Enterprise level computing has been revolutionized over the past years with the take up of virtualization technologies. At first the take up was slow as the old guard had big issues with putting lots of eggs in one basket. However, over the last couple of years the take up has been rapid. Companies that used regulatory advice to keep servers separate have even started to virtualize there servers as the pressure to reduce operational and capital costs have increased. Also, a large number of companies have utilized the power saving aspects of virtualization.
For SMEs the task of taking up virtualization is as big a leap as it was for Enterprise level companies. A first look virtualization looks complex and demanding. SMEs easily fall into the trap of seeing huge bills for computer consultancy and expensive ongoing costs. The truth is that the savings far out weigh the setup costs and the simplification of the infrastructure. With the right setup SMEs can reap the rewards of virtualization.
The costs of running a small number of servers has increasing year on year. Oil prices have affected the cost of electricity with a 100% increase over the last 5 years and with the current troubles in the Middle East the pressures on energy costs can only be seen as upward. SMEs have also seen an increase in the number of servers that they are using due to the need for more and more systems to keep the competitive edge. The increase in the number of servers has also meant that some SMEs have had to invest in air conditioning systems, this has also meant an increase in energy costs. All of this has an environmental impact.
As well as the increases in the cost of energy there has also been an increase in the cost of maintenance and capital purchase for servers. I have over 20 years experience and the failure rate of servers is very low, however, the impact can be very high. Virtualization is not the risk that it often seen as, “too many eggs in one basket”.
An SME (on average) requires several servers to perform the most basic of tasks. In general they’ll have a small business server running directory services, email and file and print sharing. After this they’ll have some form of point of sale/finance server plus other servers giving access to other services and applications. This leads to a minimum of a kilowatt of electricity every hour and at the cost of 12p per unit, this adds up to an electricity cost of around £1,000 for just 3 basic servers. If more servers are utilized this goes up in line until air conditioning is required to keep the computers cool. In general cooling is required when there are more than 7 computers or sooner if the room is small. A small room with 5 low-end servers will require over 1.6kWh and will need approximately 3 kWh of cooling. An annual cost would be nearing £4,500 for the running costs excluding the maintenance of the air coolers and servers. Each of the servers will generally be using less than 5% of its processing capability.

SalamanderIT is pleased to be able to provide the necessary services in providing a simple virtual environment that can support up to 12 servers on one box. This leads to energy savings and a reduction in maintenance costs. If you have any questions please contact us and we will look at your requirements and give you a quote with an analysis of the savings you could be making.

Alan Greenwell