| It has only been a few years since virtualization | | | | are getting more complex than before. As hypervisor |
| technology especially the x 86 virtualization | | | | wars are increasing, there is a need for multiple |
| technologies has come into the forefront and what | | | | platforms and in the data centres, VDI is introducing |
| was conceptualized in the laboratory has come into | | | | desktops. Though management challenges increase, |
| real time production. It all started off with 15 | | | | cloud resources and multi site implementations are |
| machines that have now evolved into a virtual | | | | beneficial. In the near future, these challenges will be |
| infrastructure with over 5000 virtual machines. With | | | | resolved. |
| new technology, growth and management of virtual | | | | It is not the responsibility of the vendors to develop |
| infrastructures should have been satiated by now but | | | | strong APIs when the software is launched. Even |
| consumers cite lack of visibility and sprawl as the | | | | after years, there are many software packages that |
| chief concerns while configuration remains a bane | | | | cannot be completely integrated. There has been a |
| with high time consumption. | | | | lot of talk amongst cloud vendors about integration, |
| Keeping in tune with the corporate mandates, more | | | | APIs, virtualization and standards. If this goes through |
| companies are increasing there virtual environments | | | | administrators would have the flexibility while |
| to increase profits from virtualization but have the | | | | managing the environments. |
| same concerns that were there a year ago. Sprawled | | | | Efficiency Inflection Point: |
| resources and administrative hassles can negate the | | | | Most IT corporations are enjoying the advantages of |
| benefits of virtual technology if not managed | | | | virtualization. To further optimize their virtual |
| properly. So, even after debugging and improved | | | | environments, managers and administrators are |
| infrastructures, why have such drawbacks or | | | | looking at the new baseline, server consolidation. With |
| challenges remained? | | | | knowledge that virtual resources are expensive, |
| Here are some basic reasons: | | | | application groups use caution with its use. With some |
| No knowledge, no power: | | | | machines over allocate and 30% lying idle, emphasis is |
| A virtual environment is completely different from its | | | | on utilizing existing resources to cut costs. |
| physical counterpart while the information on | | | | Latest Developments: |
| management differs too. However, it is a | | | | Conventional companies struggle with long |
| disadvantage that the data on the details of a VM | | | | development cycles and proprietary platforms along |
| are not readily available with the information about | | | | with basic challenges of transformations to better |
| the container. There is non alignment information | | | | platforms. While start ups are already working on |
| about storage with VM while vendors' differences | | | | reducing management issues by formulating |
| add to the woes as they are not ready to resolve | | | | management codes built for virtualization platforms to |
| issues. | | | | provide more flexibility. With top end VM platforms, |
| Most of the companies still maintain manual | | | | you get mobility, reduce challenges of control and |
| troubleshooting and provisioning processes. While | | | | monitoring, automate data collections, root cause |
| most application owners come up with issues on low | | | | analysis and improve management. With dexterity, |
| VM memory or infrastructure issues and complain | | | | the companies will be able to address customer |
| about VM is lagging. A lot of time goes into manually | | | | requirements, cost reductions and innovate better |
| doing the root cause analysis. In most cases, VM is | | | | management practices. |
| fine but to prove that is the responsibility of the | | | | With growing virtual environments, an environment is |
| virtual administrator. This builds up a scenario for the | | | | calculated in hundreds of virtual applications with the |
| management to mitigate changes and pick up other | | | | constant challenges of management and sprawl that |
| potential failures in the system. Generally start ups | | | | continue to be a bane for a multitude of industries. It |
| address such issues but most administrators put it on | | | | is hoped that 2009 will be a harbinger to increase |
| the lengthy list of to do as they have no free time | | | | virtualization, increase efficiency, reduce cost, |
| to research further on these issues. | | | | improve cloud computing and drive for a better |
| Things are tough: | | | | environment. |
| Though environments are evolving and growing, they | | | | |