http://technodrone.blogspot.com has a interesting write up titled Is P2V always the best solution?
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I would like to however raise another point of view. Correct, the easiest solution for a system residing on aging hardware is to P2V the system to a VM – and it seems that I have solved my problem. But have I? I posted a question about 9 months ago with this exact same thought.
Do not blindly P2V systems, just because you can.
You will regret doing so in the long run.
I for one do not want ancient Windows/Linux systems in my datacenter. Would you?
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Which is in response to http://vinf.net’s write up titled Using Virtualization to Extend The Hardware Lifecycle
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In harder economic times getting real money to spend on server refreshes is difficult. There are the arguments that new kit is more power efficient; supports higher VM/CPU core densities but the reality is that even if you can show a cost saving over time most current project budgets are at best frozen until the economic uncertainty passes, at worst eliminated.
Although power costs have become increasingly visible because they’ve risen so much over the last 18 months this is still a hidden cost to many organisations, particularly if you run servers in your offices where a facilities team picks up the bill the overall energy savings through virtualization and hardware refresh don’t always get through.
So, I propose some alternative thinking to ride out the recession and make the kit you have and can’t get budget to replace last longer, as well as delivering a basic disaster recovery or test & development platform (business value) in the meantime.
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Interesting read’s each, I would like to share my thoughts on this.
Instead of looking at this as, why should I use or not use virtualization to extend my applications life. We should instead look at it as reason’s to promote virtualization as a whole, whether it is to your company or CEO, or to the first time user. Shouldn’t you instead focus on what virtualization allows you to do? If it causes extra work, because of legacy systems,long term then great. Then you have a valid reason to ask for money or staffing, and if you are are not allotted this; then, it would be give you reason to ask to shut down legacy systems that are no longer needed.
I think today’s virtualization , no matter VMware, Citrix or Hyper-V, should be showing applications vendor’s a wake up call. As they are the ones that are going to be required to support their software products longer, as virtual environments have no hardware ties. Gone are the days when software vendor’s well both hardware and software in one package, and support both. I say, Welcome to Today, when you ask for five year support contracts from the day of purchase.
In my eyes, Gone are the times, of sitting there in a dusty corner; trying to sell a product with a limited life cycle, with a attached hardware platform. Those still doing so, will undoubtedly be left behind in the dust in today’s recession riddled times.
Roger L.
