Already heard about VM, virtual machines, virtual server, virtual desktop, VDI? Maybe not. But if we talk about cloud computing, disaster recovery, business continuity, managed services I think these words ring a bell.
WHAT IS VIRTUALIZATION?
Today your IT infrastructure is certainly made of physical servers, all dedicated to one, two or three tasks (manage your Microsoft Exchange software, your Active Directory, your files, …). All these servers you sometimes buy a fortune are most of the time under used. This mean that only 20 to 30% of their capacity is effectively used. It would be great if we could have two or three servers in one? What an economy!! This is virtualization.
“In computing, virtualization refers to the act of creating a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, including virtual computer hardware platforms, operating systems, storage devices, and computer network resources.” Wikipedia
THE BENEFITS OF VIRTUALIZATION
The benefits of virtualization – lower infrastructure and maintenance costs, dynamic centralized management of applications and data, unprecedented staff mobility and simplified business continuity provision – are now within the reach of even small organizations.
Virtualization lets multiple operating systems and applications run on a single platform. That means not only a wider choice of software, but greatly reduced hardware requirements. Each real server or workstation does more, so you get maximum value from your hardware investment. Platform configuration is carried out on software not electronics, so administration, licensing and asset management are simplified. Every server can do everything any of the others does, so you get better business continuity without buying and maintaining redundant infrastructure.
Acuutech has been using virtualization to provide its IT services to business since the technology was new and has unrivalled knowledge and understanding. Don’t climb a steep learning curve or risk making expensive mistakes yourself; start from a guaranteed, ready-built virtualized environment.
SERVER CONSOLIDATION
System monitoring tools show the utilization of a server’s central processing unit (CPU) – the chip that does the actual work. It’s typically low, perhaps 20% of its capability. A ‘green’ reading like that might be considered a good thing by an engineer. But shouldn’t the business that paid for that CPU be getting more? Instead, it probably needs further under-utilized CPUs – that is, additional servers – in order to run other applications that need a different OS and/or configuration.
Virtualization is causing great excitement in the IT industry for many reasons. Its potential for solving long-standing problems seems limitless. But from the business point of view, its most important advantage is that it lets you run both applications on one CPU. They don’t affect one another’s functionality or performance. The only time a new server is needed is if utilization does approach the limit – and that new one gives you another 100% to play with across all applications!
IT AGILITY
In a “real” environment, making an application available to a user often involves checking their workstation’s hardware and software configuration and upgrading if necessary, time- consuming installation and configuration of the application itself, and complex software license management. In a virtual environment, it’s a matter of a few mouse clicks on an administration interface. Imagine your best technical people freed from repetitive manual work.
AVAILABILITY AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY
Virtualization combines multiple servers into one logical server, in the way a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) combines multiple hard drives into a single logical drive. If one of the servers fails, the others continue to serve all the applications. Infrastructure failure is no longer an outage issue; at worst it is a performance issue.
MOBILITY AND SECURITY
Wherever in the world a user may be, their desktop environment is provided and controlled centrally, so sensitive data is not kept on the workstation and access to applications can be denied instantly in the event of physical security breach.
MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE FIELD OF VIRTUALIZATION
Top 10 Virtualization Technology Companies for 2016:
HOW CAN ACUUTECH HELP YOU?
Acuutech has 20 years of experience providing servicing ranging from consulting, to IT outsourcing, to commissioning and maintaining complex, multi-site IT based operations globally for large to medium companies with industry experience in Marine, Finance, Legal, Transport and Warehousing.
Acuutech’s expertise and experience in network infrastructure and hosting is supplemented by their Partner Accreditations for Microsoft, Cisco and Meraki.
We can help you with your project in virtualization leading to:
- Virtualize your actual servers and consolidate your infrastructure
- Virtual datacenter
- Software defined datacenter on premise
- Virtual desktop
- Microsoft Azure services
- Disaster recovery planning
- Business continuity planning
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