Consolidation of data center resources offers an opportunity for architectural transformation based on the use of scalable, high density, high availability technology solutions, such as high port-density 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switch/routers, cluster and grid computing, blade or rack servers, and network attached storage. Consolidation also opens doors for virtualization of applications, servers, storage, and networks. This suite of highly complementary technologies has now matured to the point where mainstream adoption in large data centers has been occurring for some time.

According to a recent Yankee Group survey of both large and smaller enterprises, 62 percent of respondents already have a server virtualization solution at least partially in place, while another 21 percent plan to deploy the technology over the next 12 months.

Benefits to Data Center Virtualization and Consolidation

A consolidated and virtualized 10 GbE data center offers numerous benefits:

• Lower OPEX/CAPEX and TCO through reduced complexity, reductions in the number of physical servers and switches, improved lifecycle management, and better human and capital resource utilization

• Increased adaptability of the network to meet changing business requirements

• Reduced requirements for space, power, cooling, and cabling. For example, in power/cooling (P/C) alone, the following savings are possible:

• Server consolidation via virtualization: up to 50-60 percent of server P/C

• Server consolidation via Blade or Rack servers: up to an additional 20-30 percent of server P/C

• Switch consolidation with high density switching: up to 50 percent of switch P/C

• Improved business continuance and compliance with regulatory security standards

SOA in Virtualized Environments

The virtualized 10 GbE data center also provides the foundation for a service oriented architecture (SOA). From an application perspective, SOA is a virtual application architecture where the application is comprised of a set of component services (e.g., implemented with web services) that may be distributed throughout the data center or across multiple data centers. SOA’s emphasis on application modularity and re-use of application component modules enables enterprises to readily create high-level application services that encapsulate existing business processes and functions, or address new business requirements.

From an infrastructure perspective, SOA is a resource architecture where applications and services draw on a shared pool of resources rather than having physical resources rigidly dedicated to specific applications. The application and infrastructure aspects of SOA are highly complementary. In terms of applications, SOA offers a methodology to dramatically increase productivity in application creation/modification, while the SOA-enabled infrastructure, embodied by the 10 GbE virtual data center, dramatically improves the flexibility, productivity, and manageability of delivering application results to end users by drawing on a shared pool of virtualized computing, storage, and networking resources.

More details and guidance on designing consolidated, virtualized, and SOA-enabled data centers are being made available via a white paper, authored by Force10 NetworksR, titled, "10 Gigabit Ethernet Virtual Data Center Architecture."

Click here to download a free copy of the white paper.