IBM Workload Deployer: Pattern-based Application and Middleware Deployments in a Private Cloud


Book Description

IBM® Workload Deployer provides a solution to creating, deploying, and managing workloads in an on-premise or private cloud. It is rich in features that allow you to quickly build and deploy virtual systems from base images, to extend those images, and to customize them for future use as repeatable deployable units. IBM Workload Deployer also provides an application-centric capability enabling rapid deployment of business applications. By using either of these deployment models, an organization can quickly instantiate a complete application platform for development, test, or production. The IBM Workload Deployer uses the concept of patterns to describe the logical configuration of both the physical and virtual assets that comprise a particular solution. The use of patterns allows an organization to construct a deployable solution one time, and then dispense the final product on demand. patterns are composed of an operating system and IBM software solutions, such as IBM WebSphere® Application Server and IBM WebSphere Virtual Enterprise. patterns are constructed to support a single application workload. The IBM Workload Deployer is shipped with a set of pre-loaded virtual images and virtual patterns. These images and patterns can be used to create comprehensive and flexible middleware solutions. They can also be cloned and customized to suit your specific needs. This IBM Redbooks® publication looks at two different aspects of customizing virtual systems for deployment into the cloud. First, it explores the capabilities of IBM Image Construction and Composition Tool to build and provide highly customized virtual images for use in virtual system patterns on the IBM Workload Deployer. Next, it looks at the virtual application capabilities of the IBM Workload Deployer, including those capabilities that allow you to deploy enterprise applications and database services to the cloud. It also introduces the IBM Workload Deployer Plugin Development Kit, which allows you to further extend the capabilities of the virtual application patterns.




Virtualization with IBM Workload Deployer: Designing and Deploying Virtual Systems


Book Description

The IBM® Workload Deployer appliance provides a solid foundation for private cloud strategy, enabling the rapid adoption and deployment of both infrastructure and platform as a Service offering. The IBM Workload Deployer uses the concept of patterns to describe the logical configuration of both the physical and virtual assets that comprise a particular solution. The use of patterns allows an organization to construct an individual element or integrated solution one time, and then dispense the final product on demand. Virtual system patterns are comprised of an operating system and IBM software solutions, such as WebSphere® Application Server and WebSphere Virtual Enterprise. Virtual application patterns are constructed to support a single application workload. This book focuses on the virtual systems capability of the IBM Workload Deployer and specifically addresses the process of building customized virtual systems that go beyond the standard capabilities of the virtual images available with the product. The book starts by describing private clouds and how they can benefit your business. It introduces the IBM Workload Deployer and its capabilities, and then talks about the various tools that you can use to enhance the process of planning, customizing, and automating virtual system deployment. A sample is used to illustrate how the standard virtual images that are available for the IBM Workload Deployer can be customized for a robust solution that includes dynamic workload management, high-performing data caching, and monitoring of system state. The book then discusses how you can use the IBM Workload Deployer to facilitate the progression of an application through its lifecycle. Finally, an overview is provided of the troubleshooting capabilities that come with the IBM Workload Deployer.




Implementing an Advanced Application Using Processes, Rules, Events, and Reports


Book Description

In this IBM® Redbooks® publication we describe how to build an advanced business application from end to end. We use a fictional scenario to define the application, document the deployment methodology, and confirm the roles needed to support its development and deployment. Through step-by-step instructions you learn how to: - Define the project lifecycle using IBM Solution for Collaborative Lifecycle Management - Build a logical and physical data model in IBM InfoSphere® Data Architect - Confirm business rules and business events using IBM WebSphere® Operational Decision Management - Map a business process and mediation using IBM Business Process Manager - Use IBM Cognos® Business Intelligence to develop business insight In addition, we articulate a testing strategy using IBM Rational® Quality Manager and deployment options using IBM Workload Deployer. Taken together, this book provides comprehensive guidance for building and testing a solution using core IBM Rational, Information Management, WebSphere, Cognos and Business Process Management software. It seeks to demystify the notion that developing and deploying advanced solutions is taxing. This book will appeal to IT architects and specialists who seek straightforward guidance on how to build comprehensive solutions. They will be able to adapt these materials to kick-start their own end-to-end projects.




Cloud Computing Patterns of Expertise


Book Description

This IBM® RedpaperTM publication explains the business and technical value of emerging patterns of expertise in cloud computing, with specific applicability to IBM PureApplicationTM System, IBM Workload Deployer, IBM SmartCloud® Orchestrator, and IBM SmartCloud Application Services. It explains how patterns help companies use the different cloud environments that IBM offers. Also included are some preferred practices for helping to ensure pattern portability. The pattern-based approach is a response to the need to reduce complexity in IT environments, where various skills are required to design, test, configure, and maintain integrated solutions, including clouds. IT managers spend most of their time maintaining applications and application environments, leaving little time to focus on new business needs or to adopt new technologies. As a result, businesses can lack the agility that is needed to be successful in fast-paced, competitive markets. Pattern of expertise are designed to deliver the following benefits: Faster time-to-value Reduced costs and resource demands Fewer errors and, therefore, lower risk Patterns make full use of the unique nature of clouds, both private or public. When they are used in the cloud, patterns allow for the dynamic and efficient use of IT resources to achieve consistent results, even when complex solutions are built. In this way, patterns help save time, money, and resources. This Redpaper aims to show the value that patterns bring to IT managers and the business as a whole.




