Virtualizing OpenLab CDS Client/Server Systems

Importance of the topic

Virtualizing Agilent OpenLab CDS client/server systems enables laboratories to consolidate hardware, streamline maintenance, and scale analytical operations on demand. It reduces capital expenditure on dedicated physical servers, improves resource utilization, and allows rapid provisioning of new analysis environments while maintaining compliance and performance.

Objectives and overview

This guide presents a comprehensive set of requirements and best practices for deploying OpenLab CDS (including EZChrom and ChemStation editions) in virtual environments such as VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenApp, and Remote Desktop Services. It outlines system architecture, component-specific virtualization rules, and strategies to ensure reliable operation under real-time data acquisition and processing workloads.

Methodology

Deployment follows a component-based approach:

• Reserve dedicated CPU cores and memory per VM to avoid overcommitment.
  
• Provision host hardware with capacity exceeding total VM reservations.
  
• Use SSD-backed, distributed disk storage to minimize I/O bottlenecks.
  
• Configure virtual switches/routers so inter-VM traffic stays on the host bus.
  
• Avoid snapshots for routine backups; limit to two or three and only when idle.
  
• Disable live migration of running AIC VMs to prevent interruptions in instrument control.

Instrumentation used

• VMware vSphere (ESXi and vCenter Server)
• Microsoft Windows Hyper-V
• Citrix XenApp and Microsoft Remote Desktop Services
• Microsoft SQL Server (external database server)

Main results and discussion

Adhering to these guidelines ensures stable, high-performance virtualization of all OpenLab components:

• Shared Services and Content Management servers require a static MAC address and dedicated network adaptor for license binding.
• AICs demand multiple storage devices per VM to handle intensive log and data file I/O; inadequate provisioning leads to performance degradation and potential data loss.
• Client virtualization must honor port assignments to avoid conflicts (for example, changing the default 27000 port under XenApp).
• Physical AICs provide uninterrupted instrument control during network outages; virtual AICs must be weighed against this risk.

Benefits and practical applications of the method

Implementing these practices enables laboratories to:

• Scale analytical capacity by spinning up additional virtual AICs or client sessions.
• Streamline software updates and system backups without instrument downtime.
• Optimize hardware investments by sharing resources across multiple labs and applications.

Future trends and opportunities

As containerization, software-defined infrastructure, and hybrid cloud platforms mature, analytical labs can anticipate further flexibility in deploying OpenLab services. Integration with infrastructure-as-code tools and automated scaling policies will enhance responsiveness to varying workloads, while edge virtualization may allow closer proximity to instruments for ultra-low latency.

Conclusion

By following vendor-tested virtualization requirements, laboratories can achieve reliable, high-performance operation of Agilent OpenLab CDS systems. Proper resource reservation, storage distribution, network configuration, and controlled optimization maintain system stability under real-time data acquisition demands.

References

• Agilent OpenLab CDS Requirements Guide; Agilent Technologies, 2021.
• Agilent OpenLab Server Hardware and Software Requirements Guide; Agilent Technologies, 2021.
• VMware Knowledge Base articles: “Best practices for using snapshots in the vSphere environment (1025279)”, “Virtual Machine vCPU and vNUMA Rightsizing – Guidelines”.
• Microsoft documentation: “Detecting bottlenecks in a virtualized environment”.
• VMware vSphere Storage Guide (7.0).