Virtualization offers new flexibility by allowing many virtual machines to share a single physical server. Nonetheless, companies that virtualize their critical servers will unavoidably be faced with performance management issues. Maintaining service levels in virtualized environments brings about new challenges which are similar to those posed by mainframe computing.

 Major Difficulties Include:

• Increasingly complex server infrastructure
• Lack of relevant data to make consolidation decisions
• Ensuring permanent optimization of server utilization
• Significantly increased risk of saturation
• Inability to monitor what is happenning inside virtual OSes

How to react ? 

As virtual server environments are inherently different from physical server environments, common tools cannot provide comprehensive and accurate monitoring.

• Collect specific performance data in complex hybrid physical and virtual environments
• Get an accurate representation of guest performance and availability 
• Determine system dimensions and model typical utilization profiles
• Easily identify server candidates for virtualization
• Plan for physical-to-virtual migrations (P2V)
• Monitor and report on all physical and virtual machines
• Insure rapid troubleshooting

Why Sysload?

With its specially adapted performance metrics, Sysload provides the necessary tools to master virtualization projects, from the initial planning stage up through production.   It provides thorough and concentrated server monitoring for virtual and physical environments in a single tool that spans VMware VI, IBM AIX & pSeries (LPARs, WPARs) and Solaris (Zones).   If a solution is currently in place, Sysload is the logical and essential add-on to enhance its effectiveness and utility (IBM, HP, CA, BMC, MS, etc.).

• Unified view of the data center (physical and virtual resources)
• Granularity of analysis providing unrivalled precision
• Real-time correction of timekeeping discrepancies
• Automatic detection of micro-saturation incidents.
• Support for planning server deployment & upgrades