diff --git a/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/README.md b/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/README.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..db3ab302 --- /dev/null +++ b/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,205 @@ +# Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) on Google Cloud + +Organizations are increasingly looking to migrate their on-premises virtualized infrastructure to the public cloud to gain on-demand scalability and access to powerful cloud services like Vertex AI and BigQuery. This hybrid multicloud approach also helps shift IT spending from large capital expenditures to a more predictable operational model. Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) provides the ideal foundation for this strategy. + +NC2 delivers Nutanix's enterprise class data center software (virtualization, storage, networking, management) via a SaaS console on to Google Cloud Compute Engine (GCE) Bare metal instances in customer’s Projects and VPC. + +NC2 on Google Cloud allows organizations to run their existing applications and workloads in the public cloud on the full Nutanix software stack, like they would on premises, eliminating the need for application refactoring or rearchitecting, accelerating migration to the cloud. When combined with Nutanix deployments in other locations (e.g. data center, edge, service provider etc.) NC2 can also provide a consistent operating model across public and private clouds, simplifying operations and providing flexibility for applications to run where they need to, when they need to. + +Additionally, when migrating from legacy virtualisation platforms to Nutanix, organizations can take advantage of Nutanix's “Move” migration tool at no additional cost to quickly and seamlessly migrate virtual machines into an NC2 on Google Cloud cluster. + +This document is intended for cloud architects, cloud platform administrators, Nutanix administrators, and virtualization engineers who are considering NC2 on Google Cloud. The document is intended to provide high level technical information and assumes that the reader is familiar with common cloud, virtualization, storage and networking concepts. + +# Components of the Nutanix Cloud Clusters with Google Cloud Solution + +Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) on Google Cloud integrates Nutanix Cloud Platform (NCP) with the underlying Google Cloud infrastructure. + +![NC2 on Google Cloud Overview](./images/ntnx-gc-img01-overview.png "NC2 on Google Cloud Overview") + +*Figure. High-level NC2 on Google Cloud architecture overview — NC2 Console, Google Cloud VPC, GCE bare‑metal instances running Nutanix AHV, Controller VMs, Prism Central, Flow Virtual Networking, and connectivity to Google Cloud services and the NC2 Console.* + + +The solution uses the following components: + +**Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) Console** + +The NC2 console is a multicloud control plane used to deploy, manage, expand, and shrink NC2 clusters in supported public clouds, including Google Cloud. + +**Google Compute Engine [bare metal instances](https://docs.cloud.google.com/compute/docs/instances/bare-metal-instances)** + +Google Compute Engine (GCE) provides the bare metal instances on which the NCP solution runs. These bare metal instances appear in the Google Cloud Console like any other GCE instances and are distinct from the Google [Bare Metal Solution](https://cloud.google.com/bare-metal/) (BMS). Running on GCE bare metal simplifies networking integration, capacity planning and access to other Google Cloud services. + +[**Nutanix AHV**](https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/details?targetId=AHV-Admin-Guide:AHV-Admin-Guide) + +Nutanix AHV is the only virtualization solution supported with NC2. It is a fully functional, enterprise-ready KVM-based hypervisor that is integrated into NCP for simplified deployment and management. + +Nutanix AHV runs directly on the GCE bare metal instances, providing the foundation for running VMs and other Nutanix services. + +**Nutanix Controller VM (CVM)** + +The CVM runs the core Nutanix software-defined storage layer [Nutanix AOS](https://www.nutanix.com/products/nutanix-cloud-infrastructure/distributed-storage) and cluster-level control plane. Each AHV host has a CVM and uses the bare metal local SSD to create the AOS storage layer for use by guest VMs and containers. + +**AOS Storage** + +The workload storage