Inventory
    Firmware
    O/S & Net
    Application
    Integrate
    System
    Cluster
    Cluster
    Build
    Cluster
    Discover Deploy
    Verify Configure Orchestrate
    Time to Value in Minutes instead of Weeks
    Bare Metal
    Inventory
    Firmware
    O/S & Net
    Application
    Integrate
    System
    Cluster
    Cluster
    Build
    Cluster
    Discover Deploy
    Conform Configure Orchestrate
    RackN Platform: End-to-End Automation
    Time
    Zero
    

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19. Inventory
    Firmware
    O/S & Net
    Application
    Integrate
    System
    Cluster
    Cluster
    Bare Metal
    Cluster
    Cluster
    Build
    Cluster
    Customer Study: Zero Touch ESXi Deployment
    Unconfigured HPE, Dell and Lenovo servers
    Cluster
    Cluster
    vCenter
    Cluster
    150
    Machines
    Time
    Zero 60 mins
    No Manual Steps
    Rack
    Delivered
    

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20. “CIDC”
    CIDC captures both the full
    integration and Day 2 ops that we
    believe is essential.
    Related terms focus too narrowly:
    ● SDx - APIs for hardware
    ● IaC - Configuration focus
    ● SDDC - VM centered
    ● HCI - Storage appliances
    ● HDIM* - Single pane of glass
    * Hybrid Digital Infrastructure Management (Gartner 2019)
    Introducing the
    Continuously Integrated
    Data Center
    

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21. RackN
    Technical Overview
    Our Unique Modular Platform
    For Multi-Vendor Infrastructure
    Enables API-driven automation
    Scaling from Edge to Enterprise
    

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22. Continuously Integrated Data Center Components
    CI/CD Pipeline
    IaC
    Artifact
    Intent
    Platform
    Infrastructure
    

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23. RackN Bootstraps the Data Center
    CI/CD Pipeline
    IaC
    Artifact
    Intent
    Platform
    Infrastructure
    DRP
    

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24. And RackN Enables Continuous Integration
    CI/CD Pipeline
    IaC
    Artifact
    Intent
    Platform
    Infrastructure
    Ongoing Integration
    DRP
    

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25. Key Attributes
    1. Single, Tiny Golang binary
    2. REST API & WSS Events
    3. “Air gap” capable
    4. Field Extensible
    5. Integrated IaC
    RackN
    Technical Overview
    Digital Rebar Platform
    

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26. Orchestration of Complex Provisioning APIs
    DHCP
    Netboot (PXE, iPXE, …)
    Agent (Linux, Win, ESX, … )
    Network Switch / ToR
    REST API & UX
    DRP
    OOB / BMC (iLo, DRAC, Redfish, ...)
    

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27. Orchestration of Many Different APIs
    DHCP
    Netboot (PXE, iPXE, …)
    Agent (Linux, Win, ESX, … )
    Network Switch / ToR
    REST API & UX
    Systems of Record
    Configuration Mgmt DB
    Monitoring Systems
    DRP
    OOB / BMC (iLo, DRAC, Redfish, ...)
    CI/CD Pipeline
    

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28. Integrated Workflow Is Critical
    DHCP
    Netboot (PXE, iPXE, …)
    Agent (Linux, Win, ESX, … )
    Network Switch / ToR
    REST API & UX
    Systems of Record
    Configuration Mgmt DB
    Monitoring Systems
    DRP
    OOB / BMC (iLo, DRAC, Redfish, ...)
    CI/CD Pipeline
    

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29. Key Attributes
    1. Source Code Managed
    2. Modular Components
    3. Dependency Graphs
    4. IaC Catalog
    5. Open, Closed & Customer
    RackN
    Technical Overview
    Part 1 of 2
    CIDC in Practice
    

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30. CIDC Enables Shared Operational Practices
    IaC
    DRP
    Master
    Catalog
    IaC
    IaC
    

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31. RackN Includes Deep Integration Catalog
    IaC
    DRP
    Hardware
    Master
    Catalog
    IaC
    IaC
    O/S
    Platform
    Zero
    Touch
    Clusters
    

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32. Automatically Repurpose Infrastructure
    IaC
    DRP
    Hardware
    Master
    Catalog
    IaC
    IaC
    O/S
    Platform
    Fully
    Integrated
    Clusters
    Rebuilds In Minutes
    Zero Touch
    

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33. Workflows Must Include All Integrations
    IaC
    DRP
    Hardware
    IaC
    IaC
    O/S
    Platform
    Fully
    Integrated
    Clusters
    Systems of Record
    Configuration Mgmt DB
    Monitoring Systems
    Wide Area Networking
    

