Strategies for Virtualization

Improving server consolidation ratios with virtual systems managementTip - Virtual systems management tools can make the difference between average and superior server consolidation rates.
Hardware for virtualization: A new approach for the private cloudTip - Your hardware strategy for virtualization will have to change with the times. Consider a modular hardware approach to maximize your investment.

Building a private cloud infrastructure from searchCloudComputing.com

Azure’s identity crisis and other cloud computing sound bites

News -Microsoft Azure wants to be called Loretta. No, that’s not true. Or is it? Find out that answer and other news overheard in the cloud this past week.
Is PaaS just another four-letter word in cloud computing?

News -PaaS is a quick fix for companies looking to deploy new apps, but established firms with legacy apps may consider it a dirty word.
Why Zynga moved from public cloud to hybrid cloud

News -The subtext of Zynga’s “hybrid cloud” strategy is that at a certain scale, public cloud ain’t cheap.

virtual machine (VM)

Definition -A virtual machine (VM) is an environment, usually a program or operating system, which does not physically exist but is created within another environment. In this context, a VM is called a guest while the environment it runs within is called a host. Virtual machines are often created to execute an instruction set different than that of the host environment. (...Continued)
Improving server consolidation ratios with virtual systems management

Tip -Virtual systems management tools can make the difference between average and superior server consolidation rates.

VMware shops eye rocky road to private cloud

News -VMware users say their organizations are beginning to push past server virtualization toward private clouds, but the jury’s still out on exactly which tools and processes will take them there.
Cloud management software: What’s in it for IT?

News -Highly virtualized IT shops wonder whether cloud management software can help them get to the next level of automation and efficiency.
Beating cloud security pessimists: The case for VM security

Tip -There are lots of people out there who say the cloud has poor VM security, but a few simple points about cloud security can beat their misguided arguments.

Using Windows virtual desktops in a server consolidation project

Tip -If you want the best ratios in your server consolidation project, don’t overlook Windows virtual desktops. Disabling unnecessary services can cut resource usage.
Endpoint virtualization vs. server virtualization: Server requirements

Tip -Endpoint virtualization is a new level of server virtualization, but there are some important differences in the two implementations and how end users interact with the server.
Citrix Intellicache could fix virtual server I/O problems

News -A new local caching feature for virtual desktops may also address server I/O challenges. But it will take more development before it's ready for prime time in server virtualization environments.

Dynamic Memory in Hyper-V 3.0 promises higher server consolidation

Tip -With Dynamic Memory in Hyper-V 3.0, a new minimum-memory setting and second-level paging may yield increased consolidation ratios for IT shops.
Virtualizing applications and virtual server migration best practices

Tutorial -Virtualizing applications is great for ROI. With virtual server migrations and virtual appliances, you can recoup your investment even faster.
Five situations where virtualization high availability is overkill

Tip -High availability technologies often seem to be an integral part of your virtual infrastructure, but here are five instances where virtualization high availability is unnecessary.