Cutting and controlling costs with virtualization: Expert advice

Cutting and controlling costs with virtualization: Expert advice

In this section of our virtualization pricing wars special report, we feature our expert advice on how to use server virtualization to reduce costs, some caveats to beware and how to exploit low-cost virtualization options.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Surviving hypervisor competition and chaos
 II. Virtualization costs and pricing: News you can use
III. VMware vs. Microsoft vs. Xen: An expert face-off
 IV. Cutting and controlling costs with virtualization: Expert advice

The benefits and costs of virtualized databases
 This discussion evaluates the benefits and costs of virtualized database environments. The author discusses strategies for provisioning virtual databases that include paring down database servers and implementing disaster recovery on virtual machines.
By Rick Vanover

Enlisting chargeback to prove the benefits of virtualization
 Learn how to use the chargeback system to specify key performance indicators, such as hardware cost per CPU second. A good chargeback system is a win/win for IT departments and for internal customers, measuring the cost of services in a way that makes sense to end users.
By Scott Feuless

Calculating savings via server virtualization
 Along with the benefits of reduced administration and maintenance costs, virtualization minimizes overhead in power and cooling costs. This sample calculation tabulates the amount of money that can be saved with a virtualization project.
By Eric Siebert

Virtualization's hidden costs no small factor
 When it comes to implementing virtualization, it's not all about cost benefits. In fact, the hidden costs of virtualization may outweigh some of the savings. Additional high availability, backup, power, application and administrative expenses are among the hidden costs of virtualization.
By Sander van Vugt


Dexterity and automation additional benefits of virtualized infrastructure
 Virtualization enables improved system management as well as cost savings and efficiency. While infrastructure virtualization enables instant server imaging, data center management capabilities such as provisioning, automation and failover are enhanced in many ways by infrastructure virtualization.
By George Crump

Installing Citrix XenServer for free
 Virtualization enables improved system management as well as cost savings and efficiency. While infrastructure virtualization enables instant server imaging, data center management capabilities such as provisioning, automation and failover are enhanced in many ways by infrastructure virtualization.
By Sander van Vugt

For more on the virtualization pricing wars, check out the rest of our special report.

This was first published in June 2008