With

this release, VMM now manages VMware ESX virtualized infrastructure in

conjunction with the Virtual Center product. Now administrators running

multiple virtualization platforms can rely on one tool to manage

virtually everything. With its compatibility with VMware VI3 (through

Virtual Center), VMM now supports features such as VMotion and can also

provide VMM-specific features like Intelligent Placement to VMware

servers.

Performance

and Resource Optimization (PRO) enables the dynamic management of

virtual resources though Management Packs that are PRO enabled.

Utilizing the deep monitoring capabilities of System Center Operations

Manager 2007, PRO enables administrators to establish remedial actions

for VMM to execute if poor performance or pending hardware failures are

identified in hardware, operating systems, or applications. As an open

and extensible platform, PRO encourages partners to design custom

management packs that promote compatibility of their products and

solutions with PRO’s powerful management capabilities.

A

typical physical server in the datacenter operates at only 5 to 15

percent CPU capacity. VMM can assess and then consolidate suitable

server workloads onto virtual machine host infrastructure, thus freeing

up physical resources for repurposing or hardware retirement. Through

physical server consolidation, continued datacenter growth is less

constrained by space, electrical, and cooling requirements.

Converting

a physical machine to a virtual one can be a daunting undertaking—slow,

problematic, and typically requiring you to halt the physical server.

But thanks to the enhanced P2V conversion in VMM, P2V conversions will

become routine. Similarly, VMM also provides a straightforward wizard

that can convert VMware virtual machines to VHDs through an easy and

speedy Virtual-to-Virtual (V2V) transfer process.

In

response to new server requests, a truly agile IT department delivers

new servers to its business clients anywhere in the network

infrastructure with a very quick turnaround. VMM enables this agility

by providing IT administrators with the ability to deploy virtual

machines in a fraction of the time it would take to deploy a physical

server. Through one console, VMM allows administrators to manage and

monitor virtual machines and hosts to ensure they are meeting the needs

of the corresponding business groups.

VMM

does extensive data analysis on a number of factors before recommending

which physical server should host a given virtual workload. This is

especially critical when administrators are determining how to place

several virtual workloads on the same host machine. With access to

historical data—provided by Operations Manager 2007—the Intelligent

Placement process is able to factor in past performance characteristics

to ensure the best possible match between the virtual machine and its

host hardware.

Virtual

infrastructures are commonly used in Test and Development environments,

where there is constant provisioning and tear down of virtual machines

for testing purposes. This latest version of VMM features a thoroughly

reworked and improved self-service Web portal, through which

administrators can delegate this provisioning role to authorized users

while maintaining precise control over the management of virtual

machines.

To

keep a data center’s virtual house in order, VMM provides a centralized

library to store various virtual machine “building blocks”—off-line

machines and other virtualization components. With the library’s

easy-to-use structured format, IT administrators can quickly find and

reuse specific components, thus remaining highly productive and

responsive to new server requests and modifications.