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R E P A P E T I H W
ENHANCING SMS SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION WITH BROCADE TAPESTRY WAFS
Combining Microsoft SMS and Tapestry WAFS enables more efficient software distribution in Windows environments.
Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) is a tool that enables administrators to manage complicated software delivery and unattended installation of servers and workstations across an enterprise. The combination of SMS and Brocade® Tapestry™ Wide Area File Services (WAFS) can give organizations a more effective way to distribute software to remote branch offices. As a result, organizations can enjoy the business advantages of centralized management, reduced bandwidth consumption, and immediate software package delivery.
Tapestry WAFS Highlights • Optimi Optimizes zes performanc performancee with LAN-speed global file access over WANs • Incre Increases ases administrat administrator or and user productivity by automating repetitive tasks and enabling worldwide file sharing • Simpl Simplifies ifies IT infrastructur infrastructuree with transparent network integration, storage consolidation, and centralized management
Overview
To support softwa software re distribution across large enterprises, enter prises, many organizations organizations utilize Microsoft Systems Systems Management Server (SMS). (SMS). SMS enables administrators to manage complicated software software delivery and unattended installation of servers ser vers and workstations across an enterprise in Window Windowss envir environments. onments. As a result, organization organizationss can manage groups of servers and workstations workstations separately or together,, with customized configuration together configuration settings and schedules. An organization organization with multiple locations must not only support groups of servers and workstations workstations that need a variety of software configurations, configurations, but also must consider how branch offices will obtain the large softwar softwaree packages that support these configurations. Because SMS utilizes the Common Internet File System (CIFS) protocol for software package distribution, large organizations with with branch offices often face some unique challenges when deciding how how to deploy SMS. SMS. For instance, instance, distributing SMS servers to branch offices can result in a complicated server hierarchy and storage management
• Reduce Reducess capital capital and operating expenditures through consolidation, greater resource utilization, and “lights-out” remote operations • Improv Improves es resiliency resiliency and and business compliance by eliminating common WAN disruptions and integrating advanced security standards • Incre Increases ases operationa operationall flexibility by supporting both CIFS and NFS data
issues. How Howev ever, er, centralizing SMS servers produces WAN overload overload because ev every ery remote SMS client must pull its own copy of software updates from the data center. These challenges have created the need for a method that eliminates SMS servers in remote locations while maintaining full SMS functionality and centralizing SMS server management—without increasing WAN consumption. Standard SMS Configuration
A typical enterprise SMS configuration consists of SMS management points and SMS distribution points: •
SMS management point: Redirects the client PC to the correct distribution
point to retrieve retrieve relevant relevant packages, enforces policy refreshes refreshes on the client, and generates audits.The management point sends packages to every SMS distribution point within the enterprise and generates an advertisement to notify servers and workstations within the enterprise enterpr ise about newly available packages. Upon receiving the advertisement, advertisement, clients are directed to an SMS distribution distribution point to install the package according to defined policies and schedules.
1
•
SMS distribution point: Holds the software packages that are required by
servers and workstations.A workstations. A management point directs servers and wor workstations kstations to retrieve required required software packages from a file share on the distribution point. The SMS server machine account must be a local administrator on the distribution point.
Data Center
Figure 1. The steps of distributing a software package through SMS.