for NC2 comes from the locally attached [Titanium SSD](https://docs.cloud.google.com/compute/docs/disks/local-ssd) (NVMe disks) in the GCE bare metal instances. The CVMs run [Nutanix AOS](https://www.nutanix.com/products/nutanix-cloud-infrastructure/distributed-storage) and use the locally attached SSDs to resiliently persist the workload data and provide a feature-rich set of enterprise data services such as snapshots, replication, iSCSI presentation, and Container Storage Interface (CSI) presentation. Each bare metal node also consumes a Google Cloud Hyperdisk volume that is attached to the bare metal node to run Nutanix AHV. + +[**Prism Central**](https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/details?targetId=Prism-Central-Admin-Center-Guide:Prism-Central-Admin-Center-Guide) + +Prism Central is deployed on the created cluster (unless another Prism Central instance in the same region is available) as a VM and provides the day-to-day management interface for workloads on the NC2 instance and Day 2 operations, just as it does for on-premises clusters. + +[**Nutanix Flow Virtual Networking**](https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/details?targetId=Nutanix-Flow-Virtual-Networking-Guide:Nutanix-Flow-Virtual-Networking-Guide) + +Flow Virtual Networking (FVN) is mandatory for NC2 on Google Cloud deployments and is used to simplify the creation, isolation, and management of software-defined networks for VMs. + +**Connectivity** + +The NC2 cluster (hosts, CVMs, and Prism Central) must have connectivity to the NC2 Console for management. This connectivity is automatically set up at deployment and must not be blocked to ensure the normal operation of the cluster. + +## NC2 Console and Deploying Nutanix Cloud Clusters on Google Cloud + +You can access the Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) console with your existing account at [my.nutanix.com](https://my.nutanix.com). You can use the console to deploy NC2 on Google Cloud and manage tasks like health remediation and expanding and condensing your clusters. On-premises Prism Central instances can manage your deployed NC2 instance alongside your on-premises clusters. For Day 2 operations, Prism Central can also manage AOS and AHV upgrades for on-premises, remote or branch office, and cloud-based Nutanix clusters. + +![NC2 on Google Cloud architecture overview](./images/ntnx-gc-img02-portal.png "NC2 on Google Cloud overview") + +*Figure. Nutanix Cloud Clusters Management; alt text: You can use the Nutanix Cloud Clusters console to provision Nutanix clusters on Google Cloud and use Prism Central to manage Google Cloud resources.* + +The NC2 Console connects to the Google Cloud Compute Engine APIs and uses Service Accounts to orchestrate the building of the NC2 cluster and the ongoing operations. + +The NC2 console provides the following services: + +* Obtaining and managing bare metal instances +* Ensuring that you create and use the correct IAM roles for deployment +* Creating virtual private cloud firewall rules to help secure your Google Cloud resources +* Monitoring the health of the physical hardware +* Managing node placement strategy and removing or adding nodes based on cluster health + +You must maintain connectivity between the NC2 instance in Google Cloud and the NC2 console at all times to ensure that the cluster runs smoothly. + +The deployment process for Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) on Google Cloud follows these high level steps: + +1. Set up or access an active Google Cloud subscription and project. + +2. Configure the necessary Google Cloud APIs and create a Service Account with the required IAM roles and permissions. + +3. (Optional) Configure networking in Google Cloud, including a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and the necessary subnets, or use a VPC created automatically during cluster creation. + +4. Create a My Nutanix account and subscribe to the NC2 service. + +5. Add your Google Cloud account to an organization in the NC2 console. + +6. Create a Nutanix Cluster in a new or existing Google Cloud VPC using the NC2 console. + +The NC2 console fully automates the deployment of the NC2 cluster in Google Cloud, and you can see its progress, including any issues, on the cluster dashboard. For more information on how to deploy NC2 with Google Cloud, see the [Nutanix Cloud Clusters on Google Cloud Deployment and User