Using Intelligent Power® Manager (IPM) & Intelligent Power® Protector (IPP) on Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

1. Purpose of the document

Both current Eaton's software solutions, Intelligent Power Protector (IPP) and Intelligent Power Manager (IPM), are compatible with VDI environments. A VDI environment is considered a software application compatible with existing IPP and IPM features under many virtualization environments (VMware, Hyper-V, Xen...). The goal of this document is to explain how existing IPM or IPP can protect the VDI environment.

2. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

VDI Concepts

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is the server computing model enabling desktop virtualization, encompassing the hardware and software systems required to support the virtualized environment. VDI is not a product exclusive to VMware. Other VDI vendors include Citrix XenDesktop & Kidaro (now owned by Microsoft). With VDI, virtual desktops are provided by enterprise virtualization servers running products like VMware ESX, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Xen Server. With the addition of VDI products, these desktops can be dynamically created, pooled & shared, or even accessed from a GUI menu, over a web page.

The following diagram illustrates an example of a connection between a client and the virtual desktop infrastructure:

Diagram Description: A network diagram showing multiple Virtual Machines (VMs) running on Virtualization Servers. These servers are connected to an Intelligent Power Manager. Clients connect to the Virtualization Servers via a Remote Connection (Web Client) over a network. The diagram also shows a connection from the client to a Power UPS via USB or network.

VDI Architecture with IPM & IPP

Eaton's software allows power protection for both the "Virtualization Server" and the "Client", provided both are connected to Eaton's UPSs. Eaton provides software solutions to protect the VDI environment. A typical architecture is illustrated below.

There are two options:

• Local Shutdown for Virtualization Servers:
  • IPP installed on each Virtualization Server provides local graceful shutdown.
  • IPP installed on each Client provides local graceful shutdown.
• Remote Shutdown for Virtualization Servers:
  • IPM installed on any server triggers VM's live migration and remote shutdown for all the Virtualization Servers.
  • IPP installed on each Client provides local graceful shutdown.

The diagram below illustrates this architecture:

Diagram Description: A network diagram similar to the previous one, but emphasizing the role of Intelligent Power Manager. It shows Virtualization Servers with VMs connected to an Intelligent Power Manager. Clients connect to these servers. The diagram highlights "Live Migration" as a feature managed by IPM. Power UPS units are shown connected to the servers and clients.

For more information about VDI products:

• Citrix Xen Desktop
• VMware View

3. Eaton's solutions with IPM & IPP

IPM & IPP presentation

• IPM software discovers and supervises Eaton's UPSs and ePDUs connected across a network, either by means of a card or proxy. It supervises the remote servers hosting IPP software and provides local computer graceful shutdown. Eaton's IPM software interface can be accessed remotely using a web browser.
• IPP software provides local computer graceful shutdown. IPP software interface can be accessed remotely using a web browser.

Installation and Configuration

The Intelligent Power Software Suite (IPSS: IPM & IPP) and its documentation can be found on the Eaton website: http://pqsoftware.eaton.com/

Virtualization platform supported

Eaton's software allows protection on virtualized environments like VMware, Microsoft, or Citrix. Please refer to the documentation on the website for more details.

4. Copyrights

Eaton and Eaton Corporation are trade names, trademarks, and/or service marks of Eaton Corporation or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Xen®, XenSource™, XenEnterprise™, XenServer™, XenExpress™, XenCenter™ and logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of XenSource, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other company or product names are used for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.