R E P A P E T I H W
SMS Management Point
Step 1 Publish Package
WAN W AN
Remote Site
Step 2 Send Advertisement \\filer1\DP\<package>
SMS Distribution Point
Step 3 Request Package
Step 5 Install Package
Step 4 Send Package \\filer1\DP
SMS enables administrators to designate a share on a file server as a distribution point (see Figure 1). Packages are are published to this distribution distribution point, and an advertisement advertisement is raised for the package.When a client receives this advertisement, advertisement, it is directed by the management point to access the central distribution point to retrieve the files contained in the package. The client then proceeds to copy the files through CIFS. Unless a separate SMS distribution point is maintained for every every remote site, softwar softwaree updates are sent to clients from from the management point, resulting in enormous bandwidth consumption.When separate SMS distribution distribution points are maintained, maintained, complex distribution methods methods and server hierarchies, hierarchies, package management, management, and additional storage storage are required as the size of the enterprise grows. Key Benefits of a Tapestry WAFS and SMS Approach
An SMS infrastructure enhanced by Tapestry WAFS technology appears no different to users and client PCs but provides key advantages over per-branch SMS distribution points or completely centralized SMS distr ibution. When SMS clients receive an advertisement for a software package, they request the package from an SMS distribution point as they would in a traditional SMS deployment model. How Howev ever, er, instead of downloading their software software packages from this central distribution point, the clients are redirected with a Universal Naming Convention Convention (UNC) path to execute the actual setup from the Tapestry Tapestry WAFS WAFS appliance at the branch office. The package is i s then fetched fetche d using Tapestr apestry y WAFS best-of-breed best-of-b reed technology, leveraging a WAN-optimized protocol as well as the benefits of file caching at the remote office. Because many SMS clients at a remote office share common software software package data,Tapestry data,Ta pestry WAFS WAFS eliminates redundant data deliv delivery ery to branch offices, thereb thereby y improving WAN utilization and reducing package transfer times.
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Key benefits of this approach include: •
Centralized management: A standard SMS deployment to branch offices
requires manual storage management management for packages at the SMS distribution distr ibution points, and might require configuration and management of complex SMS hierarchies. Administrators do not need to be concerned with remote storage management, because actively used packages are dynamically loaded into appliance storage cache and inactive inactive packages are purged when free space drops below defined levels. In turn, SMS configurations configurations are simplified, simplified, because multiple levels levels of the hierarchy hierarchy can be collapsed into one. •
Reduced bandwidth consumption: Software packages are delivered to branch
offices only when a client requests them. If multiple clients request the same package at the same branch office, that package is delivered delivered only once. •
Immediate package availability: SMS packages are transferred to distribution
points through a “best-effort” method. SMS delivery assisted by Tapestry WAFS WAFS is available av ailable immediately upon advertisement, eliminating the wait for best-effort transfers. •
Access to a full-packag full-package e library: Packages that have not been used for a while
are still automatically available to be reloaded on demand if they are needed— without administrator intervention or excessive storage at the branch office. •
Scheduled package distribution: distr ibution: To increase performance on the first package
load for large packages or slow WAN links, administrators can prepopulate selected se lected packages at defined times.They can also exercise SMS distribution control or allow the system to dynamically dynamically manage itself. Centralized package distribution management—coupled with a caching infrastructure featuring dynamically managed storage and WAN optimization—enables organizations to leverage existing SMS technology and maintain functionality while reducing management and network utilization. Configuring SMS with Tapestry WAFS Figure 2. The steps of configuring SMS with Tapestry WAFS.
Data Center SMS Management Point
Remote Site
Hosts file has entry TRA 10.10.1.25 Step 3 Send Advertisement \\TRA\DP\<package>
Step 6 Install Package IP: 10.10.1.100
IP: 10.10.1.10
Step 1 Publish Package to \\TRA\DP Hosts file points to \\filer1
Step 5 Send Package
WAN W AN
SMS Distribution Point
Step 4 Request Package Share L:\TSA\filer1 L:\TSA\filer1\DP \DP as \\TRA\DP
IP: 10.10.1.25 SMS Package Share: \\filer1\DP
IP: 10.10.1.40
IP: 10.10.1.30
Step 2 Prepopulate (optional) Tapestry WAFS Core Appliance
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Tapestry WAFS Remote Appliance
2. Publ Publish ish a packa package ge to to \\tra\ \\tra\dp dp.. 3. Because the host entry in the SMS management point defines defines the IP address of the TRA as the IP of filer1, the package is published to \\filer1\dp instead of \\tra\dp. 4. Rais Raisee an advertisem advertisement ent for for this package package.. 5. When the the client receiv receives es this advertise advertisement ment,, it checks with with the managem management ent
R E P A P E T I H W
