CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), source of Information Technology (IT) solutions to governments and educators, has announced an assessment services offering that enables qualifying K-12 schools, higher education institutions and governement agencies to consider the potential benefits of server virtualization at no cost. The newly expanded server virtualization offerings include:
Self-Guided Assessment (SGA) - CDW-G provides instructions to install a data collection tool, allowing customers to manage the installation and data collection at their own pace. CDW-G's server/storage specialists then use the findings gathered by the assessment tool to build and recommend a custom server virtualization solution for the customer.
Server Virtualization Assessment (SVA) - CDW-G's virtualization assessment team assists in the installation of the data collection tool in complex environments that include large server populations or multiple data centers. Following data collection, the assessment team works with CDW-G server/storage specialists to develop a comprehensive virtualization solution, from hardware to software and services, tailored for each customer's unique circumstances.
Because the implementation of server virtualization typically produces significant reductions in power and cooling, CDW-G's SVA also includes a "green benefit" estimate, reflecting the associated impact of the recommended project on the organization's carbon footprint.
CDW-G Accelerates Virtualization Adoption at Mercy Health System
According to Bryan Langer, network manager at Wisconsin-based Mercy Health System, server virtualization was a topic of discussion for several years, based upon general expectations of both technical and cost benefits. However, the discussion always stopped short of action as executives remained uncertain of the projected benefits.
The concept accelerated quickly from discussion to reality for Mercy Health System following a virtualization assessment from CDW-G in December 2008. "The assessment didn't just get our foot in the virtualization door, it allowed us to walk right through it," Langer said.
Mercy Health System's virtualization assessment identified the potential to reduce the number of physical servers from 131 to seven - a reduction ratio of greater than 90 percent - and recommended a blade server strategy that would even further reduce power and cooling costs. "We were able to present to our senior management with an attractive return on investment and a very short payback period," Langer said.
For more information visit www.cdwg.com/virtualization.
