Server Consolidation

Top benefits of Server Consolidation

The traditional 'one workload, one box' approach to server provisioning has inevitably led to over-provisioning and under-utilisation of server hardware resources. IT typically provision at least one server for every application or service they deliver, yet most of these servers only operate at about 5-15% of their total load capacity.

Meanwhile, the costs associated with power, cooling, network infrastructure, storage infrastructure, administrative overhead and property can skyrocket as the data centre expands. The result is server sprawl; a situation in which servers occupy more space and consume more resources than their workloads can justify.

Increase Server Utilisation To 80%

Virtualisation technology gives you the power to eliminate server sprawl by converting your physical machines into fully functional virtual machines. Virtual machines run independently from the underlying hardware and are supported on a broad array of physical servers, from 2-CPU to 32-CPU systems.

Each virtual machine represents a complete system - with processors, memory, networking, storage and BIOS - enabling the execution of Windows operating systems and software applications on the same piece of hardware simultaneously.

By running multiple workloads on highly configured x86 servers, your IT department can increase the utilisation of your server hardware from 10-15% to as much as 80%.

Reduce Hardware Requirements By A 10:1 Ratio Or Better

Using virtual infrastructure, your organisation can significantly reduce the amount of IT hardware in the data centre. Each host instance can support more than 100 virtual machines, and the vast majority of our customers are able to run as many as 10 or more applications on a single piece of hardware.

Servers are not the only IT hardware your organization can consolidate with virtual infrastructure. You can also leverage technologies for storage and network consolidation, further reducing the overall hardware footprint of your data center.

Cut Hardware & Operating Costs By 50%

In addition to the cost of the IT hardware itself, the costs associated with server cooling, administrative overhead and server rooms can increase rapidly as the data center grows. Energy consumption in the data center is also an issue that is at the top of the agenda for many IT professionals.

Virtual Infrastructure reduces energy consumption by allowing you to run your applications on fewer physical servers, which in turn reduces your power and cooling requirements. Cost savings can be significant - approximately £250- £300 per server, per year.

When added to the hardware cost savings and other capital reductions, virtualisation solutions can help your organization save more than £1,500 annually for every server you virtualise.