point. Because the management point appears appears to have published published the package to \\tra\dp, \\tra\dp, (although it actually actually published it to \\filer1\dp), \\filer1\dp), the management management point instructs the client to go to \\tra\dp for the package. package. If this folder is prepopulated, users receive receive immediate access to the the files. If it is is not, the first user gets a cold hit while subsequent users get a warm hit. Using the SMS management point, designate each Tapestry Tapestry WAFS WAFS remote appliance as an SMS distribution point. In the SMS SMS management management point, right-click on the name of the server and choose Add > Server and Share to define a share in the remote appliance appliance as a distribution point. If the repository repository is at \\filer1\dp, \\filer1\dp, the path shared in the TRA TRA is L:\tsa\filer1\dp, L:\tsa\filer1\dp, and the share name is dp. Define a package in SMS and indicate that the package contains source files.Also indicate that SMS should always obtain the files from the distribution point.Then distribute this package to the distribution point (TRA share) that was just added. Because the host’s host’s entry goes to the central distribution point (\\filer1\dp), the files are published to the central distribution point instead of to the TRA. Raise an advertisement that contains the TRA as the distribution point. Because the clients’ host file is not changed, the TRA name is resolved resolved to the TRA itself and not to the central distribution point. Administrat Administrators ors can optionally prepopulate the contents of the shares (distribution point). Because Tapestry WAFS WAFS appliances can prepopulate folders, administrators can prepopulate the L:\tsa\filer1\dp L:\tsa\filer1\dp folder on the TRA. TRA. Doing this before raising an advertisement helps ensure that there are no cold hits. As a result, SMS clients receive receive all SMS packages through the distribution points on the Tapestry WAFS WAFS remote appliances. When the clients receive advertisements, they go to \\tra\dp. \\tra\dp. If the share has been prepop prepopulated, ulated, the organization organization will enjoy bandwidth bandwidth savings and a reduction in latency. Summary
To help ensure highly efficient software distribution in Windows environments, organizationss with branch offices can enhance Microsoft SMS with best-of-breed organization Tapestry WAFS WAFS technology. technology. For more information, infor mation, contact a Brocade Sales Representativ Representat ivee or a Brocade Partner, Partner, or visit www.brocade.com.
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ENHANCING SMS SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION WITH BROCADE TAPESTRY WAFS
Combining Microsoft SMS and Tapestry WAFS enables more efficient software distribution in Windows environments.
Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) is a tool that enables administrators to manage complicated software delivery and unattended installation of servers and workstations across an enterprise. The combination of SMS and Brocade® Tapestry™ Wide Area File Services (WAFS) can give organizations a more effective way to distribute software to remote branch offices. As a result, organizations can enjoy the business advantages of centralized management, reduced bandwidth consumption, and immediate software package delivery.
Tapestry WAFS Highlights • Optimi Optimizes zes performanc performancee with LAN-speed global file access over WANs • Incre Increases ases administrat administrator or and user productivity by automating repetitive tasks and enabling worldwide file sharing • Simpl Simplifies ifies IT infrastructur infrastructuree with transparent network integration, storage consolidation, and centralized management
Overview
To support softwa software re distribution across large enterprises, enter prises, many organizations organizations utilize Microsoft Systems Systems Management Server (SMS). (SMS). SMS enables administrators to manage complicated software software delivery and unattended installation of servers ser vers and workstations across an enterprise in Window Windowss envir environments. onments. As a result, organization organizationss can manage groups of servers and workstations workstations separately or together,, with customized configuration together configuration settings and schedules. An organization organization with multiple locations must not only support groups of servers and workstations workstations that need a variety of software configurations, configurations, but also must consider how branch offices will obtain the large softwar softwaree packages that support these configurations. Because SMS utilizes the Common Internet File System (CIFS) protocol for software package distribution, large organizations with with branch offices often face some unique challenges when deciding how how to deploy SMS. SMS. For instance, instance, distributing SMS servers to branch offices can result in a complicated server hierarchy and storage management
• Reduce Reducess capital capital and operating expenditures through consolidation, greater resource utilization, and “lights-out” remote operations • Improv Improves es resiliency resiliency and and business compliance by eliminating common WAN disruptions and integrating advanced security standards • Incre Increases ases operationa operationall flexibility by supporting both CIFS and NFS data
issues. How Howev ever, er, centralizing SMS servers produces WAN overload overload because ev every ery remote SMS client must pull its own copy of software updates from the data center. These challenges have created the need for a method that eliminates SMS servers in remote locations while maintaining full SMS functionality and centralizing SMS server management—without increasing WAN consumption. Standard SMS Configuration
A typical enterprise SMS configuration consists of SMS management points and SMS distribution points: •
SMS management point: Redirects the client PC to the correct distribution
point to retrieve retrieve relevant relevant packages, enforces policy refreshes refreshes on the client, and generates audits.The management point sends packages to every SMS distribution point within the enterprise and generates an advertisement to notify servers and workstations within the enterprise enterpr ise about newly available packages. Upon receiving the advertisement, advertisement, clients are directed to an SMS distribution distribution point to install the package according to defined policies and schedules.
