As virtual machines become more ubiquitous both vendors and managers will need to focus on managing the utility infrastructure to get the most value for this technology. Innovative IT decision-makers should be using this technology to create more agile and cost-effective data center infrastructures.

Mainframe computers, in particular the IBM System z (360/370/390 family), have been a mainstay of enterprise computing for over 40 years. Now “lower-end” computers are truly moving into mainframe territory and System z shipments are fading – fast. Mainframes will continue to find a home in many enterprises, but will be relegated more to legacy applications than new business requirements.

Server virtualization and iSCSI networked storage are emerging as a natural match particularly for small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) buying their first storage area network. Info-Tech recommends that enterprises considering a storage area network (SAN) purchase should consider broader strategic goals of availability, recoverability, and infrastructure flexibility. Virtualization is a likely...

Virtualization has definite potential for helping the enterprise reduce PC management complexity while increasing operating efficiency and security. Enterprises with large and growing desktop deployments should investigate the potential of hosting, streaming, and distributing virtualized software instances either separately or in combination.

A hypervisor is the software that carves a single physical computer into multiple virtual machines. As competition heats up in the virtualization space, competitors will argue the relative strengths of their hypervisors. This note reviews how a hypevisor works, as well as what differentiates the leading competitors: ESX Server, Xen, and the “coming soon” Microsoft Hyper-V.

Networked storage file virtualization can lead to better utilization of Network Attached Storage (NAS) appliances and other storage servers. This technology – which is also sometimes called NAS virtualization and File Area Networks (FANs) – will be attractive to larger enterprises with extensive NAS investment looking for a consolidation alternative to Storage Area Networks (SANs).

The VFrame Data Center appliance begins Cisco’s trip into integrated server and network infrastructure virtualization. The appliance allows the rapid repurposing of servers whether they are running virtualized or one-off applications. For larger data centers based on Cisco networking, the appliance provides enhanced server management capabilities.

Leading virtualization vendors such as VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft want to offer one-stop virtualization “from the desktop to the data center.” These comprehensive approaches involve more than one kind of virtual abstraction. Understand what differentiates the various forms of virtualization.

In an ideal storage management world, all storage beyond the network switch can be abstracted into logical storage volumes. However, in the real world, storage systems are differentiated by proprietary management. Despite concerns over vendor lock-in, IT decision makers should consider the real storage management benefits that can come from virtualization.

A storage area network (SAN) is a critical requirement for providing virtual servers with high availability and dynamic provisioning. However, the same technology that virtualizes servers can also be used to create a virtual SAN array. Smaller enterprises and branch office virtual machine deployment can reap significant savings from a virtual SAN.

Developments in thin client and virtualization have renewed interest in thin client as a replacement for PCs. Those looking into the technology should not make acquisition cost savings their reason for investing in thin client. Long-term maintenance and operational savings remain the most important planning consideration.

The consolidation of servers within the data center provides well defined savings for the enterprise. By creating and implementing a clearly defined migration strategy for existing servers, the effectiveness and efficiency of any consolidation strategy can be further enhanced.

Consolidating and virtualizing servers that were previously distributed means weaning internal customers off the idea of owning server boxes. Chargebacks and SLAs provide a solid framework for communicating and negotiating with business leaders, and managing expectations in a centralized data center model.

Virtualization of x86/x64 architecture is not a strategy; it is a tactical measure that addresses a specific impediment to achieve strategic goals in server consolidation. Virtual machine isolation enables more applications to run on fewer physical processors. In addition to savings in hardware acquisition and maintenance, virtualization sets the stage for building a responsive utility...

VMware is currently the 800-pound gorilla of virtualization for x86 server infrastructure. For due diligence in virtualization spending, decision makers need to know why VMware is currently a leader, who the potential rivals are, and how the situation is likely to change going forward. This note maps the current landscape for virtual server software and includes Microsoft, Virtual Iron, VMware,...

This assessment tool provides a high-level view of the current infrastructure in the context of technical, business, and operational readiness. Use this tool to decide which servers are ideal candidates for virtualization as well as which servers should await further planning and development.

Business and operational assessments are as critical for virtual server implementation as is the technical assessment that identifies virtualization candidates. People and process issues are more likely to be an impediment to implementation than technical limitations. Identify and resolve these issues through assessments that establish baselines business and operational measures for...

The road to server virtualization and consolidation is not without its potholes. Examined are five common virtualization implementation challenges and how they can be mitigated. Very few virtualization challenges are purely technical, but rather stem from shortfalls in planning. Do not take an ad hoc approach to virtualization. Avoid the pitfalls by focusing on application provisioning and...

The best approach to virtual server implementation combines planning for a foundational virtual infrastructure with careful, incremental adoption. While planning is critical, don’t let external involvement bog down or stall initial implementation efforts. Use a business and operational assessment to define the trigger point for the larger planning effort.

The method and tools employed for physical to virtual (P2V) machine migration will vary depending on the scope of the project and number of servers involved. For a comprehensive migration of a large number of heterogeneous servers, PlateSpin has been the gold standard for P2V management. However, VMware’s latest offering, VMware Converter 3, has gained considerable ground and is priced...

Technical assessment of current server infrastructure is one of three critical assessments necessary for an effective virtual server implementation. The other important assessments are a business assessment and an IT operational assessment. The important results of the technical assessment will be a list of virtualization candidate servers, and baseline utilization data for capacity planning of...

After a thorough technical assessment of virtualization candidates, the next step in implementing virtual server infrastructure is to assess the physical server resources needed to support an optimum virtual infrastructure. Use capacity planning, server sizing, and virtualization benchmarking tools to gauge the required hardware investment.

Info-Tech sees the best approach to large scale virtual server implementation as one that combines planning for a foundational virtual infrastructure with careful and incremental adoption. Having employed the ITA Premium “Virtualization Scope Analysis” worksheet to consider who and what will be impacted by virtualization, use this template to develop a long-term project definition for...

The most often cited challenges to virtualization are related to people and processes, not technology. Take some time to think about all the people and processes that would be impacted by virtualization. Use this downloadable worksheet to identify goals, dependencies, opportunities, and potential barriers to virtual machine adoption.

In a typical scenario, a modest 100-server shop will not be moved to server virtualization by a strategic imperative. Rather, the trigger will be the acquisition of partitionable x86 servers as part of a regular hardware refresh. Planning can make the difference between this implementation being a one-off effort with limited return on investment or the beginning of a new way of managing...

VMware’s High Availability (HA) feature provides almost instant virtual machine failover from one physical machine to another. However, failing over an entire site from one location to another has not been automatic. VMware’s Site Recovery Manager not only enables this capability, it also provides a means for testing automated site recovery in Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP).

With Storage VMotion, it is now possible to non-disruptively move storage volumes used by VMware virtual machines from one storage device to another. VMware users should take a careful and planned approach to using this technology to non-disruptively optimize storage in their virtual infrastructures.