Cisco Cisco Nexus 5010 Switch Libro bianco
©2009 IDC
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IDC believes the push to the next wave of virtualization in support of an on-demand datacenter will
require a richer set of network services. Datacenter managers and IT decision makers want visibility
into the logical infrastructure across datacenter domains. In this next generation, IT will be able to
migrate mission-critical virtual machines across the datacenter and across the globe. Mission-critical
workloads will not migrate to a virtual architecture unless they have the same consistent network
security, management, and policies available on virtual ports as they do on physical ports.
require a richer set of network services. Datacenter managers and IT decision makers want visibility
into the logical infrastructure across datacenter domains. In this next generation, IT will be able to
migrate mission-critical virtual machines across the datacenter and across the globe. Mission-critical
workloads will not migrate to a virtual architecture unless they have the same consistent network
security, management, and policies available on virtual ports as they do on physical ports.
In the journey to a dynamic datacenter, organizations can simplify their infrastructure while taking a
phased approach to building a dynamic datacenter.
phased approach to building a dynamic datacenter.
The Benefits of the Dynamic Datacenter
Legacy datacenters face challenges around manageability, utilization, reliability, physical footprint,
and energy efficiency. Ultimately, such challenges can combine to cause a degradation of service or
higher costs, or both. As a result, IT organizations need to consider new technology approaches that
change the traditional economics of the datacenter. To date, virtualization has been at the heart of
this shift; however, IDC is increasingly seeing a requirement for purpose-built systems that lower the
burden of integration for organizations across their server, storage, and networking resources. Such
resources are required for the multiple workloads that IT shops typically run.
and energy efficiency. Ultimately, such challenges can combine to cause a degradation of service or
higher costs, or both. As a result, IT organizations need to consider new technology approaches that
change the traditional economics of the datacenter. To date, virtualization has been at the heart of
this shift; however, IDC is increasingly seeing a requirement for purpose-built systems that lower the
burden of integration for organizations across their server, storage, and networking resources. Such
resources are required for the multiple workloads that IT shops typically run.
IDC envisions customers taking an iterative approach to a dynamic datacenter depending on their
server infrastructure and their current use cases for server virtualization. Among current use cases
are the following:
server infrastructure and their current use cases for server virtualization. Among current use cases
are the following:
!"
Virtualization for disaster recovery and hardware maintenance: disaster recovery; planned
downtime
downtime
!"
Virtualization for capacity planning: pooling of resources; balance workloads based on hardware
requirements and application requirements
requirements and application requirements
!"
Virtualization for application availability: alternative to clustering; unplanned downtime; operating
system application awareness
system application awareness
!"
Virtualization for policy-based automation: service-oriented computing; IT in the cloud
!"
Virtualization for consolidation: reduce the incidence of server sprawl
The dynamic datacenter — which is characterized by flexibility and agility in order to respond to changing
business requirements — needs a single low-latency network to realize the following capabilities:
business requirements — needs a single low-latency network to realize the following capabilities:
!"
Manage workloads based on business priorities
!"
Provide virtual I/O, virtual network services
!"
Enable IT to leverage the cloud, which brings new workloads to the network
The Step-by-Step Approach to the Dynamic Datacenter
To enable the dynamic datacenter, organizations should ideally implement a phased approach that
involves deploying virtualization technology initially to consolidate servers and gradually deploying
virtualization throughout the datacenter infrastructure. Each phase of virtualization deployment should
have operational goals and defined areas of ROI. The transition from a legacy datacenter to a dynamic
datacenter is a challenging process that involves both technology and cultural transformation; having a
well-defined road map as well as iterative and progressive milestones can help IT organizations
successfully implement an infrastructure that will support the dynamic datacenter.
involves deploying virtualization technology initially to consolidate servers and gradually deploying
virtualization throughout the datacenter infrastructure. Each phase of virtualization deployment should
have operational goals and defined areas of ROI. The transition from a legacy datacenter to a dynamic
datacenter is a challenging process that involves both technology and cultural transformation; having a
well-defined road map as well as iterative and progressive milestones can help IT organizations
successfully implement an infrastructure that will support the dynamic datacenter.