Virtualization and Automation Drive Dynamic Data Centers

TECHNOLOGY BRIEF: UTILIZATION AND DATA CENTER PRODUCTIVITY
Virtualization and
Automation Drive
Dynamic Data CentersTable of Contents
Executive Summary
SECTION 1: CHALLENGE 2Meeting the Challenge of Data CenterEvolution The Unsustainable Over-Provisioning Model The Dynamic Data Center Model: A Work inProgress
SECTION 2: OPPORTUNITY 4Virtualization and Automation Drive DynamicData Center Model
SECTION 3: BENEFITS 8Transformation Complete: Benefits Accrue
SECTION 4: CONCLUSIONS 9
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Challenge
The over-provisioning model used by data centers for years is rapidly becomingunsustainable, and a new, dynamic data center model is emerging, driven by virtualizationand automation. You face challenges managing your physical and virtual environments andthe fact that you must centralize, optimize and maintain both. You must still maximizebusiness returns and protect your company's reputation, prevent service outages, meetcompliance mandates and deploy new features quickly while keeping costs low. Meanwhile,facility and management costs are dramatically increasing, driving the need for moreefficient use of existing resources. A new breed of data center management strategies andtools is necessary to meet the rapidly growing demand for business services and applications.
Opportunity
The dynamic data center model, driven by virtualization and automation, requiressophisticated monitoring and management technologies. The process and infrastructuredecisions you make in the next 6 to 12 months will profoundly affect your ability to supportnew applications and business requirements. Key capabilities you will need include:. Management platform visibility into dependencies, performance and utilization acrossboth virtual and physical systems . Automation of provisioning and change management tasks across network, server andapplication layers. Policy-based resource allocation based on real-time performance metrics andservice priorities
Benefits
Adopting a dynamic data center model addresses the problems of over- and under-provisioning resources associated with a lack of automation. You gain operational efficiencies,control costs - particularly skyrocketing power and energy costs - reduce infrastructurecomplexity and risk, and gain better control of your capital investments. By dynamicallyshifting resources among applications and services based on business priority and demand,you can control escalating operational and capital expenditures.Your enterprise benefits because critical infrastructure and resources are readily availablebased on changing business priorities. You will also be able to drive consistency acrossyour data center and reduce manual intervention - freeing up resources for strategic tasksthat will help you create further differentiation.The resulting operations and facility efficiencies will translate into better customerexperience, reduced environmental impact and increased capacity for future services.
TECHNOLOGY BRIEF: UTILIZATION AND DATA CENTER PRODUCTIVITY 1SECTION 1: CHALLENGE Meeting the Challenge of Data Center EvolutionIn all probability, you are in the early stages of an evolutionary process that will transformyour data center from a technology-based cost center into a strategic business asset. Thistransformation can have a positive impact on your organization's bottom line and, moreimportantly, deliver a competitive advantage.
It is getting through the process - beginning with an over-provisioning model that is provingunsustainable, to the challenges ... [download for more]