Server Consolidation Application Compatibility Windows Servers Linux Virtualization Xen Software Solutions: Thinking beyond one-size-fits-all virtualization. Virtualization comes in many forms and flavors, and each can dramatically increase datacenter utilization while saving resources. But which approach is right for which system? Find out as we survey the latest on virtual machines, OS virtualization, virtualized storage, and more.

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Thinking beyond one-size-fits-all virtualization

Virtualization is winning a lot of converts among datacenter administrators because of its ability to help consolidate IT infrastructure, improve manageability, and save valuable resources. Yet in a sense, virtualization has become a victim of its own success.

Due to the market share victories of certain vendors, virtual machines have become almost synonymous with virtualization in the public consciousness. But in reality, virtual machines represent a relatively small chapter in the entire virtualization story.

In the most basic terms, virtualization is about abstracting IT resources from underlying hardware. Often times, the impetus for a virtualization project is that it allows hardware to be treated as a shared pool or resource — and with a single interface that promotes centralized management.