Analista

Virtualization: Evolution not Revolution
By Dan Kusnetzky, Principal Analyst Many in the industry are speaking about virtual machine software and virtualized environments as if it is a revolution. Since much of the technology has been seen in mainframes and midrange systems for almost three decades, this is not likely to be true. The infrastructure of most organizations is a chronological layer cake of technologies making revolutionary changes problematic. Virtualization, when added to the mix, can be either a wonderful thing or something that will magnify current issues. Most organizations follow the “Golden Rules of IT” when adopting new technology.
T H E G O L D E N R U L E S O F I T

Most IT executives understand that maintenance is a very large part of their budget. Since they’re facing the task of keeping everything running, they tend to be “very prudent” making major changes. Over time, a set of unspoken rules has come to guide decisions about new technology and the adoption process. Here’s a quick summary of those rules: 1) If it's not broken, don't fix it. Most organizations simply don't have the time, the resources or the funds to re-implement things that are currently working. Don't touch it, you'll break it. Most organizations of any size are using a complex mix of systems that were developed over several decades. Changing working systems that are based upon older technologies, older architectures and older methodologies has to be done very carefully if the intended results and only the intended results are to be achieved. If you touched it and it broke, it will take longer to fix and, in all likelihood, cost more than you think to fix. Most of today's systems are a complex mix of technology. If the organization is going to be updating part of that tower of software, IT executives must be prepared for unexpected consequences. See Rule 2. Good enough is good enough. Although it would be nice to have the luxury of unlimited amounts of time, resources