Pattern-type (Part 4): Adding your own monitoring collector to a pattern-type with SmartCloud Application Services

In the previous articles, I explained own to creates pattern-type for a single server, a master-slave and also how to add static scalability to a pattern-type. Now, if we want to have a dynamic scalability, a scalability which react on a monitoring feature, we have to be able to collect information from the server and this exactly what I will explain in this article. Continue reading

Pattern-type (Part 2): Create step-by-step a Master-Slave pattern-type with SmartCloud Application Workload Services

After having created the Create step-by-step a simple pattern-type with SmartCloud Application Workload Services” article, I challenged myself to create a Master-Slave pattern-type. The main difference consist of creating a link between both servers from the Master to the Slave, and retrieve some information from the Slave (ie: IP address) to configure the Master. Continue reading

Pattern-type (Part 1): Create step-by-step a simple pattern-type with SmartCloud Application Workload Services

After reading this article ‘Create and customize virtual application patterns‘ and as being an IT Architect, my first question was ‘How difficult it is to create a pattern type?’. So, I started for my first pattern type ever with a very simple scenario ‘A standalone server’ and try to build a pattern type for it. I know this scenario is very simplistic but it helps to understand the different concepts behind the pattern-type. Other articles will follow with more complex scenarios. I recommend each beginner to start with such scenario as it will teach you the basic concepts, the deployment process, the troubleshooting possibility… Continue reading

Portability between IBM SmartCloud Application Services and other IBMPureSystems/IWD is a reality!

I will demonstrate in this video how to port a virtual application pattern created in IBM SmartCloud Application Services (currently in pilot) to the IBM PureApplication System or IBM Workload Deployer. Continue reading

Using the IBM Workload Plug-in Development Kit

Summary:  Learn to set up the samples environment in Eclipse, create new projects from the command line, build a single plug-in and pattern type with command-line tools, and develop a plug-in with the Eclipse framework. This article provides some basic toolkit operations. The companion article, Create and customize virtual application patterns, describes how to get started with the IBM Workload Plug-in Development Kit (PDK).

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Create and customize virtual application patterns

Summary:  Platform as a Service virtual application patterns are realized by supporting a combination of application-centric deployment models, virtual applications (consisting of individual components and policies), the infrastructure and middleware they employ, and workload-specific content — extensions or “plug-ins” that define components, links, and policies used to describe and deploy virtual application patterns, such as those usable on both the IBM® SmartCloud Enterprise cloud and IBM PureSystems™. This article explains how to get started with the IBM Workload Plug-in Development Kit and on your way to creating and customizing virtual application patterns. The companion article, Using the IBM Workload Plug-in Development Kit demonstrates some basic toolkit operations.

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Auto-Scaling on IBM SmartCloud Enterprise possible? Yes, with IBM SmartCloud Application Services.

I will explain in this article how to scale up and down infrastructure on IBM SmartCloud Enterprise using IBM SmartCloud Application Services (currently in pilot) and specifically the IBM SmartCloud Application Workload Service. This capability is also available on the IBM PureApplication System. Continue reading

Is provisioning topology on IBM SmartCloud Enterprise possible? Yes, with IBM SmartCloud Application Services.

The IBM SmartCloud Enterprise provides APIs. These APIs can be used to automate the deployment of a server topology on IBM SmartCloud Enterprise. I will show in this article that you can now use IBM SmartCloud Application Services (currently in pilot), and specifically the IBM SmartCloud Application Workload Service, to design and deploy your topology. This capability is also available on the IBM PureApplication System. Continue reading

How to monitor and troubleshoot on IBM SmartCloud Application Services.

The IBM SmartCloud Application Workload Service, which is part of IBM SmartCloud Application Services, provides access to log files, virtual machines and middleware monitoring for the virutal application pattern. I will explain how to access this information. Currently IBM SmartCloud Application Services is in pilot. Continue reading