Typical to most server virtualization projects, the purpose is gaining overall computer utilization via reducing physical server count. It is common for new and more powerful servers to be deployed as virtual hosts. In contrast, only a handful of instances of very safe workloads are virtualized. This results in server count reduction, with computer utilization staying about the same, as afforded by the new, more powerful replacement servers. While the capacity for more servers to join the cluster now exists, a new requirement is careful planning, since the next generation of workloads are more mission-critical.

Gain Storage Space and Safely via Virtualization

The storage savings can be tremendous if more physical servers can be converted into their virtual counterparts. There is the hard reduction in the number of servers, which leads to a reduction in the power and cooling required for those servers. Consequently, more servers can be managed by the current number of admins. The challenge is making these upcoming migrations predictably safe.

Surprisingly enough, the current, stand-alone server environment can be monitored in real time by utilizing tools like those from Tek-Tools Software. At that point, the analysis can be compared and contrasted with the virtual environment to determine which systems can be prioritized and are best suited for virtualization. To help forecast the impact, simulations can be run which will show what adding a workload to the virtual environment would do.

Doing more in less space in server virtualization can lead to the powering down and disposal of servers. In turn, virtualization can enable a reduction of physical servers needed, and the capacity and power required for their usage. By growing the virtual machine population, space savings growth is afforded. By utilizing the resources that will accurately predict the results of increased density and monitor the environment in an ongoing fashion, safety can be ensured.

Virtualize Your Data Center

These types of tools allow for greater virtual machine densities per virtual host while maintaining the right sense of balance for virtual machine migrations and disaster recovery.

Surprisingly enough, the virtual environment can also possibly be a storage waster, so be warned. Typically, virtual machines are created from templates. Templates are valuable aspects of server virtualization that enable rapid deployments of new servers. Typically, the storage in allocation for these templates is set to a default number. While administrators of virtual environments often set this to a “safe” default size, in which a particular machine doesn’t appear to wast much space, this may be damaging. Virtual environments never stay at just a few virtual machines, they grow rapidly. The result is cumulative waste, as each virtual machine with default size can lead to TBs of wasted disk space.

Recognizing the problem template deployment can cause, and identifying and optimally adjusting the virtual machines can ensure excellent space savings and all other benefits of reduced storage allocation.

Virtualization made safe and easy

Reduction in floor space, power and cooling are added byproducts of greater space utilization, either for the computer or storage environment. With the average cost of a data center floor tile running about $10,000 per month, the return on the investment in a proper data center management tool can be almost instantaneous.