| Former Novell CTO, Alan Nugent has stated that | | | | Nevertheless in virtualization, the time is considerably |
| virtualization will be one of the most important server | | | | reduced since the new virtual servers can be created |
| trends in the next five years. Matt Eastwood, | | | | in existing hardware. Also for server software setups |
| Program Vice President in the Enterprise Platforms | | | | and configurations, predefined templates can be used. |
| group, has stated "...22 percent of servers today are | | | | This will give the ability to run new applications within |
| being virtualized, and that will grow to 45 percent in | | | | hours, instead of weeks. |
| 12 months. Even more staggering: memory | | | | Efficient and flexible user training |
| consumption is doubling every 12 months." | | | | Virtualized systems can support legacy applications |
| The following areas have been identified as the key | | | | and multiple Operating Systems. This will help better |
| factors that can contribute to the competitive edge | | | | and faster user training. The organization and the |
| through virtualization. | | | | users will have the freedom to use legacy |
| Faster development | | | | applications. When new Operating Systems and |
| Virtualization will give a much more flexible | | | | Applications are released, the organization will get |
| environment for developers, testers and customers. | | | | sufficient time to train the users. The main advantage |
| There will not be any requirement to setup separate | | | | is that the regular business operations will not be |
| systems for different users for developing and | | | | affected by the ongoing training process, because of |
| testing. The network administrators can add as much | | | | multi-OS and application support. |
| as new virtual systems, (as long as it is supported by | | | | Better resource utilization |
| physical hardware). When further change is required | | | | A virtualized environment will have less physical |
| in beta or prototype software, the testers and | | | | hardware. This will reduce the costs. Even the |
| developers can work in the same kind of | | | | allocated hardware is better utilized to run at their |
| environment that clients use. This will give better | | | | maximum efficiency. These will assist the organization |
| compatibility -and it will dramatically reduce the | | | | to gain higher return on investments (ROI). Higher |
| time-to-deploy and the time-to-market. | | | | ROI will attract more investors for the organization. |
| Traditionally, when new servers are required (to run | | | | The above facts will give the organization a |
| new applications) the process would have taken a | | | | competitive edge in IT field by making the business |
| long time from preparing the requisition to installation. | | | | operations much faster, efficient and economical. |