Guide](https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/details?targetId=Nutanix-Cloud-Clusters-Google-Cloud:Nutanix-Cloud-Clusters-Google-Cloud). + +After you deploy it, an NC2 cluster operates similarly to other Nutanix clusters: + +* Use Nutanix Life Cycle Manager in Prism Central to manage the software life cycle on the NC2 cluster. + +* Use Prism Central to manage workloads running on the cluster for an operational experience consistent with on-premises deployments. + +* Use Nutanix Move to migrate VMs from existing environments (ESXi, Hyper-V, or on-premises AHV) to NC2 on Google Cloud. + +* Manage all cluster hardware life cycle operations—deployment, expansion, and node replacements—through the NC2 console. + +Unlike datacenter or edge-based Nutanix deployments, NC2 deployments can replace faulty hardware, potentially in minutes, if the Nutanix software stack detects an issue. + +## Deployment Considerations for NC2 on Google Cloud + +Ensure that you have [sufficient quotas](https://docs.cloud.google.com/docs/quotas/view-manage) to provision the Google Cloud components and have granted the NC2 console access to your Google Cloud project. + +Ensure that you have reserved sufficient Nutanix licensing entitlements for the NC2 cluster you provision. For information on licensing NC2 and other Nutanix products, see [Nutanix Cloud Platform Software Options](https://www.nutanix.com/products/cloud-platform/software-options). + +Sizing your NC2 solution is best completed by using the Nutanix Sizer tool under the guidance of a Nutanix Systems Engineer or a qualified Nutanix Partner. For information on the Google Cloud bare metal instances compatible, and which regions have been qualified for use with NC2 see [Planning for deployment](https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/details?targetId=Nutanix-Cloud-Clusters-Google-Cloud:nc2-clusters-google-cloud-plan-deployment-c.html). + +For information about the Nutanix features, capabilities, and products that are qualified and supported for NC2 on Google Cloud in the General Availability release, see the [Compatibility and Interoperability Matrix](https://portal.nutanix.com/page/compatibility-interoperability-matrix/nutanix-cloud-clusters/compatibility). + +For the latest information on qualified Nutanix Technology Alliance Partner software, see the [Partner Software Validation page](https://portal.nutanix.com/page/compatibility-interoperability-matrix/software) in the Compatibility and Interoperability Matrix. If you have another technology to integrate with NC2 on Google Cloud, contact your Nutanix representative. + +## NC2 High Availability and Fault Tolerance + +Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) clusters are inherently highly resilient. We recommend sizing Nutanix clusters with n \+ 1 (replication factor 2\) or n \+ 2 (replication factor 3\) resilience so that they can accommodate node failures without the overall cluster capacity dropping below the design requirement. If a bare metal node fails, NC2 automatically provisions a new instance from Google Cloud and adds it to the cluster to restore health and full capacity (n \+ 1 or n \+ 2\) resilience within minutes. + +To ensure high availability, Nutanix uses a placement strategy that distributes the bare metal nodes across different fault domains or racks in a Google Cloud availability zone. This placement strategy maps to the Nutanix rack-awareness feature, ensuring that data replicas are written to different racks and allowing the cluster to tolerate a rack failure for both replication factor 2 and 3 scenarios while maintaining data and service availability. + +For more information on planning a deployment, see the [Nutanix Cloud Clusters on Google Cloud Deployment and User Guide](https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/details?targetId=Nutanix-Cloud-Clusters-Google-Cloud:Nutanix-Cloud-Clusters-Google-Cloud). We recommend that you consult with Nutanix Hybrid Cloud Solutions Architects or engage Nutanix Professional Services or a qualified Nutanix Services partner. + +## Networking for NC2 on Google Cloud + +You can deploy Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) on Google Cloud into an existing Google Cloud Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and its subnets, or you can create a VPC and subnets specifically for NC2 in a project at deployment. VMs and containers running on the cluster can connect to the internet, native Google Cloud services, and on-premises datacenters using WAN networking (virtual private