Server Virtualization Consulting in Newton & Boston

What is server virtualization?

Server virtualization uses software called a hypervisor to run several separate virtual servers on one physical machine.

Each virtual machine has its own operating system and applications, as if it were its own box. Instead of one aging server per application, you run them side by side on fewer, newer hosts.

Is virtualization right for a small or mid-sized business?

It usually is if you have several physical servers, each doing one job, and some of them are getting old.

• Fewer physical machines to power, cool, patch and replace
• Easier backups and snapshots of whole servers
• Faster recovery onto other hardware if a host fails
• Room to add a server without buying another box

If you run a single server for file sharing and one application, a well-planned replacement or a NAS may be simpler. We will tell you which way we would go and why.

How do you plan a server consolidation?

We start by inventorying every server and what depends on it, then size the new environment around real workloads.

• Inventory each server, its applications, storage and who relies on it
• Measure processor, memory and storage use to size the new hosts
• Check software licensing and vendor support for virtual environments
• Design storage, networking and backup for the new setup
• Move servers in stages, testing each one before the next

Planning this way means fewer surprises on cutover day. If hardware is part of the plan, see our server and hardware refresh page.

Should we use VMware or Hyper-V?

Both are common platforms, and the right choice depends on what you already own and how your licensing works.

We can assess your current environment, including Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware setups, and lay out the trade-offs in plain terms. Licensing terms change over time, so we check them against your actual agreements rather than assume.

How does virtualization affect storage, networking and backup?

It ties them together, so all three need to be planned at the same time.

Compute, storage and networking increasingly converge into shared resources. That makes the storage behind your hosts critical; see our business storage (NAS and SAN) page. Backups need to capture virtual machines cleanly, which our backup and disaster recovery service covers.

Where does virtualization fit with the cloud?

Virtualization is often the first step toward a hybrid setup.

Once workloads run as virtual machines, it becomes easier to decide which stay on site and which belong in Azure, AWS or a private cloud. Our hybrid cloud consulting picks up from there.