Just as we are being more efficient by using server & desktop virtualization, I/O Virtualization is important for the same reason. Just as server consolidation consolidates many physical servers into virtual servers (on many fewer physical servers), I/O Virtualization (or IOV) consolidates physical network and storage cables onto very few cables, through virtualization.
By doing this, you gain many benefits including:
- Reduced complexity in the datacenter – imagine having just 2 cables per server vs 6+ cables per server across hundreds of servers! (how many cables could you save in your datacenter – do the math)
- Reduced cost in the datacenter – you will save money not only on cabling expense but on the number of network ports needed on switches, fibre channel (FC) ports needed on FC switches (those cost a fortune) as well as power, cooling, and rack space
- Reduced time to allocate new connections or balance connections to servers – imagine being able to dynamically add a couple more NIC connections to an ESX host, from home, without ever going to the datacenter
I had the honor of meeting Stephen Spellicy, I/O Virtualization guru from Virtensys.com, at VMware Partner Exchange (PEX) 2011 where we conducted this brief whiteboard session on what I/O Virtualization is, how it works, and how it can help you.
I plan to spend more time learning about IOV and if you would like to as well, watch my video interview with Stephen Spellicy, below.
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