Book: Virtualization with Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

Summary
A virtual evolution in IT organizations throughout the world has begun. It is estimated that currently 3% of all servers run virtually and that number is expected to grow rapidly over the next 5 years. Server Sprawl and escalating IT costs have managers and system administrators scrambling to find ways to cut costs and reduce Total Cost of Ownership of their physical infrastructure. Combining software applications onto a single server, even if those applications are from the same software vendor, can be dangerous and problems hard to troubleshoot. Virtual Server allows you to consolidate 15 to 20 or even more servers onto a single physical server reducing hardware, electrical, cooling, and administrative costs. These virtual servers run completely independent of each other so if one crashes the other are not affected. Planning and implementing a server consolidation is a complex process.

This book details the requirements for such a project, includes sample forms and templates, and delivers several physical to virtual migration strategies which will save both time and costs.

Abouth the Author
David Rule Jr. (VMware VCP, VAC, MCP, Citrix CCEA, CCA) is a Senior Consultant for Choice Solutions LLC, an Overland Park, KS-based systems integrator that provides IT design, project management, and support for enterprise computing systems. David’s primary role is in developing virtualization strategies for Choice Solutions’ clients.

Kenneth Majors (MCSE, MCSA, Project+, VMware VCP, Citrix CCEA, CCA, IBM X-Series Expert, Avaya ACA) is a Consultant for Choice Solutions LLC. Choice Solutions is a systems integrator headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. Kenneth is a key contributor to defining best practices for deployment and implementation of Microsoft technologies including Windows Server, Virtual Server and SharePoint, Citrix Presentation Server, VMware ESX, and development of documentation standards. Kenneth holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado Technical University.

Matthijs ten Seldam (MCSE, CISSP) is a senior consultant with the infrastructure technologies group at Microsoft Consulting Services. His expertise focuses around virtualization, platform management and deployment, security and networking. One of his specialties is automation of management tasks through various interfaces like WMI and COM using languages like VBScript and C#. He has developed a technical training on Virtual Server 2005 R2 and delivers this to customers and partners. He currently provides consulting to enterprise customers, delivers technical workshops and runs early adoption programs of products like ISA2006 and Virtual Server 2005 R2 Service Pack 1.

Twan Grotenhuis (MCT, MCSE NT4, 2000 and 2003, MCSE+messaging 2000 and 2003, CCNA) is a consultant with Sylis Netherlands. He currently provides strategic and technical consulting to several of the Sylis customers in the Netherlands. His specialties include Microsoft Exchange and ISA architecture, design, implementation, troubleshooting and optimization. Twan has done several Virtual Server 2005 projects where virtualization of physical servers was his main focus.