The Real Benefits that an SMB can Expect to Glean from Server Virtualization
Most small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have limited IT budgets so when it comes to storing data and reducing costs and complexity they must do so wisely. Further, most have few or no IT personnel so they also need technology solutions that they can deploy and scale easily without requiring inordinate amounts of time to manage. Server virtualization is now increasingly viewed as a good fit for SMBs and with the new emphasis that VMware put on reaching out to SMBs at last week's VMworld, it is more important than ever for SMBs to quantify what benefits they can expect to glean from server virtualization before deploying it.
Working as both an IT administrator and as a consultant to a number of small businesses in the Pittsburgh, PA, area I get to see both the pros and cons of server virtualization. For the most part, server virtualization provides tangible benefits to SMBs with these being the main ones that I observe:
Reduced Costs
The first thing that every SMB is always attracted to is the reduced costs associated with server virtualization. In physical environments, every application needs its own physical server so there is the upfront cost plus there are other hidden costs associated with managing servers. Since server virtualization reduces the amount of physical hardware to manage, upfront capital expenses are immediately reduced.
Server virtualization also reduces ongoing operational costs. Internal components such as hard disks, network interface cards, and memory cards may go bad or require upgrading while power costs for many physical servers can quietly add up over time. Server virtualization again minimizes these costs.
Even using external storage which is common in virtual server deployments can cut costs. Rather than putting two or more disks in each server, using platforms like the Iomega StorCenter™ ix4-200d NAS appliance reduces the amount of spinning disk need which in turn contributes to better controlling an SMB's heating and cooling costs.
Improved Efficiency of IT Personnel
SMBs may only have one dedicated IT support person so maintaining five or more physical servers as part of their day-to-day administration activities can be very hectic. Application support, database maintenance and hardware and software upgrades are all part of their daily job responsibilities. Further, this lone IT support person is typically pulled in many directions (changing backup tapes, fixing PCs, sitting in meetings, etc.) so this individual has trouble getting to their real job of caring for the server infrastructure which keeps the business running.
Server virtualization platforms reduce some of their daily chaos by reducing the number of physical servers that they need to manage. Instead of managing five or more servers, they may now only need to manage one or two. Then, as new applications come in, they no longer have to purchase new server hardware to support each application.
Rather the individual can create a new virtual machine on their existing physical server minutes instead of hours through the use of virtual machine templates in VMware. Also the time it takes to install Microsoft Office across an organization can be done in days or maybe even hours instead of weeks. This can be accomplished by using those same templates except that instead of deploying a server a desktop template is used.
Shared Storage Pool
Internal storage on servers is a pain to manage and upgrade. There can be too much storage capacity on one, not enough storage capacity on the other and no way to effectively share the excess storage capacity between the two.
Moving to a virtualized server environment changes this situation. The majority of virtual server implementations use external shared storage (up to 70% according to some estimates) since it makes storage management easier to accomplish.
SMBs are clearly taking full advantage of this trend. A recent IDC report found that even in this tough economy, external storage systems in the low end (0 - $14,999 range) registered a nearly 10% increase in year-over-year growth in 2009.
In that vein, DCIG advises SMBs to give preference to the new Iomega ix4-200d. Not only does the ix4-200d meet SMB price constraints and provide ample storage capacity, it is currently the only device in this price range (the ix4-200d starts at less than $700) to be fully certified for VMware virtual server environments.
Improved Availability
Consolidating all of your physical servers onto one virtualized server can be akin to putting all of your eggs in one basket but that does not need to be the case. SMB can actually improve application availability through better server hardware and the combined use of the Iomega ix4-200d and VMware's vMotion technology.
Because SMBs need fewer servers, the physical servers that they deploy to host the virtualized servers can have more redundant parts for improved server availability. Also, by using the ix4-200d and VMware's vMotion technology, SMBs can optionally deploy a second physical server that they can use for application failover in the event of a catastrophic server failover. In either case, the improved availability of hardware and applications combines to improve the availability and effectiveness of the IT support person as the individual no longer needs to operate in crisis mode to manage the SMB's servers.