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34. Zero Touch Requires Eliminating Silos
    IaC
    DRP
    Hardware
    IaC
    IaC
    O/S
    Platform
    Fully
    Integrated
    Clusters
    Systems of Record
    Configuration Mgmt DB
    Monitoring Systems
    Wide Area Networking
    

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35. RackN
    Technical Overview
    Part 2 of 2
    Distributed Data Center
    Multi-Site Manager
    Key Attributes
    1. Uses Same Core Platform
    2. Managers Use Same APIs
    3. Federated (not Hierarchical)
    4. Sites remain autonomous
    5. Distributes Integrated IaC
    

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36. Globally Distributed Data Centers
    DRP
    Distributed
    DC US-1
    DRP
    Distributed
    DC EU-2
    DRP
    Distributed
    DC AR-3
    

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37. v1
    v2 v1
    v2
    v1
    v2 v1
    v2
    v1
    v2 v1
    v2
    Multi-Site Manager Controls Local Catalogs
    DRP
    Master
    Catalog
    v1
    v2
    DRP
    v1
    v2
    DRP
    v1
    v2
    Version Sets
    Distributed
    DC US-1
    Distributed
    DC EU-2
    Distributed
    DC AR-3
    

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38. Local Sites Must Maintain Autonomy
    DRP
    DRP
    DRP
    Local
    Control
    Local
    Control
    Local
    Control
    Distributed
    DC US-1
    Distributed
    DC EU-2
    Distributed
    DC AR-3
    

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39. Design Enables Distributed Shared Control
    DRP
    DRP
    DRP
    Local
    Control
    DRP
    Regional
    Control Distributed
    DC US-1
    Distributed
    DC EU-2
    Distributed
    DC AR-3
    

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40. Data Aggregation Creates a Single Pane of Glass
    DRP
    DRP
    DRP
    Global
    Control
    DRP
    Local
    Control
    DRP
    Regional
    Control
    Live Single
    Pane of Glass
    Distributed
    DC US-1
    Distributed
    DC EU-2
    Distributed
    DC AR-3
    

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41. Customer Study: Global ESXi Deployment
    Global
    Config
    DRP
    DRP
    DRP
    DRP
    v2
    v2
    v2
    

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42. RackN
    Digital Rebar Platform
    Commercial Model
    RackN is Enterprise Software
    Licensed Annually per Machine
    Proprietary Platform (Digital Rebar)
    Plus an Open Ecosystem (APLv2)
    

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43. Platform
    Ecosystem
    Open Source
    Catalog
    CLI
    Sledgehammer
    Digital Rebar API v3
    Agents (Runner)
    Operating System Install Templates
    Foundational Utilities
    Advanced Operations Practices
    Platforms, Apps, Configuration Management
    Digital Rebar Implementation
    Enterprise Extensions (Multi-Site, SSO, RBAC)
    Commercial Support
    Digital Rebar Platform and Ecosystem
    

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44. Self-Service Sales Pipeline
    Digital Rebar Implementation
    Enterprise Extensions (Multi-Site, SSO, RBAC)
    Commercial Support
    Freemium
    Base
    $80 per m/c
    Annual
    Pro
    $120 per m/c
    Annual
    Enterprise
    $150 per m/c
    Annual
    Full Catalog
    Up to 20 m/c
    Provision Only
    Full Catalog
    Limited Sites
    Multi-Tenant
    RBAC, SSO,
    On-Prem UX
    

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45. H/W Vendor BMC:
    Dell OpenManage
    Cisco UCS Director
    Silos of Competition
    Cluster Building
    Configuration Management
    Digital Rebar Implementation
    Enterprise Extensions (Multi-Site, SSO, RBAC)
    Commercial Support
    Provisioners:
    Cobbler
    Foreman
    Canonical MaaS
    OpenStack Ironic
    IaC Toolkits:
    Terraform
    Ansible
    Hardware Configuration
    Bare Metal Life Cycle
    Operating System Installation
    Bare Metal Bootstrap
    

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46. RackN
    Zero Touch CIDC
    

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47. Zero Touch CIDC
    + Multi-Site Federation
    RackN
    DRP
    DRP
    

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48. RackN
    Zero Touch CIDC
    + Multi-Site Federation
    + Robust IaC Catalog
    DRP
    DRP
    IaC
    Catalog
    

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49. RackN
    Zero Touch CIDC
    + Multi-Site Federation
    + Robust IaC Catalog
    = Unique Combination
    DRP
    DRP
    IaC
    Catalog
    

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50. RackN
    Uniquely Integrated
    Vendor Neutral
    Multi-Site Automation Rethinking Data Centers by
    Building on Strong Foundations
    

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