Virtualization Strategies for the CIOThe Server Virtualization Advisory Board consists of systems administrators and consultants who specialize in server virtualization technology.
These experts will help us focus our news coverage and expert tips on the topics that are most important to you, our readers. And every month, members of the Server Virtualization Advisory Board will weigh in on a hot topic in the market.
Take a few minutes to meet the members of the Server Virtualization Advisory Board, and check out their takes on the questions below.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
This month's advisory board question
What's in your virtualization home lab?
Keeping up with advancements in server virtualization can seem overwhelming, but a virtualization home lab allows you to test-drive new technologies without affecting the production environment. Despite the high price tag a home lab can come with, our advisory board thinks it’s worth the investment.
Advisory board members
Previous advisory board questions
How virtualization pros can land their next IT job
The job application process only becomes more daunting in a down economy, but you can still stand out from the crowd. Whether you’ve been stuck in a less-than-ideal job or simply want to explore other options, be sure to follow the expert advice from our Server Virtualization Advisory Board.
Devising in-house workarounds to solve virtualization problems
A vast array of off-the-shelf tools exists to solve problems that may arise in your virtual infrastructure. But these tools can be expensive, especially if you only need a single feature in a product suite. Saving money may be as simple as channeling your inner-MacGyver. Our Advisory Board recalled times when they devised in-house workarounds to solve virtualization problems.
What will the future hold for multi-hypervisor management?
Multi-hypervisor management is a hot topic among IT pros, as more data centers adopt multiple server virtualization platforms. There are many reasons to deploy a heterogeneous virtualization infrastructure, including cost and licensing reductions and greater interoperability with certain applications. But the available multi-hypervisor management tools leave much to be desired. And there are many obstacles for both users and vendors in this market. Our advisory board members discuss the viability of multi-hypervisor management products and if these tools will ever be more than just a pipe dream.
Server virtualization had an eventful year in 2011. VMware vSphere 5 and Citrix Systems XenServer 6 were released. The Xen hypervisor became a part of the Linux kernel. And VMworld had more than 20,000 attendees, according to VMware. But what does 2012 have in store for us? Our server virtualization advisory board members make some predictions.
Which new server virtualization technology are you most thankful for?
Server virtualization technology – most notably, hypervisors – has radically improved in 2011. Both VMware and Citrix Systems have released new server virtualization platforms with new features and greater scalability. Not to be outdone, Microsoft and Red Hat are on the verge of releasing their next-generation hypervisors. Each platform provides more flexibility to virtualize and fail over workloads that weren’t previously possible. There’s a lot to be excited about, and our advisory board members discuss which new server virtualization feature they’re most thankful for.