Virtualizing your server environment can be an intimidating proposition but having done it myself for the organization I support as well as helping some SMBs in their efforts, the benefits of server virtualization clearly outweigh negatives. Not only can SMBs reduce their capital and operational costs but it also helps improve the efficiency and availability of your server and storage hardware, the applications that they host and helps to make your IT support personnel more productive for those SMBs lucky enough to have them in their environment.
Working as both an IT administrator and as a consultant to a number of small businesses in the Pittsburgh, PA, area I get to see both the pros and cons of server virtualization. For the most part, server virtualization provides tangible benefits to SMBs with these being the main ones that I observe:
Reduced Costs
The first thing that every SMB is always attracted to is the reduced costs associated with server virtualization. In physical environments, every application needs its own physical server so there is the upfront cost plus there are other hidden costs associated with managing servers. Since server virtualization reduces the amount of physical hardware to manage, upfront capital expenses are immediately reduced.
Server virtualization also reduces ongoing operational costs. Internal components such as hard disks, network interface cards, and memory cards may go bad or require upgrading while power costs for many physical servers can quietly add up over time. Server virtualization again minimizes these costs.
Even using external storage which is common in virtual server deployments can cut costs. Rather than putting two or more disks in each server, using platforms like the Iomega StorCenter™ ix4-200d NAS appliance reduces the amount of spinning disk need which in turn contributes to better controlling an SMB's heating and cooling costs.
Improved Efficiency of IT Personnel
SMBs may only have one dedicated IT support person so maintaining five or more physical servers as part of their day-to-day administration activities can be very hectic. Application support, database maintenance and hardware and software upgrades are all part of their daily job responsibilities. Further, this lone IT support person is typically pulled in many directions (changing backup tapes, fixing PCs, sitting in meetings, etc.) so this individual has trouble getting to their real job of caring for the server infrastructure which keeps the business running.
Server virtualization platforms reduce some of their daily chaos by reducing the number of physical servers that they need to manage. Instead of managing five or more servers, they may now only need to manage one or two. Then, as new applications come in, they no longer have to purchase new server hardware to support each application.
Rather the individual can create a new virtual machine on their existing physical server minutes instead of hours through the use of virtual machine templates in VMware. Also the time it takes to install Microsoft Office across an organization can be done in days or maybe even hours instead of weeks. This can be accomplished by using those same templates except that instead of deploying a server a desktop template is used.
Shared Storage Pool
Internal storage on servers is a pain to manage and upgrade. There can be too much storage capacity on one, not enough storage capacity on the other and no way to effectively share the excess storage capacity between the two.
Moving to a virtualized server environment changes this situation. The majority of virtual server implementations use external shared storage (up to 70% according to some estimates) since it makes storage management easier to accomplish.
SMBs are clearly taking full advantage of this trend. A recent IDC report found that even in this tough economy, external storage systems in the low end (0 - $14,999 range) registered a nearly 10% increase in year-over-year growth in 2009.
In that vein, DCIG advises SMBs to give preference to the new Iomega ix4-200d. Not only does the ix4-200d meet SMB price constraints and provide ample storage capacity, it is currently the only device in this price range (the ix4-200d starts at less than $700) to be fully certified for VMware virtual server environments.
Improved Availability
Consolidating all of your physical servers onto one virtualized server can be akin to putting all of your eggs in one basket but that does not need to be the case. SMB can actually improve application availability through better server hardware and the combined use of the Iomega ix4-200d and VMware's vMotion technology.
Because SMBs need fewer servers, the physical servers that they deploy to host the virtualized servers can have more redundant parts for improved server availability. Also, by using the ix4-200d and VMware's vMotion technology, SMBs can optionally deploy a second physical server that they can use for application failover in the event of a catastrophic server failover. In either case, the improved availability of hardware and applications combines to improve the availability and effectiveness of the IT support person as the individual no longer needs to operate in crisis mode to manage the SMB's servers.
Virtualizing your server environment can be an intimidating proposition but having done it myself for the organization I support as well as helping some SMBs in their efforts, the benefits of server virtualization clearly outweigh negatives. Not only can SMBs reduce their capital and operational costs but it also helps improve the efficiency and availability of your server and storage hardware, the applications that they host and helps to make your IT support personnel more productive for those SMBs lucky enough to have them in their environment.
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