Impact of IBM System p Server Virtualization

May 2007
MANAGEMENT BRIEF
IMPACT OF IBM SYSTEM p SERVER
VIRTUALIZATION
Transforming the IT Value Equation
with POWER6 Architecture

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 What Strategy? 1 Economic Benefits 1 Overview 1 UNIX Server Costs 1 Linux Server Costs 4 Conclusions 7 STRATEGIC ROLE 8 IBM SYSTEM p SERVER 11 Overview 11 Virtualization Capabilities 11 Partitioning and Management 11 Virtual I/O Server 13 System-level Performance 14 Availability Optimization 14 Core RAS Features 14 Higher-level Capabilities 15 Autonomic Functions 15 COST PICTURE 16 UNIX Server Costs 16 Basis of Calculations 16 Cost Breakdowns 18 Cost Factors 19 Linux Server Costs 19 Basis of Calculations 19 Cost Breakdowns 21 Cost Factors 21 Costs of Downtime 22 Downtime Impacts 22 UNIX Server Comparisons 22 Linux Server Comparisons 23 SERVER COST CALCULATIONS 24 General Approach 24 Configuration Sizing 24 Cost Components 24
List of Figures 1. UNIX Server Comparisons: Five-year Operating Costs 2 2. UNIX Server Comparisons: Five-year Overall Costs (Virtualized Scenarios include Operating and Acquisition Costs) 2 3. UNIX Server Comparisons: Five-year Operating Costs for p570 and Equivalent Conventional Servers 3 4. UNIX Server Comparisons: Five-year Overall Costs for p570 and Equivalent Conventional Servers (Virtualized Scenarios include Operating and Acquisition Costs) 3 5. Five-Year I/O-related Costs for Partitioned IBM System p Servers: All Virtualized Scenarios 4 6. Linux Server Comparisons: Five-year Operating Costs 5
International Technology Group i 7. Linux Server Comparisons: Five-year Overall Costs (Virtualized Scenarios include Acquisition Costs) 5 8. UNIX Server Comparisons: Five-year Costs of Downtime 6 9. Linux Server Comparisons: Five-Year Costs of Downtime 6 10. IT Expenditure by Fortune 1000 Companies in 2006: Conventional Breakdown 8 11. IT Expenditure by Fortune 1000 Companies in 2006: Alternative Breakdown 9 12. Applications Expenditure by Fortune 1000 Companies in 2006 9 13. Key IBM System p Virtualization Capabilities 12 14. Dedicated Adapter and Virtual I/O Server Configurations: Examples 13 15. IBM System p Autonomic Functions 15 16. UNIX Server Profiles Summary 17 17. Five-Year UNIX Server Costs Detail 18 18. UNIX Server Comparisons: Factors Resulting in Lower Operating Costs for Virtualized Scenarios (All Servers) 19 19. UNIX Server Comparisons: Factors Resulting in Lower Operating Costs for p570 Servers and Conventional Equivalents 19 20. Linux Server Installation Profiles Summary 20 21. Five-Year Linux Server Costs Detail 21 22. Linux Server Comparisons: Factors Resulting in Lower Operating Costs for Virtualized Scenarios 21
International Technology Group ii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What Strategy?
Virtualization is no longer an "emerging" technology. Its potential to increase the efficiency of IT infrastructures has become widely recognized. Organization-wide improvements in ov... [download for more]