| #ffffff;" /> | | | | The latest estimates even show that nearly 75% of |
| Virtualization is a process that allows one piece of | | | | all companies with at least 500 employees are |
| hardware to run a number of operating system | | | | installing virtual servers, with nearly half of those who |
| images all at the same time. Prior to its inception, the | | | | are already utilizing the technology stating that of all |
| standard for x86 servers was to only run one | | | | new servers purchased, close to half of them will be |
| application to one server. This was fine until more and | | | | virtualized. |
| more servers were needed to meet the growing | | | | Other companies besides Platespin have entered the |
| demands of the IT world, as data center managers | | | | virtualization market as well. Microsoft has had quite a |
| were spending millions of dollars on wasted server | | | | bit of luck creating and marketing its own |
| space. | | | | virtualization software, mostly due to their large |
| But now, virtualization has changed everything, for | | | | customer base. Xen is another, with its software |
| one machine can run a multitude of applications, each | | | | currently breaking into the market. Of course, just |
| isolated into one virtual operating system, completely | | | | like anything else, software is certain to have a kink |
| separated from the others. | | | | or two as it passes from a magazine headline to the |
| As a subsidiary of EMC, VMware popped onto the | | | | adoption process, so buyers would do well to go with |
| technology scene in 1998, beginning as a start-up | | | | a trusted name when purchasing a solution |
| company and soaring to become one of the driving | | | | So what’s next for virtualization? |
| forces in virtualization in just a few short years. In | | | | Many of the experts claim that management of this |
| 2005, virtualization technology came in to mainstream | | | | in-demand technology is right around the corner, as |
| awareness faster than anyone could have ever | | | | current users aren’t mixing and matching |
| imagined - including many IT experts. Not only did it | | | | technologies, but are simply utilizing them for one |
| fly right on through the developmental software | | | | purpose- either networking, storage, or systems. If |
| stages, it fell headlong into the data center… | | | | your concerns are related to storage, you would |
| all within a year. | | | | work with storage virtualization. Ideally, all |
| Recent times have seen the IT world look for | | | | virtualizations of one company would be able to be |
| different means of consolidating that would assist in | | | | pooled and be tied together or moved around as |
| running their systems more efficiently. Virtualization | | | | needed. As with any new technology, the question |
| software from companies such as Platespin was just | | | | of automation has been popping up throughout the |
| in time to initiate and capitalize on the momentum for | | | | conversations of vendors and customers. Is it |
| this new technology, seeing nothing short of | | | | possible? Yes, it is. Will it happen? |
| outstanding adoption rates and customer satisfaction. | | | | |