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We simply have too many servers and we utilise them far too inefficiently, running too few server operating systems and applications on each one. Processor consolidation is a primary source of environmental impact reduction within a data centre or computer room. With the average Intel platform operating at between 5-15% load and UNIX not fairing much better at 15-20%, underutilised servers are clogging up data centres and wasting massive amounts of floor space, power and cooling capacity. Processor consolidation is now more commonly known as ‘virtualisation' and although this term is associated very heavily with Intel servers (and products such as VMWare), the opportunity to consolidate tens, hundreds or even thousands of servers running Windows, UNIX or Linux exists. Consolidating servers also drastically reduces operating costs; a single person's ability to manage servers jumps from around 30 before virtualisation up to around 120 after virtualisation, allowing resources to be deployed elsewhere. The mantra is simple, consolidated if you can. |
