		More search options ▼ All Product Catalog ▼ All Product Catalog Small Business Catalog Top Sellers Catalog CDW Outlet Catalog Special Pricing Close Category: Brand: Price Range:
	By Solution Overview Business Intelligence Cloud Computing Data Center Digital Signage Document Management Managed Print Services Mobility Networking Point of Sale Security Software Management Unified Communications Cloud Computing Cloud provides a model for convenient network access. Software as a Service Infrastructure as a Service Platform as a Service Data Center Solutions An up-to-date data center guarantees safe storage and security. Backup Client Virtualization Converged Infrastructure Power & Cooling Server Virtualization Storage Management & Virtualization Networking Solutions Build a smarter network to power your organization. Network Optimization Wireless Infrastructure Point of Sale Solutions Point of sale (POS) specialists can help you reduce costs and improve service. Asset & Inventory Management POS Systems Security Solutions Ensure your data travels safely within and outside of your organization. Data Loss Prevention Defense in Depth Mobile Security PCI Compliance Software Solutions Keep track of your organization’s software with our software management tools. Software Asset Management Software License Management UC Solutions Communicate and collaborate effectively with a sophisticated solution system. CDW Cloud Collaboration Collaboration Conferencing Contact Center Telephony By Service Overview Configuration Demo Labs E-Procurement Integration Leasing Maintenance Agreements Managed Services Professional Services Repair Center Telecommunications Managed Services Get the monitoring and management support your organization needs. Hosting Services Remote Managed Services By Industry Overview Federal Government Financial Services Healthcare Higher Education K-12 Education Legal Nonprofit Retail State & Local Government By Location Overview Central Region East Region West Region Central Region See what our experts in the Heartland of America can do for you. Chicago Dallas & Ft. Worth Indianapolis Madison Michigan Mid-America Minnesota Region Northern Ohio & Pennsylvania Ohio & Kentucky South Texas East Region Get real results in your region with our East Region experts. Atlanta & Greater Southeast Florida New England New York Metro Washington, D.C. West Region Our West Region experts have the big picture covered, right from your backyard. Los Angeles Portland Seattle Media Library Library

Solutions & Services > Data Center > Server Virtualization

Server Virtualization

What is Server Virtualization?

Server virtualization allows users to maximize physical resources in the most efficient way possible. Server virtualization functions by running multiple, independent, virtual operating systems on a single computer.

Server virtualization transforms hardware into software, creating a virtual hardware resource on an x86-based server that incorporates CPU, RAM and hard drives.

What Does a Server Virtualization Configuration Look Like?

Diagram: Click on image at left to view a sample server virtualization configuration.

A thin virtualization layer partitions the physical server so you can run multiple servers simultaneously on a single server. The computing resources of the physical server are pooled and used by the virtual servers in a controlled manner. The virtual servers are isolated from the other virtual servers on the systems leaving them unaffected by the actions of the other virtual servers.

How Will Server Virtualization Solutions Benefit My Organization?

Server virtualization can help your organization to:

Increase server utilization
Centralize control of all desktop OS and applications
Reduce power and cooling requirements
Better control virus and malware outbreaks
Simplify management of OS and application patch updates
Reduce device theft
Increase data security and remote access

How Can I Help My Organization Embrace Server Virtualization Solutions?

When considering server virtualization, it’s important to ask the following questions:

What devices are needed and how are they used?
How secure are your data and computing devices?
How much are you spending in energy costs?
How are you managing application delivery and OS updates?

What Comprises a Server Virtualization Solution?

An effective server virtualization solution utilizes multiple components:

Platform	The most popular server virtualization platform, Hypervisor, runs without the use of any general-purpose operating system. An alternative platform known as hosted virtualization requires an operating system underneath the server virtualization software.
Server Hardware	While it’s possible to use existing server hardware, most companies upgrade to achieve increased processing speeds and memory capacity. Server hardware choices include: rack or blade; 2-way, high-end, or 16-way servers or Intel or AMD based processors.
Shared Storage	To gain maximum functionality of your virtualization environment, shared storage must be deployed. Storage protocols include fibre channel, iSCSI and NFS. Drive options include SATA and SAS drives as well as interconnect technology which includes SAS and fibre channel.
Network Hardware	Understanding your network environment is key as certain server virtualization features now require Gigabit connectivity. New technologies, such as Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), can reduce the number of Ethernet connections per server.
Licensing	Software licensing is often the most misunderstood component of a server virtualization deployment. Every platform licenses software and each operating system has its own licensing rules. Working with a knowledgeable licensing specialist will help you ensure compliance.
Support	In any server virtualization solution, multiple components will need to work together. Most server virtualization platforms require a support purchase with each software license.

Getting Started with Server Virtualization

Your CDW Account Manager and certified Solution Architects are ready to assist you with every phase of choosing and leveraging the right solution for your IT environment. Our approach includes:

An initial discovery session to understand your goals, requirements, and budget
An assessment review of your existing environment and definition of project requirements
Detailed vendor evaluations, recommendations, future design and proof of concept
Procurement, configuration, and deployment of the final solution
Ongoing product lifecycle support

Why VDI?

The Organization: Ransom Everglades School
The Location: Coconut Grove, FL
The Project: Simplify desktop management, improve security with virtual desktop infrastructure. Get the story »

Virtually Amazing

The Organization: Northeast Alabama Community College
The Location: Rainsville, AL
The Project: NACC cuts costs, increases reliability by deploying virtual desktops. Get the story »

Managing Data Overload

The Organization: Lewis Wagner LLP
The Location: Indianapolis, IN
The Project: Retool the infrastructure and move to a virtualized server and storage environment. Get the story »

Big Trees, Big Data

The Organization: The Campbell Group
The Location: Portland, OR
The Project: A unique investment management firm overhauls back-end systems. Get the story »

Balanced Resources

The Organization: Florida Institute of Technology
The Location: Melbourne, FL
The Project: Turn to consolidation and virtualization for less sprawl and more efficiency. Get the story »