How to Trim Your Hardware Costs with Server Virtualization

By Mohamed Jamal-Eddine

When you run a business, you have many important costs to contend with. Some of the most significant costs associated with your business are in the technology arena, and trimming those costs can trim your company budget and give you more money to invest back in your company and its operations.

For every server you buy to put in your company, you have a number of important fixed costs. Every server you install needs additional storage space, as well as people to maintain, optimize and troubleshoot it. You also need the space to keep that server, whether it is a dedicated server room or another secure location. You also need plenty of air conditioning service to keep those servers cool, since computer hardware generates a great deal of heat when it is running.

All those costs add up quickly, and that can reduce the competitiveness and efficiency of your operation. Worse yet, only a small amount of the resources available on each of those servers is actually in use by the processes it runs, meaning that as much as 90% of the money you spend on that expensive hardware could be wasted.

Fortunately, there is now a better way to deal with your hardware and your server needs. It is called server virtualization, and many companies are already using it to lower their costs and increase the efficiency of their systems. With a regular server, you can only run one application on each piece of hardware. But with server virtualization you can run three, four, five or more servers on the same physical box. It is easy to see how server virtualization can cut your hardware costs, and why so many smart companies are using it to reduce the number of resources they need to run their operations.

When it comes to the cost savings associated with server virtualization, the hardware costs themselves are only the tip of the iceberg. Although the cost of buying the physical server is important, server costs have fallen in recent years, and they are expected to continue falling for the foreseeable future. The real cost savings associated with virtualization has to do with the infrastructure and the talent you need to run each of those servers.

Having more servers means needing more personnel to troubleshoot and administer them. IT talent does not come cheap, whether you used outsourced third party services or in house staff. You have not just the cost of the salaries but the cost of benefits to deal with as well. Using virtual server technology can reduce the number of servers you need by up to 80%, and that in turn reduces the staff you need to maintain them.

Fewer servers also mean less space, allowing you to make the most of your existing server room and avoid costly and risky moves. You can also save money on air conditioning costs by implementing a virtual server solution, and that can in turn help your company save money while going green. Green technology is important, and there is nothing greener than one server doing the job that five used to do.

So if you are looking for a way to save money and help your bottom line, give server virtualization a look. Many smart companies are already using this technology, and your company can benefit as well.