Analysis of Advantages and Disadvantages to Server Virtualization

Server virtualization is touted as the panacea to shrinking information technology budgets in today's economy. The continued need to accomplish more with fewer assets has made the increased availability of server virtualization technologies an attractive option for many organizations. The explosive growth of server virtualization, the advantages associated with virtualization and the seldom advertised disadvantages associated with virtualization must be analyzed and distilled to determine if benefits associated with server virtualization supersede the associated costs. In addition this research provides an opportunity to evaluate existing research to determine if the majority of the easily accessible data and anecdotal evidence that supports virtualization is predominately supplied by vendors or vendor supported research teams.