network, Google Cloud Router, Multiprotocol Label Switching). + +NC2 on Google Cloud requires Nutanix Flow Virtual Networking and does not support native VLAN-type networking. Flow Virtual Networking is a software-defined networking solution that abstracts the underlying Google Cloud network, providing a consistent networking model that works seamlessly with on-premises Nutanix deployments. Flow Virtual Networking simplifies the creation, isolation, and management of networks for user VMs. It requires Prism Central as its control plane. + +Flow Virtual Networking for NC2 on Google Cloud has the following capabilities: + +* Flow Virtual Networking creates an overlay network for user VMs, allowing you to create virtual networks (VPCs) and subnets in Prism Central independent of the underlying Google Cloud network topology. + +* Flow Virtual Networking provides a unified networking experience across on-premises and Google Cloud environments, simplifying hybrid connectivity and policy management. + +* For communication between user VMs on different physical hosts, the overlay network uses Geneve encapsulation. + +* User VMs can connect to external Google Cloud networks, the internet, and native Google Cloud services, such as Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) and BigQuery. + +* You can provision user VMs to a network regardless of network address translation (NAT). + + \> If you wish to use NAT external (to the NC2 cluster) connectivity, floating IP addresses can be assigned to facilitate inbound connectivity to VMs. + +![NC2 on Google Cloud network architecture diagram](./images/ntnx-gc-img03-network.png "NC2 on Google Cloud network architecture diagram") + +*Figure: Flow Virtual Networking for NC2 on Google Cloud Architecture Overview; alt text: High-level overview of Flow Virtual Networking for the Nutanix Cloud Clusters on Google Cloud solution.* + +**NC2 Network Diagram Component Descriptions** + +**Google Cloud** \- Represents the Google Cloud customer Project + +**Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)** \- The Google Cloud VPC in which the NC2 cluster is deployed hitherto referred to as the “The Cluster VPC”. This is distinct from some of the other VPCs in the diagram that are Nutanix Flow VPCs within the Nutanix Flow Virtual Networking (FVN or just Flow) overlay. + +**Google Subnet** \- A native Google Cloud subnet as distinct from a Nutanix FVN overlay subnet. + +**VPC Firewall** \- A Google Cloud VPC firewall is a distributed, stateful, virtual firewall that regulates traffic to and from your Compute Engine instances and in and out of the NC2 cluster. + +**Cloud NAT Gateway** \- The North / South network traffic internet ingress and egress is via the Cloud NAT Gateway including the communications between the NC2 cluster and the NC2 Console. + +**Google Cloud Native Services** \- Services can be accessed over the internet or via one or more of the [VPC Private Access Options](https://docs.cloud.google.com/vpc/docs/private-access-options). + +**Cloud Router** \- The overall network traffic router for the Google Cloud VPC. + +**Cluster (Management) Subnet** \- A Google Cloud native subnet within the Cluster VPC in which the bare metal nodes are deployed, as well as Prism Central and the NAT range. + +**Nodes** \- Compute Engine bare metal instances, i.e. server hardware used as “Nutanix Nodes”. + +**Prism Central** \- The Nutanix multi-cluster control plane, required for the first NC2 cluster in a Google Cloud region, subsequent clusters can use the first Prism Central or can have their own. + +**Prism Central Subnet** \- A /29 range within Cluster Management Subnet that’s reserved for Prism Central VMs and VIP. + +**NAT Range** \- A Secondary IP range within the Cluster Management (Google Cloud) Subnet used for the FVN networking Transit VPC. + +**No-Nat Range** \- An IP range within the Cluster Management (Google Cloud) Subnet used for the Flow networking Transit VPC. This IP range is configured within the Nutanix NC2 Console at deployment. + +Both of the above IP ranges need to be configured within the Nutanix NC2 Console at deployment. If using an automatically created VPC the subnets will be created by the NC2 Console. If deploying into an existing VPC, they will need to be manually pre-created through the Google Cloud Console and then configured in the NC2 Console. + +**Flow VPCs** \- Flow VPCs are Virtual Private Clouds within the Flow Virtual Networking (FVN) overlay networking that is