Virtualization For Dummies

by Bernard Golden

Overview

Virtualization has become a “megatrend”—and for good reason. Implementing virtualization allows for more efficient utilization of network server capacity, simpler storage administration, reduced energy costs, and better use of corporate capital. In other words: virtualization helps you save money, energy, and space. Not bad, huh?

If you’re thinking about “going virtual” but have the feeling everyone else in the world understands exactly what that means while you’re still virtually in the dark, take heart. Virtualization for Dummies gives you a thorough introduction to this hot topic and helps you evaluate if making the switch to a virtual environment is right for you.

This fun and friendly guide starts with a detailed overview of exactly what virtualization is and exactly how it works, and then takes you on a tour of the benefits of a virtualized environment, such as added space in overcrowded data centers, lower operations costs through more efficient infrastructure administration, and reduced energy costs through server consolidation.

Next, you’ll get step-by-step guidance on how to:

• Perform a server virtualization cost versus benefit analysis
• Weigh server virtualization options
• Choose hardware for your server virtualization project
• Create a virtualized software environment
• Migrate to—and manage—your new virtualized environment

Whether you’re an IT manager looking to sell the idea to your boss, or just want to learn more about how to create, migrate to, and successfully manage a virtualized environment, Virtualization for Dummies is your go-to guide for virtually everything you need to know.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470148310
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	12/05/2007
Series:	For Dummies Books
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Bernard Golden has been called “a renowned open source expert” (IT Business Edge) and “an open source guru” (SearchCRM.com) and is regularly featured in magazines like Computerworld, InformationWeek, and Inc. His blog “The Open Source” is one of the most popular features of CIO Magazine’s Web site. Bernard is a frequent speaker at industry conferences like LinuxWorld, the Open Source Business Conference, and the Red Hat Summit. He is the author of Succeeding with Open Source, (Addison-Wesley, 2005, published in four languages), which is used in over a dozen university open source programs throughout the world. Bernard is the CEO of Navica, a Silicon Valley IT management consulting firm.

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Table of Contents

Foreword xvii

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started with a Virtualization Project 7

Chapter 1: Wrapping Your Head around Virtualization 9

Chapter 2: Making a Business Case for Virtualization 33

Chapter 3: Understanding Virtualization: Technologies and Applications 49

Chapter 4: Peeking at the Future of Virtualization 83

Part II: Server Virtualization 99

Chapter 5: Deciding Whether Server Virtualization Is Right for You 101

Chapter 6: Performing a Server Virtualization Cost-Benefit Analysis 111

Chapter 7: Managing a Virtualization Project 129

Chapter 8: Choosing Hardware for Your Server Virtualization Project 159

Part III: Server Virtualization Software Options 187

Chapter 9: Migrating to Your New Virtualized Environment 189

Chapter 10: Managing Your Virtualized Environment 209

Chapter 11: Creating a Virtualized Storage Environment 221

Part IV: Implementing Virtualization 243

Chapter 12: Implementing VMware Server 245

Chapter 13: Implementing Fedora Virtualization 267

Chapter 14: Implementing XenExpress 291

Part V: The Part of Tens 319

Chapter 15: Ten Steps to Your First Virtualization Project 321

Chapter 16: Ten Virtualization Pitfalls to Avoid 329

Chapter 17: Ten Great Resourceson Virtualization 335

Index 341