Server Consolidation and Cost Optimization Explained: Save Money and Streamline Your Infrastructure

[johny899]

Sometimes you walk into a server room and see rows of machines running. It's a pretty loud environment. I had the same experience once and was amazed by how many machines there were, and it led me to learn about server consolidation and cost optimization.

What is "Server Consolidation?"​

Basically, it is the process of taking the workload on multiple servers and placing it onto a fewer number of servers.

Think of it this way; instead of having a bunch of boxes all over your room, think of your room being in order with everything fit onto a couple of shelves.

Why do you think businesses do that?

It can take up valuable financial, electrical, and space resources. Therefore, server consolidation allows a business to:

• Decrease capital expense costs on the hardware itself,
• Lower the electrical and cooling costs associated with the operating of a server, and
• Increase the performance of the overall system by decreasing the time spent maintaining it.

What is Cost Optimization​

Everyone wants all the benefits of technology while spending as little as possible. That's why cost optimization is so important.

What does it mean to be cost-optimized? It means using your resources effectively, eliminating unnecessary items, reducing your energy and air conditioning costs, and investing only where it's needed.

Have you ever left your lights or air conditioning on all night, then regretted it when you got the bill? Now imagine having to pay those bills for hundreds of servers!

How Consolidation Saves on Costs​

By consolidating servers, you can achieve cost optimization.

• When you reduce the number of servers, you reduce Hardware Costs, Power and Air Conditioning Costs, Support Work, and Physical Space.
• When you consolidate servers, you will also experience better service levels, improved security, easier-to-back up systems, and organized systems.
• It is much easier to troubleshoot 3 servers versus 20 servers; the 3 servers will always be easier!

The key benefits include:

• Energy and cooling costs are reduced by as much as 50%.
• Reduced administrative workload.
• Fewer failures and incidents requiring repair.
• Quicker recovery from disruption, regardless of cause.

Final Thoughts​

In short, businesses can save on cost, reduce their level of stress, and enhance their system's performance through server consolidation and cost optimization. The overall goal is to be more efficient with your time and resources by maximizing results achieved per dollar spent, instead of simply "working harder" to achieve results.