Server virtualization strategies and use cases

Are you up to speed on VMware EUC technology?

Even if you have end-user computing experience, changes to VMware EUC technologies affect how you work. Test your knowledge of the developments.Quiz

Should you consider VirtualBox for server virtualization?

On desktops, VirtualBox offers many core virtualization features, such as OS testing and VM creation. Could it function as a hypervisor alternative?Ask the Expert

Endpoint virtualization vs. server virtualization: Server requirements

Using Windows virtual desktops in a server consolidation project

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

Endpoint virtualization vs. server virtualization: Server requirements

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.Tip

Citrix Intellicache could fix virtual server I/O problems

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.Article | 22 Dec 2010

Vblock vs. FlexPod: What's the difference?

VMware and Cisco now have two pre-designed IT stacks on the market, one with EMC and one with NetApp. Is there a big difference between them? And what's still missing from both?Article | 16 Dec 2010

Best of VMworld 2010 Awards: Desktop virtualization

The Best of VMworld 2010 Awards recognized the best desktop virtualization products on the VMworld 2010 floor.Slideshow

Citrix XenDesktop? Thanks, but no thanks, firm says

Faced with a choice between published applications on Citrix XenApp and hosted desktops based on XenDesktop VDI, Bimba Manufacturing opted to stick with the devil it knew.Article | 15 Dec 2008

How to evaluate desktop virtualization approaches and solutions

In part two of his series, Anil Desai discusses the pros and cons of different approaches to desktop virtualization.Tip

Virtual lab management planning best practices

Introduction: Behind the magic of virtualization

To P2V or Not to P2V? The rules of the road for virtual migration

Crash course for a Microsoft Hyper-V 3.0 upgrade

Failing to master the basics of Microsoft Hyper-V 3.0 could come back to haunt your IT shop down the road. Give yourself a crash course now.Quiz

Testing high-availability software options from vendors

What’s in your virtualization home lab?

A virtualization home lab is a great way to gain more experience, but it can be pricey. Even so, our advisory board thinks it’s worth the investment.Answer

Evaluating RHEV 3.0 in a test environment

RHEV 3.0 offers enterprise-grade features at low price point. To see if it’s right for your IT shop, you can build a small RHEV 3.0 test environment.Tip

Installing Hyper-V 3.0 on a test server

Whether you prefer a GUI or the command line, installing and configuring Hyper-V 3.0 on a test server is a breeze.Tip

The hardware requirements for testing Hyper-V 3.0

Testing Hyper-V 3.0 is a no-brainer, considering the minimal hardware requirements. It will help you gain skills and experience before the release.Tip

Should your IT shop consider multiple server virtualization platforms?

More and more IT shops are implementing multiple server virtualization platforms to increase interoperability and abstraction as well as lower costs.Tip

How and where should we add a second hypervisor?

Multi-hypervisor environments are becoming more common, but IT shops usually stick with one hypervisor for production.Answer

virtual server farm

A virtual server farm is a networking environment that employs multiple application and infrastructure servers running on two or more physical servers using a server virtualization program such as VMware or Microsoft Virtual Server.Definition

When is it time to consider a multi-hypervisor environment?

Is it time to add a second hypervisor? Licensing, vendor lock-in and technology updates can all play a part in the multi-hypervisor decision.Answer

Three considerations for a multi-hypervisor environment

If you're considering a multi-hypervisor environment for flexibility, explore these three questions to see if it makes sense in your data center.guide

What are the challenges of multi-hypervisor management in the data center?

