| Server virtualization means converting physical | | | | host because it is cheap and easy. If that one server |
| servers into logical ones and running on less hardware. | | | | crashes, you're out of business and worse off than if |
| The concept is simple: use less energy, buy less | | | | you had physical boxes because at least something |
| server hardware, AND gain stability and reliability. It's | | | | would be running. If your data is stored on the same |
| the last part where amateurs stumble and customers | | | | box, restoring is longer and more complicated. |
| get hurt. | | | | Invest in storage. Another major concept to |
| Like everything in business, start with what you need | | | | understand is separation of processing and storage. |
| regardless of technology and then research and pick | | | | This approach is how things like domain controllers on |
| a vendor based on that criteria. That ISP (aren't they | | | | different physical hosts and Live Migration give |
| in the business of providing Internet access?) who | | | | greater up time. Get a Storage Attached Network |
| touts financial stability in spite of having gone out of | | | | (SAN) for multi-path data transfer and fiber is not |
| business three times, is likely not a fit for many | | | | required. While virtualization is a good time to escape |
| reasons. Server virtualization requires knowledge of | | | | tape and think about data replication, DO NOT get a |
| storage, networking, and migration. | | | | legacy Network Attached Storage (NAS) as it |
| Here are some tips to save you time, energy, and | | | | provides no advantage for speed or growth versus a |
| money: | | | | traditional physical server. Again, many crafty |
| Follow the rules. Just because you can convert just | | | | providers will sell only one physical host and lease a |
| about any physical server to virtual, doesn't mean | | | | NAS for backup because it is cheap and easy. The |
| you should. Your whitebox and 32bit knowledge | | | | danger for customers is that as the virtual servers |
| needs an upgrade to certified hardware and x64 (yes | | | | that include data grow, response slows and the huge |
| you need TOE for the NICs too). Many | | | | hundred plus gigabyte virtual images are difficult to |
| manufacturers don't support virtualization or only in | | | | backup or restore. When you add the typical |
| certain configurations. Special functions like firewalls | | | | outsourced solution from India with no access for |
| simply should not be virtualized. Just because it will | | | | customers to verify backup or restore their own |
| run, doesn't let you escape the fact you have no | | | | files, the captured high cost and low viability is more |
| support for a problem. With channel inventory | | | | than insult to injury. |
| crunches like now, you could be waiting 30 days for | | | | Save on software too. Microsoft HyperV now |
| replacement hardware, not to mention the cost of | | | | dominates the market, has as many or more |
| reinstalling and restoring on physical iron with all the | | | | features, and costs less than alternatives. Plus, with |
| business downtime. Even hardened gamblers cringe at | | | | each Windows Server Enterprise license, you get 4 |
| such risk. | | | | free Windows Server standard licenses. Those myths |
| Think in twos. You should have at least two physical | | | | about poor security and limited features have really |
| hosts, two more switches for a separate network, | | | | hurt the competition. Windows Server Core had 19 |
| and replicated storage. A major point of server | | | | patches (full Windows Server 34) last year versus |
| virtualization is to add reliability so it is easier to | | | | 168 VMWare updates. Server Core is 73MB versus |
| recover from failures. However, many uninformed | | | | VMWare 4GB and features like Live Migration have |
| and unscrupulous vendors will sell only one physical | | | | eliminated any third-party advantages. |