What Is Virtualization?

Basically, virtualization is leveraging the unused resources of your servers to run more than just one operating system and application. The traditional mindset is that each application needs to exist on its own dedicated server to function properly. A single mid-range server can support up to 16 CPU cores and many gigabytes of memory. This single machine has the capacity to easily run many virtual machines (VMs). Some of the many benefits include:

· Quick and easy backup/restore procedures of entire server platforms

· Increase energy efficiency with a reduction in power consumption and heat output

· Run legacy and non-Microsoft operating systems on modern hardware

· Lower infrastructure maintenance costs

· Run both 32-bit and 64-bit software on the same hardware

Why Go Virtual?

Take a typical small business example: a client has a print server, accounting server, web server, and Terminal Server on separate machines. Under typical load, the applications usually never utilize more than 20% of the servers total capacity. However each server constantly draws 200W of power and each has multiple points of failure including power supplies and hard drives. When you move all four servers to one box, you now are using just a single server much more efficiently; drawing about half the power and requiring half the cooling, with fewer points of failure.