Virtualize to save money. Our servers are only used between 5% and 15%, the rest of the time they are waiting for jobs ... while consuming!
Virtualization has become the most popular ecological initiative estimates
Enterprise Management Associates in a study conducted in September 2008.
The firm also revealed that mastering consumption of servers is the method providing the best return on investment, with savings of about 14% ...
Virtualization is an immediately available solution for administrators seeking cost savings.
However, it requires hardware supporting this functionnality and an operating system
enabling to implement the technology. On the other hand, it is necessary to implement a system measuring the consumption of equipment in order to assess the current situation.
For those who promote virtualization, it is an urgent matter as our servers are barely used between 5% and 15% of their capacity, the rest of the time, they are waiting for work ...while consuming up two-thirds of their nominal consumption.
Ditto for our PC. Logically, a VMware has integrated to its virtualization technologies solutions for power management limiting energy consumption of the systems and their costs by switching off, or by slowing down when they are not used. Simply turning off servers and workstations at periods of inactivity, as the evening or weekends, represents an energy saving of minimum 25%, without no consequencesfor applications or users.
By replacing PC by "thin clients" as suggested by HP, the savings are even more important. These systems consume on average 80% less energy (25 watts on average compared to 170 watts).
These magnitudes can be quantified precisely. With its on-line Hyper Green Line simulator, Microsoft allows businesses to assess the savings they could achieve through virtualization. The tool translates the saved kWh in power consumption and cooling of the servers with the important savings and in terms of CO2 emission reduction.
Important in 2008, the "eco-efficiency " is becoming critical, notes Citrix.
Given the incessant fluctuation of oil prices, the ability to reduce its energy consumption becomes an asset essential to control spendings in a context of economical crisis. But it will have to be integrated in a broader effort : asset management, Application charges analysis and information systems vision throughout the enterprise.
You Virtualize? Nice!
But did you consider the constraints of cooling?
One of the promises of virtualization is to reduce the electricity bill by reducing the number of physical servers. But what about the increase in power consumption of each physical server hosting multiple virtual servers?
Virtualization involves a more intensive use of CPU and processor, which is translated into a higher power consumption of the physical server. An increased consumption implies a greater amperage circuit which may not be available ...
When increasing the power consumption, it increases the need for cooling capacity. More power consumption means more heat and more heat means a greater risk of equipment damage ...
To break the vicious circle, the coupling of the heat source to air conditioning is essential in order to reduce to the strict minimum the way for the cold air to reach servers that need to be cooled off. Clearly, ensures APC, avoid mixing hot and cold air which may be harmful to a good productivity.
Other advice: only use the required capacity. Oversized Systems are wasting energy. By focusing on a tailor-made and evolving system, you only pay for what is needed.
Finally, APC recommends a thermic confinement. Clearly, not not allow hot air to mix with cold air. Rows of computer racks are isolated and the hot air generated by the servers can only reach the room once neutralized and brought to proper temperature. Only cool what needs to be. This will reduce by 50% the operating costs compared to a conventional design.
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