mandatory when using NC2 on Google Cloud (instead of using “VLAN” type networking). These Flow VPCs host the User VM subnets within the NC2 solution. + +**Other Subnets** **for Google Cloud resources** \- Subnets within “The Cluster VPC” can host a range of other compute engine instances and other google cloud services via Private Google Access (PGA), Private Service Access (PSA) or Private Service Connect (PSC) into your VPC. + +**VPC Network Peering \-** The Cluster VPC can be attached to other Google Cloud VPCs via a VPC Peering. It can also connect back to on premises or edge environments. It is recommended that connectivity to external, non google cloud environments is via a dedicated “Connectivity VPC” in Google Cloud. + +# Procurement and Licensing for NC2 on Google Cloud + +You can procure the Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) software licenses Necessary to run on Google Cloud through the following channels: + +* **Google Cloud Marketplace**: You can purchase Nutanix Software term licenses through the [Google Cloud Marketplace](https://console.cloud.google.com/marketplace/product/ntnx-prod-marketplace/ntnx-sw-licenses), potentially taking advantage of existing Google Cloud spend commitments. +* **Bring Your Own Licenses (BYOL)**: Bring existing Nutanix software entitlements used for on-premises deployments to NC2 on Google Cloud NC2 or purchase new Nutanix subscriptions through a Nutanix resale partner. +* **NC2 billing console**: Purchase overages and pay-as-you-go licensing through the NC2 billing console. + +For more information on licensing NC2 and other Nutanix products, see [Nutanix Cloud Platform Software Options](https://www.nutanix.com/products/cloud-platform/software-options). + +# References + +* [Google Cloud Marketplace listing](https://console.cloud.google.com/marketplace/product/ntnx-prod-marketplace/ntnx-sw-licenses) +* [Google Partner Page: Nutanix](https://cloud.google.com/find-a-partner/partner/nutanix-inc) +* NC2 on Google Cloud [Nutanix User Guide](https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/details?targetId=Nutanix-Cloud-Clusters-Google-Cloud:Nutanix-Cloud-Clusters-Google-Cloud) +* [Test Drive](https://cloud.nutanixtestdrive.com/login?type=nc2gcp) \- Experience NC2 on Google Cloud for yourself +* [Nutanix Announcement Blog](http://nutanix.com/blog/announcing-nutanix-cloud-clusters-nc2-on-google-cloud) +* [Google Cloud Announcement Blog](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__cloud.google.com_blog_topics_partners_nutanix-2Dnc2-2Dgenerally-2Davailable-2Dgoogle-2Dcloud&d=DwMFaQ&c=s883GpUCOChKOHiocYtGcg&r=NuyjJL7o-WqXBVvXhGEGy7vgNBdMUZkT0L_LWKRx_d8&m=8OqOfmpcA684UAMEhKr-H8HbHkfiy4IPj0S3qxcmoLiAJN6yFPDGqleWlUCLIZ0S&s=PVutNzHX1ttDVPhhpVxzxZc4AVIvrNBoxlxEIEYe910&e=) +* Nutanix.com NC2 on Google Cloud [page](https://www.nutanix.com/products/nutanix-cloud-clusters/google-cloud) +* [Hardware Spec Sheet](https://www.nutanix.com/products/hardware-platforms/specsheet?platformProvider=NC2%20on%20Google%20Cloud) \- Nutanix compatible Hardware Spec sheets including GCE bare metal diff --git a/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/ntnx-gc-img01-overview.png b/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/ntnx-gc-img01-overview.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bded932a Binary files /dev/null and b/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/ntnx-gc-img01-overview.png differ diff --git a/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/ntnx-gc-img02-portal.png b/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/ntnx-gc-img02-portal.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1976a9ab Binary files /dev/null and b/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/ntnx-gc-img02-portal.png differ diff --git a/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/ntnx-gc-img03-network.png b/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/ntnx-gc-img03-network.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000..eb9d9497 Binary files /dev/null and b/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/ntnx-gc-img03-network.png differ diff --git a/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/old - ntnx-gc-img03-network.png b/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/old - ntnx-gc-img03-network.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000..012a96c9 Binary files /dev/null and b/projects/migrate-nutanix-to-google-cloud/images/old - ntnx-gc-img03-network.png differ