IBM offers server optimization and integration services to help companies reduce complexity in their server environments through a server consolidation efficiency study. The study helps define how to lower total IT costs, identifies opportunities to improve infrastructure flexibility, and supports moving forward with an optimization project. It creates a server strategy and roadmap to prepare for future needs while lowering hardware, maintenance, support and energy costs.

1. Establishing the business case for reducing
complexity in your server environment
IBM Server Optimization and Integration
Services – server consolidation efficiency study
Fighting server sprawl and IT complexity “through 2010, IT infrastructure con-
Highlights Even with the best-laid plans, complex- solidation will remain the focus of IT
ity can work its way into a company’s IT infrastructure and operations cost
 Helps define how you can lower infrastructure. Potential culprits include reduction initiatives.”1
the total cost of server and mergers and acquisitions, introduc-
related IT support investments tion of new applications, unanticipated IBM Server Optimization and Integration
growth, globalization, compliance Services – server consolidation effi-
 Identifies how you can improve ciency study offers a first step toward
demands, new regulations and orga-
the IT infrastructure’s ability to optimizing your infrastructure invest-
nizational power plays. Too often,
respond to business demands
complexity manifests as server sprawl: ments, lowering costs and improving
Your data centers grow because it’s your business flexibility. Providing
 Supports your efforts to move
forward more quickly with a initially cheaper and easier to add a assessment services built on IBM’s
server optimization project few servers to accommodate spikes extensive consolidation methodologies
in demand than it is to reexamine the and tools, this study helps you establish
 Creates a server strategy and a business case for qualifying server
entire infrastructure.
roadmap to help you prepare consolidation design and implemen-
for the future Eventually, sprawl can have major tation and provides a foundation for
consequences—real costs in terms of building a more dynamic and energy-
increased total cost of ownership (TCO) efficient IT infrastructure designed to
and, just as important, a reduced ability comply with regulatory requirements.
to respond to change and seize oppor-
tunities for innovation. Supporting a lower total cost of server
investments
But you can take steps to mitigate the It’s a fact of life in the IT department—
resulting complexity and get server you must cut costs while delivering
sprawl under control. In fact, consoli- quality services. Pressures to reduce
dation is an ongoing priority for most costs in the short term can have long-
companies. According to Gartner, lasting effects. An apparent bargain

2. on a rack of servers, for example, may Some IBM clients that have implemented Responding to business demands with
not be such a bargain if simply adding a consolidation strategy assisted by IBM greater flexibility
more servers increases your costs and Global Services have realized savings A deeper consideration is complexity’s
doesn’t result in proportional perfor- such as: impact on strategic objectives and on the
mance benefits. Besides the initial cost business’s ability to respond to change.
of server hardware, each server has • Hardware costs reduced 33 to According to a recent Gartner survey,
additional hard and soft costs associ- 70 percent “reducing TCO remains a major reason
ated with deployment: • Maintenance costs reduced up to for consolidation, but other reasons,
50 percent especially control of server sprawl to
• Software — licenses for operating • Support costs reduced by as much provide better system management and
systems and applications as 33 percent providing better service and agility, are
• Management — utilities, backup • Energy costs reduced by up to becoming important.”2
and archiving 40 percent
• Labor — monitoring and support, • Floor space and facility costs An unconsolidated data center infra-
ongoing training and skills upgrades reduced 33 to 50 percent. structure can hamper flexibility because
• Site and facilities costs — rack space, resources are not tuned to respond
security, power and cooling These cost savings can be passed to the to application demands. Thus, when
bottom line or repurposed for projects that activities affect demand — introducing
Costs can be even greater for infrastruc- support greater competitive advantage a new product or merging with a former
tures that use multiple hardware vendors and meet new regulatory requirements. competitor, for example — application
and a mix of operating systems. These performance and functionality may
environments require broader skill sets, Through IBM Server Optimization and
be limited. Servers may not be easily
more tools for management and separate Integration Services – server consolidation
repurposed, skill sets may not be inter-
storage processes. For extended enter- efficiency study, IBM professionals can
changeable, multiple facilities may
prises with multiple locations, the costs quickly analyze your existing environment,
make new investments too costly, and
can become even higher. factor in your current and future business
security may be compromised.
objectives, and develop a consolidation
Server consolidation services from IBM strategy that helps align with your objec- How can you consolidate in a way that
are designed to help reduce these costs tives for reducing costs and increasing enhances flexibility and improves per-
by helping you to minimize the number of operational efficiency. formance? The answer lies in thorough
servers in your environment and enhance planning and deployment expertise.
server performance to meet your needs.
It’s simple math — fewer servers can
mean lower costs.

