Virtualization's Tipping Point

摘要

Virtualization is all overthe data center and is rapidly moving onto users' desktops. As it spreads out, it's cutting hardware upgrade costs, simplifying administration from central servers, and giving users the desktops they prefer. To continue its sweep through the enterprise, the technology needs to overcome I/O performance problems caused by running a lot of virtual machines on one server. Once the I/O issues are solved, virtualization will be more useful for both production server and end-user applications. However, in order to function well in both these areas, virtualization security must be improved as well. Despite looming I/O and security issues, server virtualization is well established. According to Forrester Research, it has reached a "tipping point," with 23% of businesses having at least two years experience implementing the technology, and by 2009, more than half (51%) are expected to have that level of experience. Today, 24% of servers have been virtualized, says Forrester analyst Frank Gillett, and by 2009,45% are expected to be.