The St. Petersburg state polytechnical university implemented technologies of virtualization

Thanks to virtualization the St. Petersburg state polytechnical university (SPBGPU) not only reduced housekeeping overheads and upgrade of a computer network in one of the body, but also considerably increased efficiency of teaching subject matters on information technologies. Emergence at first of virtual machines, and then virtual laboratories made learning process interactive, more visual and if necessary – remote.

Situation

In the 11th academic building SPBPGU the Institute of public administration and informatization (IGUI) and two of its faculties — Faculty of management and information technologies and Faculty of retraining of specialists is located. In educational programs of these faculties there are disciplines focused on training in the directions connected with information technologies. Besides, the faculty of retraining of specialists offers a broad spectrum of programs of additional professional education in information technology field.

As the need for educational services which are provided by these two faculties in the last decades promptly grew, also the park of ADP equipment in the 11th academic building considerably increased. In separate years about 3-4 new computer classes on 11 jobs in everyone were entered into operation.

At the same time all IT infrastructure of institute is involved from 10 in the morning to 10 in the evening 7 days a week that complicated mass service of computers. Complicated technical support and need to set for implementation of different educational programs several operating systems on one computer (in certain cases — to four).

Besides educational computers were actively operated by the students and pupils of different rates inclined to permanent experiments. In similar cases the number of failures and errors considerably exceeds an average value for normal corporate networks that creates additional problems for work of technical support service.

Quickly growing park of computers and conditions in which they were operated set thinking on reducing costs for management of IT, reliability augmentation of work of the used systems and a shorter reaction time in case of problems. Technologies of virtualization which implementation was performed in three stages allowed to achieve it.

About the Project

Use of technologies of virtualization at Institute of public administration and informatization SPBGPU began in 2004 with application of the Microsoft Virtual PC program which allows to create and involve separate virtual machines. Use of server virtualization by means of MS Virtual Server 2005 became the next step. Implementation of this system in 2006-2007 provided movement of "centre of gravity" at implementation of calculations from workstations of users on server platforms. Already then the first virtual laboratories for support of educational process began to be created. Their quantity increased in process of increase in computing powers of Institute of public administration and informatization (IGUI) (for implementation of technologies of virtualization it was required to purchase new physical servers).

In 2008 there was the next version of server operating system from Microsoft - Windows Server 2008, and under it - the new system of virtualization Microsoft Hyper-V. With implementation of these solutions which functionality in comparison with the previous versions significantly extended transition to the following level in development of virtual environment was performed. In particular, the PowerShell automation equipment which is built in Windows Server 2008 provided the centralized creation, setup and control of virtual machines.

Besides, right after transition to Hyper-V the Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager system for support of virtual laboratories and centralization of management was implemented by them.

Use of different platforms and technologies is provided in IGUI for full training of students. Nevertheless, for virtualization solutions of Microsoft became basic. It is connected first of all with the fact that initially corporate network in the 11th academic building was under construction on the platform of this company. Therefore also implementation at first of MS Virtual PC, and then MS Virtual Server with transition to MS Hyper-V, was natural. The bases for reorganization of all network under other platform to provide use as basic any alternative systems of virtualization, specialists of IGUI did not find.

The specifics of educational institution allowed to implement all projects by forces of the information and technical department performing functions of IT service of institute. It was not required to attract third-party system integrator (the partner of Microsoft company).

Advantages

Implementation of technologies of virtualization did not lead to cutting of costs for management of IT, but also did not cause their growth at significant expansion of the computer park. Development of IT infrastructure in an extensive way would demand a staff increase of technical support service by 1.5-2 times.

"If now smooth operation of a computer network from 20 servers and 300 workstations during the occupations requires two duty engineers, then without implementation of MS Virtual PC and MS Hyper-V without three specialists was not to cost definitely, but, most likely, hours of peak loading, change would consist of four people. In total in our service 5 people, as well as work 6-7 years ago when computer classes was approximately twice less", – Alexander Kudakov, the associate director of Institute of public administration and informatization SPBPGU says.

