1. Application Myth: The Applications We Use Can't Be Virtualized.

In the recent past, when computers and servers had a single CPU, making some applications' work virtually (like Microsoft SQL or Exchange) was almost impossible. Today, with CPUs built with two, four, or more cores; these and other applications are very successfully running virtually.

Virtualization platforms today offer larger hosts at the same cost as yesterday's systems, which means far more available capacity for virtual workloads. The key to virtualizing more demanding workloads today is simply proper planning and a solid understanding of the technology. If your applications run today on a physical server, they'll run on a virtual server. Red Hat is one company that guarantees successful physical to virtual migration for applications. Applications rarely connect directly to hardware resources in such a way that would make them unusable on a virtual machine.

The exception that gives this myth some reality is database-heavy applications. Those applications need to be on a virtual system with others that require less intense input/output requirements.

2. Cost Myth: Virtualization Is Too Expensive For Us.

Virtualization may seem to be an expensive solution, just like all IT projects, when an organization begins implementing it. When it is examined in the long run, it will pay for itself. The costs saved by using fewer servers (which means less HVAC cooling, less electricity, fewer operating system licenses, and reducing maintenance) will give most organizations plenty of reasons for wanting more virtualization. An ROI (Return On Investment) calculation in the beginning of the project will help clarify an organization's true virtualization cost.

Like all major software implementations, some of the available virtualization solutions cost more than others. The good news is that some of those solutions (and some less costly packages), have fixed and quite predictable subscription pricing. That can make budgeting and cost projections much easier to manage.

Usually, the main reason for virtualization is saving money. It is a matter of spreading the high-end hardware costs over multiple virtual systems. If implemented correctly, virtualization will save money. That includes practical planning and sensible technology, for both hardware and software, selections.

3. Learning Curve Myth: Virtualization Is Too Difficult To Learn And Too Complicated To Support.

The reverse is much more accurate. Virtualization makes use of the existing skill sets of most organizations' support staff. Unix, Mac, Linux, and Windows services will function very close to the way they do before virtualization. The skills needed to support the existing hardware environment easily convey to a virtual arrangement. Operating systems in a virtual solution perform much like their physical counterparts.

4. Licensing Myth: Virtualization Creates Licensing Problems.

It may seem that using virtualization could let a radical administrator use too many or too few licenses for a particular product. As a result, that would put their organization at risk legally. Virtual solutions are subject to the same restrictions as their physical counterparts. For example, Windows systems perform license activation via the Internet or the system software expires after a trial period and ceases to operate without proper license activation. Separately, license management packages can protect an organization's liability even without virtualization.

5. Management Complication Myth: Virtualization Makes System And Network Management Complicated.

Virtual solutions are easier to manage than physical implementations. A management interface is typically standard with any of the virtual platforms. From that interface, a manager or administrator can view the virtual system consoles, create backups, shutdown or reboot one or more of the virtual systems, change hardware, and fully manage each of the different operating systems running in virtual mode.

6. Overhead Myth: Virtualization Is Just Another Application Function To Add To My Servers That Will Slow Them Down.

There is a kernel of truth to this myth, although it is rarely significant. Early solutions worked with single CPUs and so added some overhead and some slowing. Virtualization providers, like VMware, RightScale, Sun, and Microsoft, offer multiple product variations. As hardware platforms improved, so did the virtualization software offerings. The latest virtualization solutions perform so close to the speed of the native hardware that the difference is negligible.

7. Performance Myth: Virtual Machines Performance Less Than Advertised.

While it is possible that some overeager sales people promised more than they could deliver in the past, this myth seems to be rooted in a lack of understanding. CPUs designed for virtualization, gigabit and 10-gigabit Ethernet, higher and higher performance hard disks, and their controllers, all make this clearly myth. In addition, virtualization software has improved to the extent that virtual machine performance now challenges physical machine performance.

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