Adding a second hypervisor means adding complexity into the IT environment. Know the challenges before you deploy.Answer

CompTIA Cloud Essentials and other vendor-neutral certificates

Cloud certificates will soon be a must for today's IT pros. Now's the time to learn about CompTIA Cloud Essentials and other exams on the market.Tip

Microsoft's MCSE Private Cloud and new virtualization certifications

The expanded list of Microsoft certifications now includes MCSE Private Cloud. Admins worth their salt should get familiar with the changes now.Tip

Why enterprise IT strategy should include an IaaS provider

Enterprise IT departments should not fear Infrastructure as a Service. Instead, IT pros should embrace the flexibility an IaaS provider offers.Tip

Aligning virtualization and cloud strategies with business goals

As cloud strategies become common practice for virtual data centers, be sure you choose the right one that will help you meet your business goals.Column

How VMware handles changing virtual data center dynamics

VMware CTO Steve Herrod offers his two cents on changing data center dynamics as vendors aim to extend virtualization principles beyond servers.News | 04 Jan 2013

Is a fully virtualized infrastructure a good idea for your business?

Years ago, experts asked whether a fully virtualized infrastructure was even possible. That debate is settled, but is 100% virtualization a good idea?Tip

How much do server configurations affect hypervisor performance?

Software plays an important role in virtual infrastructure performance, but can you optimize performance by tweaking server configurations?ATE

Virtualization improved server efficiency, but did it meet the hype?

Better server efficiency was only part of virtualization's appeal. Now that the hype has subsided, has virtualization delivered all it promised?Opinion

Why hypervisor tiering is the future of multiple hypervisor management

If cost and complexity prevent you from adopting multiple hypervisors, the hypervisor tiering approach may have you rethinking your infrastructure.Tip

Social media: Coming to an enterprise near you

Social media in the data center may not be far off, as vendors and emerging technology trends point to increasing use of social networking in the enterprise.Column

Proceed with caution: Multi-hypervisor management tools

If you’re considering a heterogeneous virtualization shop, don’t count on multi-hypervisor management tools to solve all of your administration woes.Column | 02 Jul 2012

Virtualization power management: How to save money and the Earth

Virtualization power management is yet another way a hypervisor can help cut costs to achieve maximum ROI, with the added bonus of saving the Earth.Tip

IT trends: Where hardware innovation leads, software follows

Over time, certain IT trends emerge. And if you look closely, you’ll find that major advances in software usually follow hardware innovation.Column | 30 May 2012

Dynamic Memory in Hyper-V 3.0 promises higher server consolidation

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.Tip

Top five Hyper-V 3.0 features that will excite IT pros

New Microsoft Hyper-V 3.0 features will streamline virtualization tasks and make things easier on IT pros. Here are the ones you should get excited for.Slideshow

Hypervisors offer built-in disaster recovery management features

Third parties offer extensive disaster recover protection options, but you may not need to look further than your hypervisor’s built-in capabilities.Tip

Diagnosing the cause of failed VM snapshots

You've done everything right -- even quiesced the VM -- but you're still experiencing a snapshot error. What's causing the failure?Answer

Improving business continuity via a virtual disaster recovery strategy

Update your business's disaster recovery strategy to take full advantage of virtualization's time- and cost-saving benefits.Tip

RHCVA (Red Hat Certified Virtualization Administrator)

The Red Hat Certified Virtualization Administrator (RHCVA) is a certification exam from Red Hat, Inc.Definition

Balancing disaster recovery costs in a virtualized world

Virtualization has changed the way IT pros look at availability, helping reduce disaster recovery costs while maintaining high levels of protection.Advisory Board

Social media: Coming to an enterprise near you

Social media in the data center may not be far off, as vendors and emerging technology trends point to increasing use of social networking in the enterprise.Column

Social media: Coming to an enterprise near you

How to save money with application-level high availability

Enterprise-level high availability is complex and costly. Using application-level HA could actually save you a buck.Tip

Hyper-V Replica

Hyper-V Replica is a free disaster recovery tool in Hyper-V 3.0 that creates and maintains copies of virtual machines (VMs ). In the event of a catastrophic loss, an administrator can failover to the replica VMs and provide business continuity.Definition

Practical uses for shared-nothing live migration

Microsoft and VMware have touted the addition of shared-nothing live migration. How can your organization take advantage of this hot new feature?Tip