HP Insight Virtualization Manager 6.3 Software with Logical Server Management User Guide

4 Managing logical servers
A logical server is a set of configuration information that you create, activate, and move across
physical and virtual machines. It contains the logical server definition and description, including
the server compute resources (for example, number of CPU cores and amount of memory), and
the server connections to storage fabric and networks.
When activated, a logical server is applied to the creation of a virtual machine using
hypervisor-based software or to a bare-metal server blade using HP Virtual Connect technology.
Logical servers can be defined in Virtualization Manager using the Create Logical Server wizard,
or created and activated via the import of an existing server blade or virtual machine.
Virtualization Manager also provides a convenient way for you to move logical servers by allowing
you to drag and drop an active logical server from one system to another. When you select a
target on which to move a logical server, you are shown a Headroom rating that displays between
one and five stars, with the higher number of stars denoting more excess resources are available
on the target server.
NOTE: You can use the logical servers feature in Virtualization Manager only on a Windows
CMS, although you can create and perform operations on logical servers that run on a Windows,
Linux, or HP-UX system on HP ProLiant, Integrity, and certain non-HP servers.
This chapter covers the following information about working with logical servers from Virtualization
Manager:
• Using logical servers (see “Using logical servers in Virtualization Manager” (page 37))
• Understanding logical servers (see “Logical servers in visualization perspectives” (page 38))
• Performing logical server operations (see “Logical server operations” (page 40))
• Authorizations, requirements and configuration (see “Authorizations, requirements, and
configuration” (page 51))
For information about defining logical server storage, see “Defining storage for logical servers”
(page 71).
Using logical servers in Virtualization Manager
The logical servers feature in HP Insight Dynamics is advanced infrastructure management software
that allows you to analyze and optimize physical and virtual resources in the same way.
The logical servers feature in Virtualization Manager allows you to perform tasks such as the
following:
• Populate an enclosure
• Load balance servers by moving a running logical servers from one location to another
• Evacuate servers, for routine maintenance or in case of disaster
Using logical servers within the Virtualization Manager provides the following benefits:
• Allows you to use a common interface and management tools for both virtual machines and
servers with Virtual Connect.
• Allows you to deploy resources only when needed. For example, some applications are needed
only during parts of a business cycle.
• Increases business agility and flexibility by decoupling business processing from physical
hardware, allowing you to respond to rapid changes in demand.
Using logical servers in Virtualization Manager 37