If analyst predictions that virtual servers will run nearly 50 percent of server workloads by next year comes true, data center managers must be equipped to manage the issues that accompany the benefits.

The key technological advance that makes cloud computing financially viable is server virtualization – the ability to run many virtual machines, each with its own resources, on a single, powerful host.

The benefits of virtualization are clear:

• Running multiple applications and operating systems on a single server greatly increases server utilization, averaging-out server load. This, in turn, leads to greater reduction in the number of servers that enterprises must purchase, deploy, operate, maintain, power, cool, and house.
• Server consolidation enables more flexible and efficient allocation of server resources, and reduces the need for floor space, electricity, and cooling.
• The use of a cloud service provider means there is no local infrastructure to purchase, manage, secure, or upgrade. Rather than attempting to estimate peak and growth data center usage, enterprises can adopt a pay-as-you-go structure, paying for only what they use.

Server virtualization is further enhanced by server I/O consolidation, which merges the two major data center networks, Ethernet and fibre channel, onto a single “lossless” Ethernet. Substantial savings results from the elimination of duplicate server interfaces, cabling, switches, power, cooling, and spares.

Once applications are configured to run on virtual machines that share server blades, they achieve a level of portability that enables flexibility, scalability, and performance guarantees. In the process of virtualization, the number of users associated with an application on a single physical server can increased from perhaps 200 to over 10,000 when running on a shared virtual host.

But along with the benefits come new challenges. Virtual data center and cloud computing issues include concerns over functionality, performance, and security. The virtualized data center, whether within the enterprise or located at a cloud service provider, must be properly provisioned to ensure high quality of experience (QoE) for cloud-based applications. To head off and overcome problems inherent to virtualization, data center managers need pre- and post-deployment testing tools that are virtual-aware.

In addition to testing basic components that populate the data center for functionality, performance, and security, it is also necessary to test the data center and end-to-end services. Thorough testing includes validation of:

• Network (routers; switches, including fibre channel forwarders; application delivery platforms; voice over IP gateways)
• Server and storage (data center capacity, data center networks, storage systems, converged network adapters)
• Virtualization (virtual hosts, video head ends, VM instantiation and movement)
• Security (firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, VPN gateways)

To learn more about virtualization and the testing systems that ensure the functionality, performance, and security of virtualized data centers and cloud services, download the white paper, Testing the Cloud –Definitions, Requirements, and Solution.

For information on Ixia’s cloud testing solutions, please visit our website.