10 More Reasons to Virtualize Your Data Center

The first wave of server virtualization was driven by a need to consolidate physical hardware, lower capital expenditures, and reduce power consumption. However, there are a slew of additional benefits that are being/can be realized through virtualization, especially for virtual machine (VM) specialists. Sister site ServerWatch has the story.

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“These 10 reasons are aimed at the system administrators and virtualization administrators who manage those environments.

“1. Common Management Interface

“Having all your servers available in a single application is cool, but the ability to control those servers from that single interface is downright arctic. Virtualization offers access to virtual machine (VM) hardware, consoles and storage. Your entire gaggle of systems as readily available as a pocket protector full of trade show pens is almost too good to be true.

“2. ILO Not Required

“For the unlucky lot whose hands-on techs don't setup your Integrated Lights Out (ILO) interfaces, virtualization removes that burden for the better. Virtualization allows you to boot a VM from a powered-off state without the need for physical access to the system. The number of saved trips into the data center is worth the most minuscule return on investment from switching to a virtual infrastructure.

“3. Easy ‘Hardware’ Changes

“Changing hardware and upgrading systems is no trip to the beach. In fact, it's absolutely maddening inside even the most plush data centers where you must kneel, stretch and bend in unnatural ways to break open a case, remove old hardware and install the new pieces. And, after all that fun, your hardware might not work and you have to repeat the process -- possibly multiple times. You can upgrade memory, increase the number of CPUs and add new hard disks to a VM with a few mouse clicks. You won't need any tools, yoga lessons or trips to the chiropractor after upgrading the hardware in a VM.

For the rest of the list, read "10 New Reasons to Virtualize Your Infrastructure" at ServerWatch.

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