Successful server consolidation: it is all in the preparation
Successful server consolidation: it's all in the preparation
After the IT environment is analyzed, the team responsible for the analysis will present
conclusions and recommendations based on all factors involved. The recommendations
will detail how your improved IT environment will look after consolidation. The reduction
of the number of various types of servers will be detailed. All of the elements of your
target consolidated environment should be described in great detail. Suggestions should
be made on server retirement and servers that need to be refreshed. Software that can
help improve service levels and utilization numbers will be detailed in terms of how and
why. Most importantly, all of the financial numbers associated with a server
consolidation will be stated. The investment outlay for your IT department, as well as
cost savings, staffing cost improvements payback, and TCO reductions. For a more in-
depth look at server consolidation financials, please read the consolidation economics
part of this paper.
While HP is the number one provider of industry-standard servers worldwide
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, HP
understands that consolidation is about much more than hardware. HP offers everything
you need to consolidate, from consulting and services expertise, to blade and enterprise
servers, manageability tools, clustering expertise, and optimized software solutions. The
HP approach to server consolidation is like no other—flexible, collaborative, and
focused customer needs. To contact HP Services to conduct an Assessment Workshop,
call 1-800-282-6672 or visit www.hp.com/hps/
.
Streamlining the
infrastructure
An important element of server consolidation is the possibility of streamlining the IT
infrastructure. Streamlining the infrastructure allows for better management of the IT
environment, improved service levels, cost savings, and business agility. How is
streamlining the infrastructure possible? The answer is through a consolidated
environment’s reduced complexity made possible by a better operating system, more
efficient hardware, and enhanced software.
Centralization
Centralizing the data center into one location, if there are servers located in more than
one location, is a great first step to take in order to streamline your IT infrastructure. This
action would reduce any confusion involved with keeping track of servers. Centralizing
your data center also allows for easier management and security because the entire IT
infrastructure can always be easily accounted for and maintained.
Remote management
If centralization of the data center is not possible, you can centralize management of the
IT environment. Utilizing remote management tools can drastically reduce the amount of
time it takes to manage the IT environment, without any decrease in service levels or
availability. For example, Remote Insight Lights-Out Edition II allows for complete control
of all ProLiant servers. One click access allows systems administrators to take full
graphical control of ProLiant servers in remote locations or lights-out data centers
underneath the operating system. In other words, you have the ability to fix or patch an
operating system. Using a standard web browser or handheld device, IT professionals
can perform functions, such as deployment, configuration, maintenance and
troubleshooting. Remote management tools can establish an IT environment with
virtualized centralization.
For more information on Remote Insight Lights-Out Edition II, visit the HP website:
http://h18013.www1.hp.com/manage/riloe2.html
.
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Source: Server and storage consolidation study, IDC 2002. Compaq (now HP) voted #1 in the server and storage
consolidation study, IDC 2002.
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