Consolidation
Server consolidation is a method of achieving efficient use of server resources to reduce the number of servers or physical locations required for an organisation. Consolidation is usually carried out in response to the issue of �server sprawl�, where many under-used servers take up more space and consume more resources than can be justified by their workload. According to Tony Iams, Senior Analyst at D.H. Brown Associates Inc. in Port Chester, NY, servers typically run at 15-20% of their capacity, which considering the capital and running costs of servers, is highly inefficient.
Iconic have carried out consolidation for clients as a means of reducing costs and maximizing return on investment (ROI). Of 518 respondents in a Gartner Group research study, six percent had conducted a server consolidation project, 61% were currently conducting one, and 28% were planning to do so in the immediate future.
Although consolidation can drastically increase the efficiency of server resources, it can also result in complex configurations that can be confusing for the average internal technical support staff. Iconic overcome this by using �server virtualisation� to make consolidated systems look like the old inefficient system while optimising resource sharing. We are also adept at using blade servers to maximise the efficient use of space.