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All virtualisation projects involve change and will achieve the best return if this change is managed effectively. A key objective when consolidating services away from older less efficient server platforms is that they should be de-commissioned at the end of the process.

As part of a virtualisation project do not make the error of focussing just on the logical changes (OS instances, applications etc.) but include the physical infrastructure. If you are not using a Data Centre Infrastructure Management system it can be easy to lose track of this vital cost saving element. If servers are left active it won’t be long before someone conveniently finds a secondary use for them.

Benefits

The benefits of making a DCIM tool such as dcTrack™ an integral part of the virtualisation planning process will be:

• The results of any audit undertaken as part of the virtualisation planning process will be recorded in the relational database and preserved improving the efficiency of future planning
• You can benefit from the built-in work order management tools (see managing change) automating this process for your virtualisation project
• You will be able to view progress and de-commissioning and easily calculate savings in terms of space and power budget at any stage
• You will be able to readily view space as it becomes available and make decisions on the impact this may have on your PUE/DCiE key performance indicator (see PUE or DCiE?). This will enable you to plan any associated moves and consolidations that may be required to re-optimise your data centre

ROI

The ROI on your virtualisation project will depend on tracking the physical changes associated with de-commissioning systems. dcTrack™ will provide the management tool and information base required to validate the following:

• savings in power use
• savings in support/maintenance costs for platforms that are removed
• savings in physical network ports used
• savings in space

The cost of DCIM software can be recovered from the total virtualisation project savings achieved and from more efficient management of the work orders associated with the consolidation (see managing change)