Consolidation in the Data Center: Simplifying IT Environments to Reduce Total Cost of Ownership
Authors: David Hornby, Bill Walker, Ken Pepple
Venue:  (2002)

From the Book:PrefaceThis Sun BluePrints book provides a methodology for justifying, scoping, and implementing server and storage consolidation. This book addresses the followin topics: Establishing a vision for server consolidation Methods for achieving and measuring a successful solution Understanding and creating a business case for a consolidation project Quantifying total cost of ownership (TCO) savings and other benefits of consolidation Designing an architecture for a consolidated solution Implementing server consolidation based on the established vision Managing a consolidated solutionSun BluePrints ProgramThe mission of the Sun BluePrints program is to empower Sun customers with the technical knowledge required to implement reliable, extensible, and secure information systems within the data center using Sun products. This program provides a framework to identify, develop, and distribute best practices information that applies across the Sun product lines. Technical subject matter experts in various areas contribute to the program, and focus on the scope and usefulness of the information.The Sun BluePrints program includes books, guides, and online articles. Through these vehicles, Sun can provide guidance, installation and implementation experiences, real-life scenarios, and late-breaking technical information.The monthly electronic magazine, Sun BluePrints OnLine, is located on the web at http://www.sun.com/blueprints. To be notified about updates to the Sun BluePrints program, please register yourself on this site.Who Should Use ThisBookThe audience for this Sun BluePrints book includes customers and partners interested in server and storage consolidation, mixed workload planning and management, and TCO analysis for production environments. Specifically, this book is for data center managers, chief architects, and executive-level information technology (IT) managers.Before You Read This BookThis book complements the Resource Management and Capacity Planning Sun BluePrint. It provides a high-level analysis of some of the topics and product presented in Resource Management and Capacity Planning, and cross-references this material, when necessary. You may find it helpful to review the Resource Management and Capacity Planning Sun BluePrints book before reading this book.How This Book Is OrganizedThis book contains the following chapters.Chapter 1, "Evolution of the Data Center" provides a definition of consolidation and explains how data centers have evolved to a point where consolidation has become necessary.Chapter 2, "Business Aspects of Consolidation" explains the business issues to consider when preparing for a consolidation project. This chapter provides guidance for selling a consolidation project, provides methods for properly assessing the cost of complexity and total cost of ownership, and explains how you can avoid some of the problems you may face during a consolidation project.Chapter 3, "Types of Consolidation" describes the different types of consolidation you can perform. This chapter provides specific information about the opportunities of each type of consolidation, and presents general strategies used to perform them.Chapter 4, "Consolidation Methodology" introduces the four phases of Sun Professional Services' consolidation methodology, and identifies general recommendations for their successful completion.Chapter 5, "Performing a Consolidation Feasibility Study" explains the value of performing a feasibility study, and provides guidance for doing so.Chapter 6, "Planning a Consolidation Project" explains the importance of properly planning for a consolidation project. Through the use of a sample project, this chapter explains the tasks involved in creating a project plan including defining objectives, estimating time lines, setting milestones, and estimating realistic project durations. In addition, this chapter provides information about identifying and securing essential project resources.Chapter 7, "Assessing Technical Feasibility" explains how to perform the tasks that must be completed before you can design a consolidated architecture. These tasks include compiling a starting inventory, profiling applications, assessing requirements (of platforms, storage, networks, security, and infrastructure and operations), and assessing risk.Chapter 8, "Designing a Consolidated Architecture" explains how to perform the tasks involved in designing a consolidated architecture. These tasks include reviewing requirements, developing an initial solution, prototyping the design, revising the design, and documenting the architecture.Chapter 9, "Implementing a Consolidated Solution" explains how to specify the low-level details of the platform, define a migration strategy, build the consolidated environment, and deploy it. Also, it provides information about putting the solution into production and ensuring that the administrative staff is trained and prepared to document the results of the consolidation.Chapter 10, "Managing a Consolidated Environment" explains some of the sticky operational issues created by the newly consolidated solution. With several applications sharing the same platform and operating systems infrastructure, availability, and maintenance problems are bound to arise. This chapter explains the importance of careful planning, strong operational processes, and flexible architectures in facing these challenges.Appendix A presents the complete sample feasibility study referenced in Chapter 5.Appendix B presents a sample application profile.Ordering Sun DocumentsYou can view, print or purchase a broad selection of Sun documentation, including localized versions, at: http://www.sun.com/documentationAccessing Sun Documentation OnlineThe docs.sun.com sm web site enables you to access Sun technical documentation online. You can browse the docs.sun.com archive, or search for a specific book title or subject. The URL is http://docs.sun.com/