1
•
SMS distribution point: Holds the software packages that are required by
servers and workstations.A workstations. A management point directs servers and wor workstations kstations to retrieve required required software packages from a file share on the distribution point. The SMS server machine account must be a local administrator on the distribution point.
Data Center
Figure 1. The steps of distributing a software package through SMS.
R E P A P E T I H W
SMS Management Point
Step 1 Publish Package
WAN W AN
Remote Site
Step 2 Send Advertisement \\filer1\DP\<package>
SMS Distribution Point
Step 3 Request Package
Step 5 Install Package
Step 4 Send Package \\filer1\DP
SMS enables administrators to designate a share on a file server as a distribution point (see Figure 1). Packages are are published to this distribution distribution point, and an advertisement advertisement is raised for the package.When a client receives this advertisement, advertisement, it is directed by the management point to access the central distribution point to retrieve the files contained in the package. The client then proceeds to copy the files through CIFS. Unless a separate SMS distribution point is maintained for every every remote site, softwar softwaree updates are sent to clients from from the management point, resulting in enormous bandwidth consumption.When separate SMS distribution distribution points are maintained, maintained, complex distribution methods methods and server hierarchies, hierarchies, package management, management, and additional storage storage are required as the size of the enterprise grows. Key Benefits of a Tapestry WAFS and SMS Approach
An SMS infrastructure enhanced by Tapestry WAFS technology appears no different to users and client PCs but provides key advantages over per-branch SMS distribution points or completely centralized SMS distr ibution. When SMS clients receive an advertisement for a software package, they request the package from an SMS distribution point as they would in a traditional SMS deployment model. How Howev ever, er, instead of downloading their software software packages from this central distribution point, the clients are redirected with a Universal Naming Convention Convention (UNC) path to execute the actual setup from the Tapestry Tapestry WAFS WAFS appliance at the branch office. The package is i s then fetched fetche d using Tapestr apestry y WAFS best-of-breed best-of-b reed technology, leveraging a WAN-optimized protocol as well as the benefits of file caching at the remote office. Because many SMS clients at a remote office share common software software package data,Tapestry data,Ta pestry WAFS WAFS eliminates redundant data deliv delivery ery to branch offices, thereb thereby y improving WAN utilization and reducing package transfer times.
2
Key benefits of this approach include: •
Centralized management: A standard SMS deployment to branch offices
requires manual storage management management for packages at the SMS distribution distr ibution points, and might require configuration and management of complex SMS hierarchies. Administrators do not need to be concerned with remote storage management, because actively used packages are dynamically loaded into appliance storage cache and inactive inactive packages are purged when free space drops below defined levels. In turn, SMS configurations configurations are simplified, simplified, because multiple levels levels of the hierarchy hierarchy can be collapsed into one. •
Reduced bandwidth consumption: Software packages are delivered to branch
offices only when a client requests them. If multiple clients request the same package at the same branch office, that package is delivered delivered only once. •
Immediate package availability: SMS packages are transferred to distribution
points through a “best-effort” method. SMS delivery assisted by Tapestry WAFS WAFS is available av ailable immediately upon advertisement, eliminating the wait for best-effort transfers. •
Access to a full-packag full-package e library: Packages that have not been used for a while
are still automatically available to be reloaded on demand if they are needed— without administrator intervention or excessive storage at the branch office. •
Scheduled package distribution: distr ibution: To increase performance on the first package
load for large packages or slow WAN links, administrators can prepopulate selected se lected packages at defined times.They can also exercise SMS distribution control or allow the system to dynamically dynamically manage itself. Centralized package distribution management—coupled with a caching infrastructure featuring dynamically managed storage and WAN optimization—enables organizations to leverage existing SMS technology and maintain functionality while reducing management and network utilization. Configuring SMS with Tapestry WAFS Figure 2. The steps of configuring SMS with Tapestry WAFS.
