VirtualCenter creates a more responsive data center, which enables faster reconfiguration and reallocation of applications and services. It allows instant provisioning of servers. User-downtime is decreased. The data center becomes optimized. VirtualCenter is a powerful way to connect IT to business needs.

How is VMware VirtualCenter Used?
VirtualCenter is for businesses that want to build cost-effective next generation computing environments and optimized data centers. It allows them to instantly provision servers, globally manage resources and eliminate scheduled downtime for hardware maintenance.

• Optimizing enterprise computing
• Leveraging industry standard x86-architecture hardware

  The VirtualCenter user interface. The left pane displays the hosts containing virtual machines. The main window provides a dashboard of virtual machines across the data center.

• Unifying management of diverse environments including Microsoft Windows, Linux and Novell operating systems.

VirtualCenter enables dramatic improvements in:

• Server Consolidation: Contain server sprawl while consolidating heterogeneous server applications, such as Exchange, Notes, SQL Server, Oracle, WebSphere, BEA, SAP, Siebel, Citrix, Active Directory as well as legacy applications.
   
• Resource Management: Allocate resources based on business demand. Dynamically re-map resources to software for better responsiveness and efficiency.
   
• Disaster Recovery: Simplify deployment of critical systems and applications to recovery sites and generate alerts in case of service interruptions.

VirtualCenter reduces time, effort and complexity of data center management by letting you:

• Monitor and control all your VMware servers and virtual machines from a single view or "dashboard"
• Organize your VMware server hosts and virtual machines into logical units of farms and groups
• Restrict access and delegate fine-grained permissions to administrators and users based on existing Windows authentication mechanisms
• Create and configure virtual machines
• Monitor and adjust virtual machine resource usage
• Build template virtual machines to be used for rapid provisioning
• Clone and customize virtual machines
• Migrate running virtual machines between VMware server hosts with VMotion
• Schedule tasks and set alarm triggers that generate automated notifications and alerts
• Automate control of virtual machines with the VMware Software Developer's Kit (SDK)

• The VirtualCenter Management Server runs as a service on Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003 and works with the existing x86 hardware and software infrastructure, including blade and rack-mount servers.
• The VirtualCenter database resides on standard versions of Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or Microsoft Access.
• The VirtualCenter client runs as an application on Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

With VMotion live servers can be moved from one virtual machine host to another. IT organizations can provide zero-downtime maintenance and continuous workload consolidation without impacting user services.

Key Features

VirtualCenter managed ESX Server and GSX Server VINs enable centralized and secure management of the VMware virtual infrastructure. Features include:

• Centralized Virtual Infrastructure Management Console: View and organize thousands of virtual machines and the hosts running them from a single location. Prevent unauthorized access and assign capabilities to authorized users. Understand how resources are being utilized and adjust allocations to optimize the data center. Eliminate redundant tasks and receive notifications in case of service interruptions.
   
• Instant Provisioning Deployment Wizard: Deploy new servers within minutes using a template-based deployment wizard. VirtualCenter leverages the uniformity of virtual hardware to make instant provisioning possible.
   
• Virtual Infrastructure SDK: Closely integrate 3rd-party management software with VirtualCenter through the Virtual Infrastructure SDK, to seamlessly integrate existing solutions with the VMware virtual infrastructure.

VMotion and the ESX Server Infrastructure Node:

VMware ESX Server VINs include VMotion technology that enables intelligent workload management. VMotion allows dynamic changes without impacting users, thus providing rapid reconfiguration and optimization of resources across the virtual infrastructure. VirtualCenter managed ESX Server VINs provide a means to respond to data center needs. Including:

• Migrating a running virtual machine to a different physical server connected to the same storage area network (SAN) without service interruption.

• Performing zero-downtime maintenance by moving virtual machines around so the underlying hardware and storage can be serviced without disrupting user sessions.

• Continuously balancing workloads across the data center to most effectively utilize resources in response to changing business demands.

Why Use VMware VirtualCenter? Usage Scenarios   Benefits   Dynamically Move Workloads Across Distributed Physical Servers Migrate virtual machines across an environment to optimize workloads Perform zero-downtime maintenance and rolling hardware upgrades Respond to server demand spikes by migrating lower priority servers to alternate hosts with no downtime Reduce hardware costs by increasing utilization Cut operational costs by reducing downtime windows Supply adequate hardware capacity for critical servers while ensuring application availability and end-user continuity   Streamline Server Provisioning and Management Centrally manage all virtual machine images Deploy new virtual machines using standardized templates Enforce configuration standards through pre-built virtual machines Reduce operational costs Instantly provision new virtual machines Keep up with demand for new servers while controlling costs   Monitor System Availability and Performance Monitor individual virtual machine usage of system components Set triggers and alerts for key performance and availability metrics Leverage pre-built reports to proactively identify resource contention issues Increase availability and lower hardware costs Set policies to automatically manage performance and availability Reduce operational costs Identify resource issues or hardware failures earlier   Manage Distributed Servers as a Single Pool of Resources View entire system and virtual machine inventory from a central console Manage access control globally across servers and virtual machines Remove hardware-related dependencies from OS management Manage software independently from hardware Manage application workloads efficiently and seamlessly Provide continuous hardware availability to all applications   Automate Key System Administration Tasks Use the VMware Virtual Infrastructure SDK to perform all functions of the VirtualCenter client Programmatically provision and migrate servers and adjust resource allocations Deliver on the promise of next generation computing with truly automated provisioning and load balancing of complete servers Web services interface provides ease of use and flexibility Hardware-level control of virtual machines and VMotion goes beyond what's possible with physical servers

Next Steps
To purchase, evaluate or obtain more information about VMware VirtualCenter, contact Five IT directly at +44 (0)845 123 2913 or email sales@FiveIT.co.uk.