Virtualization

What is Server Virtualization?

In a typical business environment you may have a single or multiple servers running critical applications such as accounting, email, or files and documents data storage servers. Each of these servers are initially created by installing the operating system such as Microsoft Windows 2003 or Microsoft Windows 2008 on a physical machine and then installing the appropriate application such as accounting, email server or creating shares for drives and folders for data storage. During the operating system install you also need to install appropriate drivers specific to the physical machine hardware. In the end, each physical machine is limited to run only one operating system at a time. Virtualization technology provides the same functionality as the physical server but also allows additional uses. Virtualization provides the ability to run more than one operating system at the same time on one physical server. Each server installed on the physical server is called a virtual server. Each virtual server is noticeably not reliant on the type of hardware the physical machine is running on. Thus, you can take the virtual machine and move to another one and bring it up seamlessly without worrying about the type of physical server underneath.

Benefits of Server Virtualization

Server consolidation saves you money and time in recovery when a server fails, and is good for the environment because it reduces power usage. These reasons in and of themselves are sufficient enough to consider using server virtualization technology in your business environment.

How server virtualization saves you money

If you have multiple servers in your business environment, you can consolidate some or all of them into virtual servers running over one physical server. Also, the power costs of running multiple servers 24/7 365 days a year could be substantial. Consolidating all those servers into virtual servers and running on one physical server will pay off in a short amount of time for the new investment in hardware. If you are concerned about backups and disaster recovery, which help businesses run smoothly and without interruptions, server virtualization makes it so that you will require less investment in hardware for backup servers.

Saves you time in recovery if a server fails

For each server you have in your business environment you need to plan in the event that your server fails at some point in time. This is bound to happen at one time or another as all experienced IT Administrators will tell you. Backed up virtual servers can be transported to another server and brought up instantly with your original operating system, applications, and data intact, and is not affected by the new hardware of the server. Veteran IT administrators will also tell you that it may be impossible to recreate the original server the way it was, even with a good backup plan, if the operating system is restored onto new server hardware. It may take hours or even days to recreate everything from scratch by manually installing the operating system, re-installing applications, restoring data, and bringing your server finally back online. To avoid such hassles, consider virtual servers that eliminate this time consuming server restore process with a simple backup plan.

Server Virtualization is good for the environment

Server virtualization process is better on the environment as it has the ability to substantially reduce power cost. As an example; if you are running three servers 24 hours a day and have the option of running these same three servers on only one physical server you have eliminated ¾ of your power consumption. As more businesses start to utilize this technology it has the ability to provide significant power reduction in IT environments across the world.

If Virtualization is so good, why doesn’t everyone use this technology?

Virtualization technology, while not completely new, is only beginning take off. This is a changing technology and will be utilized more and more in the IT field as there are few to no drawbacks and because it provides substantial benefits to all types of businesses.

USC is an expert in implementing Microsoft Hyper-V Virtualization

USC is a Microsoft partner and has an experienced staff that has worked on migrating clients from physical to virtual server environments. USC has helped many clients, since the Hyper-V technology was distributed by Microsoft, to take advantage of the benefits this specific technology provides. We have reduced IT costs and provided a functioning and practical disaster recovery in our clients’ business environments.

Virtualization Projects

• Jason Industrial
• Atlantic Federal Credit Union
• Sweetwater Construction Corporation
• Congent Technologies
• Hope House
• ITA Networks