Workload Deployer

Workload Deployer is targeted for private or on-premise cloud computing environments. It can also be used by service providers providing hosted public clouds and software-as-a-service environments to simplify and standardize repeated deployments.

The successor to the first hardware appliance of its kind (WebSphere CloudBurst Appliance), Workload Deployer stores and secures WebSphere Application Server Hypervisor Edition images and patterns to be published into a cloud, which helps clients more easily and quickly develop, test and deploy business applications, ending the use of manual, complex or time-intensive processes associated with creating application environments. Once finished, resources are automatically returned to the shared resource pool and logged for internal charge-back purposes. Workload Deployer also manages individual user and group access, giving IT managers the right kind of access controls with optimal efficiency rates.

It incorporates more than 10 years of management best practices for cost-effective, rapid, and repeatable application deployment and fully integrates with development and service management tools from IBM Rational and Tivoli brands for a seamless end-to-end process.

• Lower hardware, power, and cooling costs by utilizing shared virtualized infrastructure and driving higher hardware utilization rates in a private cloud

• Streamlines resources and time dedicated to IBM middleware environment configuration and administration

• Pre-loaded with WebSphere Application Server Hypervisor Edition virtual images, the new Web Application Pattern, DB2 patterns and Hypervisor virtual images, and common solution topologies for quick-starts.

• Provides a self-service virtual system management console that sets up and tears down deployed environments based on user-input times

• Simplifies environment setup with the click of a button, with running systems available within minutes

• Frees developers to remain focused on application enhancements

• Supports virtual image customization to include binaries for monitors and corporate governance agents

• Drag & drop tooling for assembling virtual images, scripts, and topologies into customized patterns

• Drag & drop tooling for creating and deploying virtual applications without worrying about the underlying middleware or virtual images

• Publish only best practice, accepted solution topologies for end user deployment

• Enhance repeatability and lower the potential for costly errors by customizing environments once, then capturing those exact configurations to be redeployed with the click of a button.

• "Lock" images, patterns, and even specific parameters (eg, memory size = 1024) to ensure identical, repeated deployments

• Simplified maintenance and management: apply updates to images and patterns once and republish for broader user access

• Intelligent placement algorithms optimize resource utilization based on cloud activity.

• Tracks and reports usage statistics based on user and groups utilizing virtual images and patterns. Management reports can be used for internal chargeback purposes.

• REST APIs allow for standards-based integration into existing data center management software, including Tivoli

• Provides an enhanced level of dynamics through service-policy-based management, allowing for the enforcement of health policies and response time goals, in addition to managing the rollout of new application versions.

• An appliance serves as an encrypted vault where images, patterns, and permissions are stored.

• An appliance has a self-disabling switch which is triggered if the appliance cover is removed.

• The Workload Deployer provides granular access controls, allowing administrators to restrict visibility, pattern creation privileges, and deployment rights to individuals and groups.

• The Workload Deployer integrates with existing LDAP directories to tie into existing access control lists.

• Passwords for virtual systems deployed are set at the time of deployment, guaranteeing root access only to credentialed parties.