Optimal use of computing powers when transferring the main load from workstations of servers is the second reason of control of growth of expenses on IT infrastructure. Of course, at first investments to the park of servers increased, but then they paid off with interest as computers in classes could work without upgrade and replacement much longer. Now at low-power workstations it is quite possible to work with the "heavy" software.

The implemented server virtualization allows to think of implementation of infrastructure of virtual PCs (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure). However specialists of IGUI do not see clear advantage yet from replacement of normal PCs by the terminal (the thin client) who costs about the same.

Approximate calculations say that annual savings from implementation of technologies of virtualization make not less than 500 thousand rubles (it is a rate of two employees with all taxes and assignments).

Besides these technologies provided substantial increase of quality of educational services. The benefit of virtualization is felt both teachers, and students. The teacher had an opportunity to prepare the virtual laboratory consisting, for example, of three nodes (the domain controller, the server, the client), for 40 students in several minutes. He creates virtual machines prototypes or uses the ready templates which are stored on VMM. Then using the scenarios written on PowerShell, these machines are replicated. At the same time on the basis of information on logins of the students who are stored in the Active Directory unique names of computers for pupils are generated.

In case of failure recovery of a configuration will demand the same several minutes without involvement of the engineer from technical support. Therefore, not only load of IT personnel decreases, but also the most effective use of all resources necessary for educational process is provided. Time for its resuming in case of problems is reduced to a minimum.

However the most important for quality improvement of training is that virtual laboratories allow to model work of a local network of the small enterprise with the equipment of different vendors and several operating systems. Thanks to virtualization there was an opportunity to imitate almost any networked environment, including different physical devices (for example, switches and routers). As a result students can "touch" each fragment of this network and see changes in it after commission of certain actions.

Earlier, before implementation of technologies of virtualization, simulation of work of local networks was performed, but different tricks using additional physical devices (routers, switches) for this purpose were required. And all the same complete realness did not manage to be tried to obtain. For example, at work in pair, as a rule, one student worked, and another observed. In virtual laboratory they can work at the same time (together or in team's line-up), and the teacher from the monitor can monitor how they perform a task. At the same time it is not necessary to ask the pupil to make for error correction for a while his workplace: the teacher can correct and show everything on own computer.

Besides, server virtualization provides access to virtual machines by means of the web interface. Therefore, students can be connected to them at home and work in addition. The possibility of remote access creates conditions for distance learning, interest in which increases every year.

"Demand for educational services from business companies recovers from the economic crisis very slowly. Employers with a big reluctance tear off the employees from accomplishment of their everyday duties for training at rates. As the need for additional education nevertheless is, mass use of distance learning can become an exit from current situation", – Alexander Kudakov considers.

The purpose of implementation of technologies of virtualization in the 11th academic building SPBPGU the aspiration to optimize expenses on management of IT was initial. However now need of these technologies nevertheless is more caused by the need for quality improvement of training in computer disciplines. Besides today's generation of entrants and students, many of which from a school bench use smartphones and almost always have access to Internet, is skeptical about educational institutions (especially technical) which do not use modern computer technologies in learning process.

Solution

The system of the IGUI virtual laboratories is constructed using network infrastructure, a basis for which server solutions running the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems form. Crucial elements of such infrastructure are the service Active Directory and servers performing function of domain controllers of service Active Directory.

For implementation of technologies of server virtualization which are base of virtual laboratories server platforms of HP company, and for storage of hard drives of virtual machines - a storage system of EMC company and also disk shelves of HP are used.

As basic OS on servers Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise with the activated Hyper-V role, and for management of virtual laboratories - the additional server with System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) which allows to simplify administration of these laboratories significantly is installed. The PowerShell automation equipment supported by it allowed to deliver use of virtual laboratories on a flow.

For access to virtual laboratories in addition to SCVMM the self-service portal of System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self Service Portal was set. This solution allows to be connected to virtual machines from any place in the world using standard network protocols.