"Virtualisation separates applications from a physical reliance on hardware," according to Eddie O'Rourke, sales director of virtualised systems provider Novosco. "It allows the running of IT systems on less hardware, reducing energy costs and carbon footprint, and enabling a lot more flexibility and dynamism in terms of how we run systems."
O'Rourke says technology advances mean the concept of virtualisation is now open to all sizes of business. "It has made the transition from being experimental to the mainstream. Players such as VMware, Citrix, Microsoft and EMC have come out with their own mainstream virtualisation offerings. It has become a platform where people feel comfortable."
Virtual reality
Until recently, most virtualisation projects focused solely on server and storage provision for large organisations. But this is changing on two fronts: each element of the IT department can now be virtualised, and it doesn't matter whether the firm in question is large or small.
"Virtualisation can be servers, desktops or applications," says Larry Doyle, director of virtualised infrastructure provider Netforce. "Desktops can be virtualised and presented on either a terminal client or an existing desktop computer."
Applications such as word processors or accounts packages can also be virtualised, managed and delivered from off-site locations. "Applications are effectively streamed to the user rather than installed on each desktop, again offering better management of the desktop, support of the application, easy upgrade and maintenance," says Doyle.
Reasons to believe
There are five main benefits for SMEs who are considering virtualising some or all of their IT systems, according to Doyle.
1. Reduced hardware costs, which can be spread over a longer term.
2. Better disaster recovery options, as users can switch to a back-up copy of a program immediately if there is a problem.
3. Reduced management overhead, including lower energy costs and a smaller carbon footprint.
4. Increased scalability, as users can quickly roll out new servers or applications without having to first put in place new hardware.
5. Better performance from the latest technology.
Planning and analysis
SMEs should examine their existing IT systems and future business requirements before choosing a virtualisation solution. "Initially, the client should undertake - usually with a partner - a capacity planning analysis of their existing system and business objectives," says Doyle.
There are two distinct ways in which companies can virtualise their systems. They can purchase virtualised solutions and implement them within their own IT department, or they can ask a partner to take over control of their newly virtualised systems, which are then hosted and maintained off-site.
"If the customer decides to virtualise their on-site infrastructure, there is a capital acquisition cost at the beginning which is clawed back over a number of years," says O'Rourke. "Alternatively, the provider makes that investment on their behalf, and converts the customer's physical infrastructure into a virtual one. Then you can buy everything as a service: hardware, software and services."
End-users generally are unaware they are working on a virtualised hardware or software solution. "Typically performance is the same and the user is still getting their normal XP or Vista desktop and applications," says Doyle.
Virtualisation can also open up mobility opportunities to staff who may move from site to site or access applications or storage from the road or from home. "At the front end the user can be anywhere and get access to any system at any time," says O'Rourke.
Proceed with caution
Before leaping into virtualisation, however, businesses should be aware that the concept is still relatively new and evolving, and it may not work for every business in every situation. "Some applications require specific hardware or drivers that the virtualisation software cannot currently provide," Doyle says.
Still, O'Rourke maintains that as the technology progresses, more and more SMEs will choose to virtualise part and then all of their IT function. "Smaller businesses can virtualise one or two applications so that they are available from anywhere on the internet, for example," he says. "Once they feel comfortable they would introduce more systems into the virtualised environment."
The future of virtualisation is in eliminating the difference, for the user or smaller business owner, between hardware machines and software applications, according to O'Rourke. "You can now virtualise someone's entire server room and offer each element back as a service to the business."