Server Virtualization

During this week I have had the opportunity to assist to a Server Virtualization conference. I would like to emphasize some considerations the speakers mentioned:

Before to virtualize a server you should perform an application analysis before the infrastructure analysis. Why?

First, applications are much more constrained during virtualization from support perspective.

Second, when virtualizing OS upgrades required across applications can require application re-compilation.

Third, take into account that some software can need detailed performance metrics over a period of time to gauge number of CPUs / memory required to virtualize.

In this session they were talking about the Greenfield case of study, focusing on the benefits in terms of energy saved, m2 saved, C02….. and the numbers speak alone.

From other case of study they focused on the processes involved in the creation of a virtual server for a specific project in the framework of a big virtual infrastructure. This case of study was genial and the benefit in terms of time is very good. For instance, you can save 70% of time in offering a new server environment creating a virtual server instead of buy a conventional one.

Other issues mentioned:
  • Gartner predict that 40% of all outsourced systems will be virtualized by 2010.
  • They commented how there are old infrastructures with archives that consume a lot of time / money per year and that really today they can be stored in a pen drive.

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