MAP: Server Consolidation/Virtualization/Desktop Virtualization

Server Consolidation/ Virtualization/Desktop Virtualization

Hardware Configuration

Use the Hardware Library Wizard to help in planning your server virtualization effort. The Hardware Library Wizard allows you to build hardware configurations for use in the Server Consolidation Wizard. It also allows you to create infrastructures for use in the Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track Wizard. This will enable you to quickly perform what-if analysis in these scenarios.

Server Consolidation

Based upon a desired hardware configuration and the performance metrics gathered, this wizard generates results that describe how many virtual server host computers you will need to consolidate your servers using virtualization and the placement of current physical computers on the virtual servers. The wizard requires you to define the virtualization “candidate” computers, the Microsoft virtualization technology you want to use, and a “model” server that will run your virtual machines.

Calculate Virtualization Return on Investment (ROI)

You can evaluate potential ROI associated with the consolidation recommendations the MAP Toolkit makes using Microsoft’s Integrated Virtualization ROI calculator. The MAP Toolkit generates an XML file at the end of every server consolidation assessment. From the Virtualization node in the console, click the Calculate Virtualization ROI “Go” button and import the appropriate XML file into the Alinean ROI Calculator to analyze potential ROI. For more information, see Return on Investment Analysis for Server Consolidation Assessment.

Note: The MAP Toolkit internally uses a capacity-modeling engine to model resource utilization of servers. In some cases, the modeling engine will not be able to make an exact match for servers in your environment. The MAP Toolkit will attempt to match your selection to the model resource utilization, which may result in resource utilization estimates that vary from the actual utilization. You should use the consolidation recommendations made by the MAP Toolkit for initial planning purposes. Use Microsoft System Center products to actively monitor and fine-tune production environments.

Microsoft Database Consolidation Appliance

The Database Consolidation Appliance allows customers to consolidate thousands of SQL Server instances into a single appliance, saving 75% operation cost, simplifying the management of all these databases, while also providing better agility through a fully elastic database infrastructure. The appliance comes factory-ready, with hardware, software and support integrated. The appliance is available in 1/2 rack, 1 rack and up to 10 racks working together, and can support any version of SQL Server that runs on Hyper-V, including SQL Server 2012.

Desktop Workload Library Wizard

Use the Desktop Workload Library Wizard to create desktop performance profiles based upon data gathered from your physical desktop environment. Each model is created with average and peak performance profiles for maximum flexibility when sizing host server requirements for VDI and Session Virtualization.

Desktop Virtualization Planning Wizard

Based upon a hardware library model and desktop workload library model, this wizard generates results that describe how many server host computers you will need to host your VDI and Session Virtualization deployments.

Windows Thin PC Assessment

Indicates which computers in your environment can support the Windows Thin PC operating system as well as device compatibility for those computers. This assessment generates a detailed report (WindowsThinPCAssessment-date-time.xlsx).