IBM launches server consolidation tool

IBM has just launched an analysis tool that it reckoned would help businesses find under-utilised x86 servers that could profitably be consolidated.

IBM believes that server consolidation using virtualisation technology can save up to 60 percent in IT costs while quadrupling computing utilisation.

Big Blue has expanded its Consolidation Discovery and Analysis Tool (CDAT) to allow IBM resellers and integrators to evaluate smaller environments of 50 servers or fewer. IBM said it's also providing an additional end-user service, Server Consolidation Factory, at US$500 per 50 servers, which it claimed was "up to five times less expensive than competitive services."

As an example, IBM said that IBM integrator Mainline Information Systems performed a successful CDAT evaluation for a 575-employee client, Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Company, a US-based property and casualty insurer, which has since virtualised its server farm.

"Mainline Information Systems came to evaluate our server utilisation with the CDAT tool and the proposal they came back with reaffirmed to us that virtualising our System x servers is the best way to effectively support the business," said Frankenmuth's IT manager Curtis Williams. "By virtualising many of our physical servers we improved overall server utilisation rates to as high as 80 percent. We also benefit from a great ease of management, rapid deployment and thousands in cost savings per year."

"IBM CDAT is one of the most effective tools we utilise. It has enabled us to consistently achieve a 90 percent win rate with our customers," said Vic Verola, sales VP of IBM integrator Vicom Computer Services. "We are now able to deliver the same high quality studies that previously we were only able to do with our very large clients. Through 'Server Consolidation Made Simple,' the process to engage such clients is very easy, requiring minimum time investment while providing them with an accurate yet efficient proposal."

"Virtualisation and server consolidation are fuelling tremendous growth in technology investments," said Tony Madden, senior VP and general manager of IBM integrator Avnet Technology Solutions. "While this market presents significant opportunities for Avnet's value-added reseller partners, they often have limited resources to develop the comprehensive analysis and proposals these type of engagements demand. IBM's Consolidation Discovery and Analysis Tool and Server Consolidation Factory provide our partners with a way to simplify the proposal process and complement our extensive solutions portfolio, training, programs and services."

"IBM has more than doubled its client engagements for virtualisation on x86 systems, enabling IBM clients to deploy on average a total of 1,000 virtual machines a day thanks to resources such as CDAT," said Rich Lechner, IBM VP of IT Optimisation. "And with more than 70 percent of IBM's virtualisation client engagements coming from business partners, our ability to serve our partners with tools that simplify and extend their client relationships is key."