The need:

Provisioning a new server and ensuring that it is up and running in an enterprise data center can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Once provisioned, the server is generally underutilized and not kept up-to-date with the latest patches — generating a great deal of overhead for managing failures.

As a result, maintaining Service Level Agreements can be challenging due to the difficulty in determining when a server is actually being used and by whom. It is also difficult to repurpose the server for other, more important tasks when the original task is over.

The Solution: 

openQRM-Provision (openQRM-Pro) is a combination of both openQRM and a special provisioning plug-in aimed at enabling rapid server provisioning. openQRM-Pro can provision both physical servers as well as virtual partitions. It does this by using either network boot or by deploying an image on a local disk that supports Linux, Windows and Solaris.

openQRM-Pro has a web-based portal where users can submit requests for resources. openQRM-Pro integrates with an organization’s workflow and approval procedures in the following manner:

1. In the web portal, the user specifies his hardware and software requirements (from a defined list made by the administrator) and determines when these resources are needed.
2. After hitting Submit, the request goes to the approval queue.
3. Requests are approved according to internal policies and procedures.
4. The system administrator can decide whether to provision the resources using physical servers or virtual partitions; whether to use a network boot or local disk deploy; and how many of the required resources to actually provide.
5. openQRM-Pro’s provisioning plug-in acts as a resource scheduler and schedules the required resources to be provisioned at a specific time, according to the original request.
6. At the correct time, openQRM provisions the environment using the requested provisioning method and requested type of resources.
7. openQRM then notifies the user through email regarding provisioned environment details. Detailed logs are kept for SOX compliance.
8. The provisioned environment is monitored for utilization, failures and other conditions.
9. When resources are no longer needed, per the request specifications and/or per the administrator’s decision, the environment is de-provisioned and returns to the available resources pool.

openQRM-pro supports Windows, Linux and Solaris. It also integrates with enterprise storage systems (NAS/NFS or SAN using iSCSI) and with LDAP for user authentication and security.

Want to try it?

We've created a package that includes everything you need to try openQRM-Pro. This package can be downloaded and installed on one of your machines. Below we've listed what you'll receive and what you need to prepare in order to try openQRM-Pro:

What does the package include?

The openQRM-Pro trial package includes everything you need to get openQRM-Pro up and running. It also includes the different components used by openQRM-Pro, such as NFS server, DHCP server, TFTP server and DB server, etc. In addition, the openQRM-Pro trial package comes with the CentOS image built-in, so you can begin provisioning systems as soon as you've finished the installation.

Note: Since the trial package includes a variety of offerings, it is rather large and requires a download of roughly 1GB of data (mostly comprised of the CentOS image itself).

What do you need to prepare?

You will need one machine which should have the following characteristics to install openQRM:

• Pentium 4 1.2GHz or better
• 1GB RAM or more
• 40GB of available storage or more (to be used for golden images and clones)
• 1 100Mbps NIC or more
• RHEL 4 update 2 (default) installed

In addition to the openQRM-Pro machine, you will need a dedicated un-managed switch to connect openQRM-Pro and the available nodes. Note: Since the openQRM-Pro trial package includes a DHCP server, it takes ownership of the connected nodes. Therefore, make sure that the trial environment is encapsulated and not connected to the rest of your network.

Several machines should be connected to the openQRM-Pro network. These machines will serve as the available resources used by openQRM-Pro when needed. Managed servers can be any x86 machine which can handle the CentOS image (typically P4 512MB RAM or better, local hard drive is optional).

How do you use it?

The openQRM-Pro trial package creates a fully configured and functional environment for your testing. Once installed, all you have to do is connect certain machines to the switch, configure them to PXE boot and restart. As they start, openQRM-Pro will automatically add them to the list of available resources.

After adding some machines to the openQRM-Pro control, you can go to the openQRM-Pro request portal and submit a request. You will note that the trial package comes pre-configured with the CentOS image. Submit a request for a CentOS machine, and then go through the approval process to schedule the request.

At the correct time, openQRM-Pro starts the provisioning sequence which includes the following:

1. Cloning of the golden image. This may be time consuming, as cloning is done on a local NFS server. In production environments, we recommend the use of a storage server such as NetApp. openQRM-Pro comes with a NetApp filer integration built-in which allows for instantaneous cloning of images using Snapshot and FlexClone.
2. Image preparation. Images are prepared to be provisioned. This includes creating "personalities" for each of the different instances.
3. Hardware selection. openQRM-Pro chooses hardware from the available pool of resources, according to the original request. Note that in this trial version, openQRM-Pro is configured so that all hardware is deemed suitable for the CentOS image.
4. Deployment. openQRM-Pro then applies the cloned and prepared images to the selected hardware.
5. User notification. Both requestor and administrator are notified via email about the newly provisioned systems.

Resources can be de-provisioned either manually by the administrator or automatically by the system, according to the details of the original request.

Where can I get it?

If you want to try out openQRM-Pro, please submit a request for a trial package. Once done, you will receive an email with details regarding the location of the trial package download site and a more detailed installation guide.

 Click here to get this package and try openQRM Pro today!

Comments (5)

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Tuyen Nguyen said:

Did download Pro Trial and run on my system. I didn't see VMWare plugin from the package. Is it separate download to have VMWare plugin in Pro Trial package? Thanks.

February 09, 2007

Matthias Rechenburg said:

Hi Tuyen, yes, the VMware plugin is a separated plugin which is not included in the Pro Trial package. You can get the VMware plugin for openQRM 2.x on the project download section at sourceforge. For the VMware plugin for openQRM 3.x please contact This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it many thanks all the best, Matt

February 10, 2007

Raymund said:

what happens after the 30 day trial ? do we need to pay anything or can we continue using it? thanks

September 17, 2007

sutian said:

After installed openQRM, I could not see netapp plugins. where can I get netapp plugins ? thanks

October 01, 2007

Mattr said:

Hi Suian, the netapp plugin is not included in the provision demo package. It is a commercial add-on from Qlusters. To get it please concact : This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it many thanks have a nice day, Matt

October 02, 2007