Since few servers run at full capacity, virtualization uses some software and memory techniques to leverage the speed of the server processor(s) to host multiple virtual servers on one physical server. Just as one Windows personal computer can run multiple applications at once, server virtualization allows one physical server to run multiple copies of a server operating system. This offers great value by reducing the number of physical servers needed, reducing hardware and supporting energy costs.
Virtualization is a big deal lately in the data center, but many small and medium businesses feel left on the outside looking in at this trend. VMware, the big gun in this market, sells to the enterprise market and prices things accordingly, leaving smaller businesses certain they can't afford to jump into this market.
That's why I spoke with Virtual Iron, a fairly new company (2006) that focuses on server virtualization for the rest of us, meaning small and medium businesses. They focus on customers with 2-100 servers (rather than counting the number of employees). They also focus on the biggest issue for many small businesses: price. Virtual Iron charges five times less per server for their virtualization software than VMware does for theirs. Based on processor socket, Virtual Iron charges $799 per socket. Since most of the servers small businesses use are dual socket rather than quad socket, the cost is $1598 per server. That's far less than almost any dual socket server, so Virtual Iron says you save money with a single server installation.
The company offers a free trial as well as many blog entries, white paper, Webinars, and case studies on their site. Although VMware has helped educate the market, small businesses haven't paid too much attention. Microsoft plans to offer a virtualization product of their own soon, and that will help to educate the market.
But if you want to save money and get the most for your server dollar, Virtual Iron deserves a look. I've talked to many IT folks who have collapsed 48 physical servers down to 4 by virtualizing a dozen servers on each physical server. That can save you some serious money, and help keep your server room 12 times cooler. And they have a cool name that describes exactly what they do.
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