Virtualisation and Your IT Infrastructure

Virtualisation is an important and growing trend, and many UK businesses are now incorporating virtual solutions within their IT infrastructures. So what exactly is virtualisation and what benefits could it offer you?

What is virtualisation?

Virtualisation means running software within a virtual environment. Virtual environments are created when operating systems and desktop applications are emulated, and don't run directly on physical hardware. When software is virtualised, you can run several applications and operating systems on one physical server.

Why would I want to go down the virtualisation route?

You can create a more agile infrastructure, reduce the total cost of IT ownership and minimise downtime.

Specific benefits include:

• Server consolidation (you can run several operating systems on one physical server, so you get the maximum use from your hardware)

• Easier software back-up and disaster recovery

• Hosting legacy applications, for example ones that need to run on older operating systems

• Reduced test and development costs - you get the most from your hardware, plus improved life cycle management and test coverage

• Better business continuity - the flexibility of a virtual set-up helps reduce scheduled and unscheduled downtime

• Being greener: fewer physical servers means a smaller carbon footprint

More than ever before, it is clear that virtualisation makes good business sense. It can help an organisation simultaneously reduce costs, increase performance and make IT more responsive to business demands.

Implementing Virtualisation

TechSolvers offer a proven process for implementing virtualisation solutions. These processes draw on best practices and established methodologies to guide you through the three key stages of a virtualisation initiative: planning, deployment and migration, and operation.

VIRTUALISATION PROJECT TEMPLATE

Phase 1: PLAN

• Complete Infrastructure Audit
• Identify virtualisation candidates
• Gather inventory and performance data
• Agree level of server redundancy required
• Define recommended virtualisation platform
• Capacity plan to define consolidation ratio for performance and ROI
• Determine appropriate hardware platform (Servers, Storage, Networking)
• Design storage and network strategy for virtual environment
• Physical to Virtual (P2V) Migration Planning

Phase 2: DEPLOY AND MIGRATE

• Build and Assemble Racks (Servers, Networking, Storage)
• Deploy virtual platform
• Create backups of each virtualisation candidate
• Begin P2V Migration
• Reuse or recycle any retired systems

Phase 3: OPERATIONS

• Implement solution to monitor both the physical server and virtual machines
• Deploy maintenance, backup and disaster recovery for virtual environment
• Implement or update current Change Management procedures
• Audit the end user experience
• Complete all documentation
• Agree project sign-off

If you are a interested in understanding what benefits Virtualisation can bring to your business please give us a call on 01923 537 247, or let us call you.