Virtualization for consolidating servers and storage arrays isn't just a smart idea anymore& it's a de facto data center best practice. As enterprise data center managers and CIOs/CTOs update their legacy systems, they are using virtualization as a way to get better utilization out of their existing servers and storage arrays and to cut down on the number of machines taking power out of the wall. For the record, virtualization software shifts conventional single-purpose application servers to a pool of computing power that requires fewer servers, enabling notable performance gains and reducing the electrical energy used to run them. However, there is a lot more to consider than simply virtualization when it comes to consolidating a data center. The information in this slide show was compiled by nlyte Software in Menlo Park, Calif., which provides data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software and services for intelligent capacity planning. - ...