Successful server consolidation: it is all in the preparation

Successful server consolidation: it's all in the preparation

run applications as a result of better compute resource utilization. Running a pilot before

implementing a server consolidation initiative allows companies to determine what

impact server consolidation will have on the entire IT environment, and determine if the

economic benefits are justifiable. The proof of concept also shows what applications and

servers can and cannot be consolidated, helping to avoid downtime and maintain service

levels as server consolidation is implemented on a wider scale across the entire IT

environment.

Server consolidation pilot programs show companies that outsource their IT needs the

benefits of implementing server consolidation on a wider scale. The cost savings that can

be realized from reducing the amount of servers resulting in maintenance cost reductions,

and a reduction in the cost of managing the applications are usually what drives

companies that outsource their IT needs to implement a server consolidation initiative.

Supporting mission-

critical applications

Being able to provide cost-effective support for mission-critical applications is a constant

challenge for most IT departments. Especially in the healthcare industry, where many

non-profits have to be careful that every expenditure is justified while providing the best

possible patient care. Many healthcare organizations have seen their IT environment

grow over the past four years and are faced with numerous servers to support

applications, sometimes spread out over more than one data center. This drives the need

for a reduction in the number of servers and reduced complexity in the IT infrastructure,

all while maintaining a robust, fault-resilient infrastructure operating on a 24/7 basis.

Using hardware, such as the ProLiant DL380 2-way and DL580 4-way server, to power

departmental applications and web applications provide a way to reduce server count

while ensuring scalability and reliability. Even more powerful and scalable, the ProLiant

DL760 8-way servers can run PeopleSoft applications – consisting of financial, human

resources, and payroll modules with correlating Oracle databases. HP ProLiant

Essentials Rapid Deployment Pack for new server provisioning and configuration makes it

possible to install many servers rapidly and reliably. This software automates the

generation of standard server configuration scripts. HP Insight Manager and HP Remote

Insight Lights-Out Edition can be used to manage ProLiant servers centrally through a

graphic remote console, helping reduce the complexity of having more than one data

center.

Through server consolidation it is possible to reduce the number of servers in data

centers, sometimes by 40%, which will conserve data center space, save on software

license fees, and centralize management of mission-critical applications. HP ProLiant

servers, HP software, and HP StorageWorks SAN help reduce the cost, complexity and

manageability of the data center. The end result of a successful server consolidation can

be an always-on, fault tolerant HP infrastructure. In the healthcare industry, this is the

only acceptable IT environment.