Creating Smart Virtual Appliances with IBM Image Construction and Composition Tool


Book Description

In a traditional deployment model, software is installed on a physical server, and it is configured for the particular data center environment. The cloud deployment model requires that the dependency on a specific hardware configuration is severed. This IBM® Redbooks® publication guides you through the transition from the traditional application deployment model to the cloud-friendly deployment model. It explains how to achieve these goals by packaging the software stacks into industry standard virtual appliances. A key part of this transition involves using the IBM Image Construction and Composition Tool. This tool is the IBM tool for creating virtualized workloads that target several private cloud deployment platforms, including platforms from IBM and not from IBM. In fact, this tool is unique in its ability to support such a wide range of cloud offerings. It is also the only tool in the marketplace that can create virtual appliances for both x86 and IBM Power hardware architectures. This book provides an in-depth look at the capabilities and internal workings of Image Construction and Composition Tool. It focuses on the capabilities of this tool, which target the virtualization and cloud offerings of IBM Systems and Technology Group. These offerings include IBM Systems Director VMControlTM, IBM SmartCloud® Entry, and IBM PureFlexTM System with IBM Flex System ManagerTM appliance. The Image Construction and Composition Tool also has a much richer set of capabilities. Specifically, it supports IBM Workload Deployer, IBM PureApplicationTM Systems, and IBM SmartCloud Provisioning. This publication targets software architects, cloud solutions architects, and cloud administrators. Its goal is to provide you with the expert-level skills required to package the existing and newly created applications into self-configurable, smart virtual appliances. Related publication: Smart Virtual Appliances Made Easy with IBM Image Construction and Composition Tool, TIPS1037




Smart Organizations and Smart Artifacts


Book Description

This book offers a multidisciplinary strategy for finding new and more effective human-computer interaction approaches, in particular from a socio-technical perspective, that facilitate the exploration and exploitation of benefits that information technologies (IT) offer organizations. Though the relationship between IT and organizations is certainly very strong, it is also one of the greatest obstacles to securing benefits from their interaction. The participation of organizational users in the planning and design stages of IT interfaces is the main area of human-computer interaction, where a wealth of contributions are positively enriching both the academic and management discussions. Thus, a new approach for managing this relationship is needed, one in which the different stakeholders are suitably taken into account. Moreover, the outstanding success of the 2.0 phenomenon offers an example of a relevant platform where human-computer interaction has been widely developed and exploited. Consequently, this will influence and already is influencing – the way IT and users interact with each other. The book is based on a selection of the best papers – original, double blind peer-reviewed contributions – from the annual conference of the Italian chapter of the AIS, held in Milan, Italy in December 2013.




Creating Composite Application Pattern Models for IBM PureApplication System


Book Description

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes how IBM PureApplicationTM System supports the creation of virtual systems and virtual applications. PureApplication System does so using a pattern model that enables you to take advantage of predefined, pre-configured, and proven middleware topologies and deployments. This book also presents an abstraction level that focuses on functional capabilities and applications, completely encapsulating the underlying middleware. It describes in detail the model and the associated frameworks in PureApplication System, as well as a methodology and approach toward designing and implementing a custom pattern model. This book shows concrete implementation examples that you can use when creating your own pattern model, paired with a collection of leading practices. This IBM Redbooks publication gives critical guidance to, and serves as a reference for, independent software vendors (ISVs) who want to create patterns for their packaged applications on PureApplication System. Clients who want to extend and enhance their existing patterns can also use this book.




Virtualized Business Intelligence with InfoSphere Warehouse


Book Description

With the benefit of advanced analytics such as online analytical processing (OLAP), data mining, and text analytics, the IBM® InfoSphere® Warehouse Enterprise Edition brings sophisticated business intelligence (BI) to warehouse users. InfoSphere Warehouse allows you to run extreme concurrent query volumes that can help answer questions for all types of business users, while consistently meeting service level requirements. Combined with a virtualization platform and a solid BI solution, such as IBM Cognos®, you can deliver BI cloud services with improved flexibility and speed to your clients, thereby presenting a new avenue for which your services can be offered. This IBM Redbooks® publication discusses the deployment of a BI cloud solution. It includes details such as understanding the architecture of a cloud, planning implementation, integrating various software components, and understanding the preferred practices of running a cloud deployment. Essentially, this book can be used as a guide by anyone who is interested in deploying a virtualized environment for a BI cloud solution.




WebSphere Application Server V8.5 Concepts, Planning, and Design Guide


Book Description

This IBM® Redbooks® publication provides information about the concepts, planning, and design of IBM WebSphere® Application Server V8.5 environments. The target audience of this book is IT architects and consultants who want more information about the planning and design of application-serving environments, from small to large, and complex implementations. This book addresses the packaging and features in WebSphere Application Server, and highlights the most common implementation topologies. It provides information about planning for specific tasks and components that conform to the WebSphere Application Server environment. Also in this book are planning guidelines for Websphere Application Server and Websphere Application Server Network Deployment on distributed platforms. It also includes guidelines for WebSphere Application Server for IBM z/OS®. This book contains information about migration considerations when moving from previous releases. This book has been updated with the new features introduced with WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5.




IBM PureApplication System Best Practices


Book Description

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes IBM PureApplicationTM System preferred practices that are based on IBM client and Business Partner experience. It explains how PureApplication System enables industries to consolidate workloads, increase efficiency, automate routine processes, reduce costs, and become more agile to respond to continually changing business needs. This book is particularly useful to solution specialists, system or software architects, and the IT teams who implement PureApplication System cloud services.