3. IBM has developed a center of com- Giving you the tools to move forward Creating a roadmap for the future
petency that focuses on consolidation more quickly Server consolidation can also support your
to help match server environments Data center complexity not only limits broader optimization initiatives. To create
to business initiatives. The center is your ability to respond to change and an even more responsive infrastructure,
staffed by professionals from many drives up costs, but it also creates inef- you may want to employ virtualization and
areas of expertise: ficiency. When you deploy additional grid computing technologies that pool
servers to accommodate occasional hardware and processing resources
• Data center design (including spikes in demand, underutilized process- to accommodate fluctuating processing
consolidation theory) ing power often results. However, server demands. Or you may be considering a
• Application performance testing consolidation and optimization can help revamped approach to business and IT in
and analysis you get more processing power from the form of a service-oriented architecture
• Networking fewer servers. (SOA) that integrates applications and
• Operating system platforms business processes and creates an enter-
• Security The IBM engagement begins with you prise service bus (ESB). IBM can help you
providing data about your server envi- consider these capabilities during your
IBM organizes consolidation services ronment. When such data is not readily efficiency study engagement.
around three basic stages: solution available, IBM can make assumptions
framing, planning and design, and based on its vast server consolidation Finally, you may be facing challenges in
implementation. experience. Then, using IBM’s stan- meeting new regulatory requirements for
dardized methodology, highly skilled business continuity and disaster recov-
This efficiency study from IBM spe-
specialists can complete their assess- ery. Creating a strategic infrastructure
cifically addresses the solution framing
ment of your environment typically within that supports the data center environ-
aspect of the comprehensive IBM Server
just a few weeks. ment required for growth initiatives while
Optimization and Integration Services –
managing costs is imperative to remain
server consolidation service. Based At the end of an efficiency study engage- competitive in today’s marketplace.
on key information you provide, IBM’s ment, IBM presents a recommended
staff remotely analyzes your data and strategy, business case and roadmap— To provide maximum return on invest-
creates a business case that helps you tools that can help you justify a server ment, these advanced IT initiatives require
determine whether a server consolidation consolidation project. When you’ve com- optimized hardware and software. During
implementation project is right for you. pleted this study, you’ve taken a first step
toward building a simplified and optimized
server infrastructure environment.

4. the solution framing stage of server consolidation methodologies can help © Copyright IBM Corporation 2007
consolidation services, IBM profession- reduce your risks and shorten the time IBM Global Services
Route 100
als can factor in these initiatives and required to achieve a consolidated Somers, NY 10589
recommend a solution that can meet server environment — helping you to U.S.A.
your needs today — and in the future. more quickly reap potential cost and Produced in the United States of America
08-07
flexibility benefits. All Rights Reserved
Why IBM?
IBM and the IBM logo are trademarks or registered
IBM’s rich server heritage and design, For more information trademarks of International Business Machines
implementation and management To learn more about IBM Server Corporation in the United States, other countries,
or both.
expertise can help create a consoli- Optimization and Integration Services –
Other company, product and service names may
dated server environment suited to server consolidation efficiency study, be trademarks or service marks of others.
your specific requirements. Unlike contact your IBM representative or IBM References in this publication to IBM products or
many other solution providers, IBM Business Partner, or visit: services do not imply that IBM intends to make them
available in all countries in which IBM operates.
can provide the experience and prod-
uct knowledge needed to migrate ibm.com/services/server
1 Gartner, IT Infrastructure Consolidation: Best
to IBM server technologies, or can
Practices, Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2006, Jay
provide vendor-neutral consolidation Pultz, October 8–13, 2006.
services that address your heteroge- 2 Gartner, Data Center Conference Poll Shows
neous environment. Server Consolidation Is Still a Major Goal, John R.
Phelps, January 29, 2007.
IBM has the ability to provide localized,
onsite service — combined with the cost
savings of offshore resources for sup-
port and implementation — offering you
a compelling combination of compe-
tence and affordability. IBM’s extensive
resources and development of proven
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