Green Benefits to Virtualization

Virtualization used to be a somewhat esoteric technology deployed mainly in large-scale data center server consolidation projects, however, with VMware and other virtualization vendors releasing products specifically geared for the small and mid-sized business market (and priced accordingly), virtualization is now within the reach of all.
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For the benefit of readers who may not be familiar with the concept of virtualization, it is a technology that enables multiple heterogeneous operating systems to run simultaneously on the same physical hardware. This is advantageous because running a single operating system on a modern high-powered server will almost certainly result in that server being severely underutilized. In fact, in many businesses, servers are operating at anywhere between 5% and 25% of their total load capacity and, resultantly, a substantial amount of processing power is wasted. Virtualization enables the workloads from those underutilized servers to be consolidated to a fewer number of servers.

There are a number of obvious benefits to consolidating servers in this manner: reducing the installed server base reduces the amount of electricity needed for powering and cooling, reduces rack space and floor space requirements and reduces future spending on equipment.

These benefits represent the raison d'être of the majority of virtualization projects. But that is a mistake. There is a common misconception about virtualization: that is, that it is simply a method for businesses to reduce their installed server base. But, as VMware put it, “Virtualization is a strategic discussion, not a point-solution like server consolidation.” Businesses which view virtualization as a point solution are likely to sit back once their servers have been consolidation, and not explore other areas in which they may be able to cut costs – and that may cost them money.

Virtualization enables not only the consolidation of servers, but also the consolidation of people and processes. And this is critically important. According to a 2006 study by IDC, management and administrative expenditure in data centers is growing three times faster than expenditure on computing equipment. So, while it is certainly important for businesses to seek out ways to reduce their hardware spending, it is even more important that those businesses seek out ways to reduce their management and administrative overhead. And virtualization enables them to do just that.

Virtualization opens the door to a radical overhaul of both people and processes. In the virtual world, servers can be provisioned and brought online in a matter of minutes – a task that would have taken several hours in the physical world. Problems with applications that would have been tied to a specific physical server can be resolved much more speedily in a virtual environment. Management duties and responsibilities can be streamlined and rationalized. Problems that would have required onsite action can be handled remotely. Backup and recovery plans will need to be completely overhauled, but the end result will be process that are much easier to both implement and maintain. Physical servers that were managed by people become virtual servers that can be managed automatically.

Accordingly, virtualization provides a business with an opportunity to do far more than simply cut its electricity bill; it also provides an opportunity to completely rethink the existing IT strategy and reorganize practices and management responsibilities in a manner is more cost-effective and introduces real agility into operations.

Businesses can further improve their virtualization effort’s return on investment by implementing solutions that can integrate with their new virtual infrastructure. Virtual appliances, for example. A virtual appliance is, basically, a physical appliance encapsulated entirely in software. Unlike physical appliances, virtual appliances can be easily evaluated and speedily deployed, moved from one physical system to another and backed up and restored. This both reduces the workload on IT and introduces additional agility and mobility into operations.

To derive the maximum benefit from virtualization, businesses need to plan carefully – not only to ensure that they maximize their savings in every possible area, but also to avoid the perils that can be associated with an incautious, headfirst dive into virtualization. Somewhat ironically, it is some of the factors that make virtualization so appealing that can lead to problems. For example, because virtual servers can be brought online so easily and speedily, virtual server sprawl is a real risk. While those virtual servers may be less costly than their physical counterparts, they nonetheless still require computer resources and still need to be managed and tracked. To avoid this, businesses need to put in place a procurement process similar to that which is used for physical servers.

There is no doubt that virtualization - and the greening trend in general - is great for the environment. But it can be great for businesses too. With careful planning, businesses can use their green IT effort to enhance their public image, increase their agility and cut their operation costs.

The most environmentally sound outcome can now be the most profitable one too. And that’s good news for everybody.

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Source：CIO.com

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