Data Center SMS Management Point
Remote Site
Hosts file has entry TRA 10.10.1.25 Step 3 Send Advertisement \\TRA\DP\<package>
Step 6 Install Package IP: 10.10.1.100
IP: 10.10.1.10
Step 1 Publish Package to \\TRA\DP Hosts file points to \\filer1
Step 5 Send Package
WAN W AN
SMS Distribution Point
Step 4 Request Package Share L:\TSA\filer1 L:\TSA\filer1\DP \DP as \\TRA\DP
IP: 10.10.1.25 SMS Package Share: \\filer1\DP
IP: 10.10.1.40
IP: 10.10.1.30
Step 2 Prepopulate (optional) Tapestry WAFS Core Appliance
3
Tapestry WAFS Remote Appliance
2. Publ Publish ish a packa package ge to to \\tra\ \\tra\dp dp.. 3. Because the host entry in the SMS management point defines defines the IP address of the TRA as the IP of filer1, the package is published to \\filer1\dp instead of \\tra\dp. 4. Rais Raisee an advertisem advertisement ent for for this package package.. 5. When the the client receiv receives es this advertise advertisement ment,, it checks with with the managem management ent
R E P A P E T I H W
point. Because the management point appears appears to have published published the package to \\tra\dp, \\tra\dp, (although it actually actually published it to \\filer1\dp), \\filer1\dp), the management management point instructs the client to go to \\tra\dp for the package. package. If this folder is prepopulated, users receive receive immediate access to the the files. If it is is not, the first user gets a cold hit while subsequent users get a warm hit. Using the SMS management point, designate each Tapestry Tapestry WAFS WAFS remote appliance as an SMS distribution point. In the SMS SMS management management point, right-click on the name of the server and choose Add > Server and Share to define a share in the remote appliance appliance as a distribution point. If the repository repository is at \\filer1\dp, \\filer1\dp, the path shared in the TRA TRA is L:\tsa\filer1\dp, L:\tsa\filer1\dp, and the share name is dp. Define a package in SMS and indicate that the package contains source files.Also indicate that SMS should always obtain the files from the distribution point.Then distribute this package to the distribution point (TRA share) that was just added. Because the host’s host’s entry goes to the central distribution point (\\filer1\dp), the files are published to the central distribution point instead of to the TRA. Raise an advertisement that contains the TRA as the distribution point. Because the clients’ host file is not changed, the TRA name is resolved resolved to the TRA itself and not to the central distribution point. Administrat Administrators ors can optionally prepopulate the contents of the shares (distribution point). Because Tapestry WAFS WAFS appliances can prepopulate folders, administrators can prepopulate the L:\tsa\filer1\dp L:\tsa\filer1\dp folder on the TRA. TRA. Doing this before raising an advertisement helps ensure that there are no cold hits. As a result, SMS clients receive receive all SMS packages through the distribution points on the Tapestry WAFS WAFS remote appliances. When the clients receive advertisements, they go to \\tra\dp. \\tra\dp. If the share has been prepop prepopulated, ulated, the organization organization will enjoy bandwidth bandwidth savings and a reduction in latency. Summary
To help ensure highly efficient software distribution in Windows environments, organizationss with branch offices can enhance Microsoft SMS with best-of-breed organization Tapestry WAFS WAFS technology. technology. For more information, infor mation, contact a Brocade Sales Representativ Representat ivee or a Brocade Partner, Partner, or visit www.brocade.com.
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