As mentioned, understanding available solution components, where they are available, what they cost, and how they can be combined with other services is very helpful when used from the very beginning. In this example, a single server design will be created to help identify potential providers, configurations, and services that may affect final solutions as development cycles move closer to production deployment at NeBu Systems:
- Starting at the top center of the page, please click and drag the Design icon onto any blank space on the drawing board.
- The application will create a new scenario as shown in the following screenshot:
- Please enter a name for the scenario. In this example, I have used Single Server. The name can be anything you choose that is helpful as you try to remember what it is for:
- Service providers deploy products and services in specific locations. Services are not generally available anywhere, although some can be (for example, equipment deployed on client premises). In-house services are also only available in very specific locations. For this reason, one of the initial scenario defining characteristics is location. NeBu Systems has chosen to deploy the new application in a central location within the US. The Midwest has additional benefits, with lower risk factors than higher-profile, more densely populated cities such as New York and Los Angeles. The threat of natural disaster is much lower than California. Please enter the initial location as Chicago, IL, shown in the following screenshot. Chicago also has very good connectivity options as many of the carriers pass through in large telco hotels.
- Please add Chicago, IL to the Locality field. This will set the general search epicenter for potential solution products and services:
- Not every product or service will be located in Chicago, IL. NeBu Systems does not have a firm requirement that forces it to locate within Chicago. Since other potential providers and locations may be available within an acceptable distance from Chicago, please enter 300 as the search radius to be used when mapping and matching acceptable providers, products, and services:
- Products and services not only have specific locations, but they also have predetermined business and consumption models. As an example, reserve instances from AWS have an economic and consumption model that requires a minimum commitment of a 12-month term with significant non-recurring cost (NRC) due up front. Once the upfront (NRC) costs have been paid, a smaller ongoing monthly payment is required for each month of the specified commitment term. NeBu systems have strategic interest and a financial policy that desires more emphasis on preserving capital favoring operational expense (OpEx) driven solutions.
- Please leave the Term field blank. This will indicate that the minimum term is not specified and will allow economic models with no minimum term to respond. If a reserve instance model were required, a minimum of 12 months would be entered instead of leaving the field blank:
- Please leave the % NRC field set to the default of Any NRC as shown in the following screenshot. This example will not limit the NRC amount:
- Please leave Compliance set as default and choose Create at the bottom.
- The result should show a single design scenario on the board titled with the name previously entered:
NeBu chose to deploy on Linux servers. Application and code design conversations have not been able to provide a consensus for a single provider, or shortlist of providers. Different stakeholders have their own agendas and priorities that are being brought to the table. One of the administrators wants it to be housed at Google because he has good relationships from engagements completed with Google Cloud at previous employers. NeBu developers like the idea of using AWS due to the scope of all available cutting-edge services. Sales likes the idea of using Azure as many of the clients are comfortable with Azure and like where the direction and progress Azure has made recently.
What is needed to resolve this debate? Data. Real-time analytics and performance data will help in many ways. Many people may consider RFP, RFI, or RFQ type processes. For this exercise, a Linux server can be pulled into the scenario and provide real-time data that may help navigate the dynamics of this internal debate as a provider, or set of providers, are chosen.
- Please click on Compute near the top left of the design board as shown in the following screenshot:
- A series of preconfigured compute options will show across the grey ribbon, as shown in the following screenshot. Please click on the first icon, named Linux, and drag it into any empty space within the scenario box created earlier:
- The Linux icon should now appear in the box with a dialog window open on the right side of the screen:
- NeBu Systems anticipates the new application workloads, and workload types to utilize far less compute power when compared to RAM requirements. The current plan will utilize virtual servers on a shared platform to continue proving the concept, test code, and baseline initial performance characteristics. The initial configuration will start at 1 core and 8 GB of RAM. We will address storage at a later step.
- Per the NeBu requirement, please update the RAM from 1 to 7 (yes, the earlier statement mentioned 8, please use 7). Also, please clear the storage amount from the storage line. Storage will be addressed in a later step. Please refer to the following screenshot to verify the configurations match:
- Please click the blue Advanced bar to drop down the additional options. Please verify that Is VM? and Is Shared? are set to Yes. NeBu's initial solution requires a virtual server from one of the shared IaaS providers available in the current market:
- Please click the Save button at the bottom. The server configuration should update to match the following screenshot:
