Server virtualization has tremendously ballooned in today’s era, as it has created a green IT hub.  It saves lots of spatial time as every bit of information does not have to ask for permission for data space. Server virtualization sounds easy as it just involves the core data centre and server teams. But server virtualization also requires proper management of those tools…proper planning and not an ad hoc approach towards it. It evokes the organizational changes everywhere from Desktop to networking, from managing servers to storage.

According to the study which was conducted by Forrester Consulting in April 2010, the challenges drawn out by him emphasized on

  • Firstly, he said that server size which supports the virtual container is difficult to deduce.
  • Secondly he made a point that it is not a cake walk to decide the workload in virtualization. That requires a proper plan chart.
  • Thirdly, he said that major performance issues spur at peak times due to resource

Contention between the Containers

Even director of product management, Mr. Scott Adama agrees to the fact that though virtualization is the latest fashion where every company is putting its hand in but with that it also brings callenges. He says that Virtualization lowers the amount of hardware requirements and thus reduces the cost and power usage and also make IT green to some extent, but at the same time it also raises management complexity since there is no longer a persistent relationship between hardware and software. Both gets divorced in virtualization that leaves the company with no evidence, if required at any particular point of time.

Apart from this there are many software companies like VMWare, Plumtree and many more wobbling this market provide virtualization services but many retailers does not provide that comfy feel to the clients as they refuse to give any warranties and limited support is provided by them. So, investing in virtualization can be ruined. So, there is need for proper qualified technicians on this front.

Also, many hardware and software parts are not friendly to get virtualized so, that is a big challenge for Software companies.

Survey also highlights the fact that there is less of security in using virtualization. Any company has to be aware of attack and it increases the chances when lots of software are mingled all together.

Also, one more challenge is the increase in redundancy due to virtualization. In big companies, every employee have their own system. But if all systems are virtualized, nobody can make required changes in between.

Server Consolidation

Nigel Fortlage said that before server consolidation, they used to spent 95% of our time and money for just keeping our systems and network working but now everything has changed. Server consolidation has made the work more efficient. Now they just spent 5 % on it. But he also added a point that it requires proper planning structure.

According to a recent study done by Gartner Group, 75% of IT and ITES companies are in the process to implement server consolidation. There are other small bubbling companies who are specially building and growing themselves to be in this business.

Now the question comes in is that if server consolidation has become so demanding and hot then, why there is no development arena or any infrastructure? Also, the staffing is static. More qualified people and their managing should be injected. Even, the fault tolerance in such software is high.

So, Virtualisation and server consolidation is taking spree at an surprisingly high rate. With no doubt, they are in demand. But not free from challenges.