Server consolidation is an approach to the efficient usage of computer server resources in order to reduce the total number of servers or server locations that an organization requires. The practice developed in response to the problem of server sprawl, a situation in which multiple, under-utilized servers take up more space and consume more resources than can be justified by their workload.

Many companies typically run at 15-20% of their capacity, which may not be a sustainable ratio in the current economic environment. Businesses are increasingly turning to server consolidation as one means of cutting unnecessary costs and maximizing return on investment (ROI)in the data center. Of 518 respondents in a Partner Group research study, six percent had conducted a server consolidation project, 61% were currently conducting one, and 28% were planning to do so in the immediate future.

Although consolidation can substantially increase the efficient use of server resources,it may also result in complex configurations of data, applications, and servers that can be confusing for the average user to contend with. To alleviate this problem,server virtualization may be used to mask the details of server resources from users while optimizing resource sharing. Another approach to server consolidation is the use of blade servers to maximize the efficient use of space.

Do you have a large number of single-use servers and storage devices throughout your IT environment? If so, they are likely consuming more resources than can be justified by their workloads and unnecessarily complicating the management process. By combining the workloads of these under-utilized resources onto fewer, more powerful server and storage devices, consolidation solutions allow you to remove unnecessary points of management and dramatically reduce the number of physical devices throughout your infrastructure.

BlueRange Technology consolidation experts can help assess your existing environment,prioritize resources and develop a detailed consolidation strategy to meet your objectives. Our consolidation solutions help you:

• Simplify your infrastructure – Reduce the number of physical servers that need to be maintained
• Optimize resource utilization – Improve capacity utilization by eliminating under-utilized devices
• Reduce operating costs – Lower space, energy, maintenance and management expenses
• Reduce downtime – Resources are consolidated onto high-availability solutions, minimizing downtime and improving performance