IBM 8687 Installation Guide - Page 65

Using IBM technology such as memory mirroring, Chipkill Memory, Memory ProteXion and system partitioning, customers can implement high-availability cluster solutions. Scalable clusters provide customers with industry-leading scalability at a system level, as well as load balancing to maximize performance and the support received by users accessing the system. 2.4 Server consolidation Server consolidation means combining the functions performed by many servers into a fewer number of servers to reduce cost, complexity, network traffic, and management overhead, and to increase the efficiency of systems management, security, and resource utilization. Server consolidation is complex, and needs methodical approach because of the nature of the problem: Large numbers of servers are involved. Servers from different vendors, of different sizes, with different configurations. Software ranges from used and well-known to local and poorly understood. Business services being provided will vary greatly in volume and type. Consolidation may provide essential business functionality that must be protected from disruption. Consolidation must take place without delivering limits on an organization's future ability to adjust the size, scope, and direction of its business initiatives. 2.4.1 Types of server consolidation One of the most important things to remember is that there are no "off-the-shelf" solutions for server consolidation. Every organization requires a unique solution that will match its unique infrastructure and business model. There are four general types of server consolidation, offering a wide range of business value through varying degrees of solution complexity and investment. There are four types of server consolidation: Centralization Physical consolidation Data integration Application integration Chapter 2. Positioning 51