Technical Brief November 2007
Reap the rewards of Server Virtualization
If you're looking to improve the efficiency of your data center or dramatically reduce your IT costs, server virtualization and consolidation may be the right strategy for your business. Server virtualization allows you to run multiple systems on a single source saving you, not only the cost of hardware, but also the associated costs of power, space, cooling, maintenance, and administration.
Server virtualization may sound complex, but it is actually a very simple idea. Today it is considered a mainstream technology and is a popular solution for data center management for all types and sizes of companies. Basically, server virtualization allows you to run multiple guest operating systems which can all be the same or all different on a host operating system on a single physical server. The operating systems are partitioned so that each application resides on its own virtual server or virtual machine on the hardware platform.
There are a multitude of opportunities and benefits associated with server virtualization for small business. The overall benefit is to ultimately lower the total cost of ownership, which is accomplished through other benefits of server virtualization, including the ability to:
- Eliminate server sprawl; regain physical space in the data center
- Reduce in hardware maintenance costs because of the decreased number of physical servers
- Seamlessly scale and manage the infrastructure based on varying demands
- Increased efficiency - while maintaining a seamless, high-quality user experience
- Improve performance and resource utilization
- Speed up provisioning of new services
- Rapidly develop and deploy applications while avoiding downtime due to outages or maintenance windows
Server virtualization is achieved by deploying virtualization software. There are many software options on the market, but those especially geared for small-to-medium businesses include:
VMWare - VMWare has been the champion of software virtualization. Founded in 1998, VMWare brought virtualization to the mainstream X86 computing platform. VMWare offers several products specifically for small-to-medium businesses at a range of price points with a wide variety of features and benefits for a host of server environments.
Windows Virtual Server - Windows Virtual Server is for those who have a Microsoft-only environment, either Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 operating systems. Microsoft provides two versions of its Windows Virtual Server 2005: Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition. Standard Edition supports host servers with up to 4 processors; Enterprise Edition supports host servers that have as many as 32 processors. The enterprise edition is available as a free download.
XenSource - XenSource has been on the market for about three years. Based on Xen, an open source project sponsored by Linux distributors, it is a practical solution for those who prefer open source solutions. XenSource is also the more cost-effective alternative to VMWare, although it does not yet have the proven track record.
If server virtualization sounds like an effective solution for your business, Spirinet Technology Services can help you decide and plan the best way to deploy virtualization based on your IT environment. For more information, visit us at www.spirinet.com or call 1-877-DIAL-MSP
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