Datasheet

6
|
CHAPTER 1 PROPOSING VIRTUALIZATION
In addition, SCVMM supports various different options for provisioning virtual machines.
By leveraging its built-in PowerShell script library, you can automate the entire provisioning
process.
Green Computing
Energy consumption is a critical issue for IT organizations today, whether the goal is to reduce
your costs, save the planet, or keep your datacenter running. One of the easiest ways to reduce
the energy demands of your datacenter is through server consolidation and dynamic systems
management of your server assets.
Virtualization is a fundamental component of a green computing initiative. Consolidating
physical servers into one or more virtual servers is a more effi cient use of resources, which in
turn means less hardware is deployed, and thus less power is consumed. Less hardware and a
reduction on overall power consumption means cost savings and a smaller carbon footprint.
However, green computing is not just about consolidating physical servers and what con-
solidation ratios you achieve. It is as much about the design and manufacture of that hardware,
including any peripherals and the entire life cycle of that hardware, from initial purchase to
fi nal disposal.
There are a number of industry initiatives. The Green Grid is a global consortium of IT
companies seeking to improve energy effi ciency within datacenters and business computing
environments around the world. Its website (www.thegreengrid.org) has a number of use-
ful resources and tools that may assist with the further development of your green computing
strategy.
To calculate your potential green savings, Microsoft has developed a sustainability calculator
to estimate your company’s carbon footprint and see the potential savings that are achievable
through consolidation. For a preview of this tool and to see how it could benefi t your organiza-
tion, visit this site:
http://www.microsoft.com/environment/greenit/Preview.aspx?type=server
Self-Provisioning
SCVMM provides a web-based portal where authorized users can provision new virtual
machines without directly involving IT staff. This capability especially targets software test and
development teams, which often set up and tear down temporary virtual machines for applica-
tion development purposes.
SCVMM administrators grant users permissions to create and operate their own virtual
machines within a controlled environment and on a limited set of Hyper-V hosts. This limited
set of Hyper-V hosts is typically organized within a Host Group, which is a logical container
within SCVMM. The SCVMM administrator is required to create self-service user roles, which
determine the scope of the user’s actions on their designated virtual machines.
To create, operate, and manage their virtual machines, self-service users use the SCVMM
Self-Service Portal. This website provides a controlled environment for users in the self-service
user role. The administrator determines which host groups the self-service users can create
virtual machines on. When a self-service user creates a virtual machine, the virtual machine is
automatically placed on the most suitable host in the host group.
c01.indd 6c01.indd 6 9/28/2010 1:42:05 PM9/28/2010 1:42:05 PM