Virtualizing OpenLab CDS Client/Server Systems

Significance of the Topic

Modern analytical laboratories rely on high-performance chromatography data systems to acquire, process and manage large volumes of data. Virtualizing these client/server environments boosts hardware utilization, simplifies maintenance and enables centralized management while maintaining regulatory compliance and data integrity.

Objectives and Overview

This guide outlines the requirements and best practices for virtualizing Agilent OpenLab CDS client/server systems. It covers system architecture, component-level requirements and optimization strategies based on VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V platforms.

Methodology and System Architecture

Agilent OpenLab CDS comprises three core elements: the OpenLab Server (shared services and content management), Agilent Instrument Controllers (AICs) and client workstations. Virtual machines must be provisioned with equivalent CPU, memory and storage resources as physical servers. Network topology ensures instrument connectivity and minimizes latency using virtual switches and dedicated VLANs.

Component-Level Virtualization Requirements

• General requirements: reserve CPU cores and memory per VM; avoid overcommitting host resources; limit snapshots to two or three; disable live migration for critical VMs.
• OpenLab Server: bind license to a static network adapter; distribute server storage across multiple devices and prefer SSDs; follow vendor guidelines for VM optimization.
• External database: deploy SQL Server on a dedicated VM following VMware best practices for high availability and performance.
• AICs: allocate dedicated CPUs and memory; assign separate storage LUNs per VM to handle intensive disk I/O; maintain network proximity to instruments.
• Clients: virtualize using RDS or Citrix; adjust default ports to avoid conflicts; reserve minimal resources to ensure responsive Control Panel, acquisition and analysis modules.

Optimization Strategies

Administrators should implement virtual routers/switches to localize inter-VM traffic and utilize TCP Segmentation Offload (TSO) supported by E1000 and VMXNET3 adapters to reduce CPU overhead. A phased approach involves documenting baseline performance metrics, monitoring response times under peak loads and adjusting resource allocations to maintain acceptable user experience.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Scalability: easily add or reconfigure servers without hardware procurement delays.
• Resource efficiency: improved utilization of compute and storage assets.
• Centralized management: streamlined software updates, backups and security controls.
• Data integrity: controlled environments that support regulatory compliance for GLP/GMP labs.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging developments include integration with cloud platforms for hybrid deployments, containerization of acquisition services, and AI-driven resource optimization. Automation frameworks and infrastructure-as-code will further enhance the agility and reproducibility of analytical IT environments.

Conclusion

Adhering to defined virtualization requirements ensures reliable, high-performance operation of OpenLab CDS systems. A structured optimization workflow helps maintain stability during scaling and supports evolving laboratory demands.

References

• Agilent Technologies. Agilent OpenLab CDS Requirements Guide. Agilent Technologies, 2021.
• Agilent Technologies. Agilent OpenLab Server Hardware and Software Requirements Guide. Agilent Technologies, 2021.
• VMware. Best practices for using snapshots in the vSphere environment (KB 1025279). January 21, 2021.
• Microsoft. Detecting bottlenecks in a virtualized environment. October 17, 2017.
• VMware. Virtual Machine vCPU and vNUMA Rightsizing – Guidelines. March 9, 2017.
• VMware. Architecting Microsoft SQL Server on VMware vSphere: Best Practices Guide. November 2018.
• VMware. vSphere Storage Guide. August 15, 2020.
• VMware. vSphere Networking Guide. 2017.
• VMware. TCP Segmentation Offload. May 31, 2019.
• Agilent Technologies. OpenLab CDS ChemStation Edition Requirements. Agilent Technologies, 2021.