Server Consolidation Planning
Server Consolidation and Virtualisation in Cardiff & South Wales
Fewer, better-used servers that cost less to run, recover faster and are easier to manage.
Most businesses end up with more servers than they need. A new one gets added for each new system, and each runs well below its capacity. Server consolidation brings those workloads together onto fewer, better-used servers, cutting the cost of hardware, power and maintenance without losing anything your systems do.
Our server consolidation and virtualisation services cover the whole job, from auditing what you have to planning, migrating and supporting the result, for businesses across Cardiff and South Wales. We work with Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware vSphere and Citrix XenServer.
What Happens When You Virtualise a Server?
Normally, one physical server runs one operating system, often doing just one job. When you virtualise, a layer of software called a hypervisor is installed on the physical server, and it divides that machine into several separate virtual servers.
Each virtual server behaves exactly like a physical one, with its own operating system, applications and role, whether that's file sharing, user logins or an accounts system. But because they share the same hardware, one well-specified server can do the work of several, and each virtual server can be backed up, moved or restored as a whole.
Benefits of Server Virtualisation and Consolidation
- Lower hardware costs: several workloads share one well-specified server, instead of each needing its own
- Lower running costs: fewer machines means less power, less cooling and fewer maintenance contracts
- More space: retired servers free up room for people and equipment
- Faster recovery: virtual servers can be backed up as a whole and restarted on other hardware if something fails
- Safer changes: snapshots let us take a point-in-time copy before an update, and roll back if it goes wrong
- Simpler management: fewer physical machines to patch, monitor and eventually replace
On-Premise, Virtualised or Cloud?
There's no single right answer. Most businesses end up with the mix that suits their software, budget and appetite for risk.
On-Premise Servers
A physical server in your office still makes sense for some software and some businesses. We make sure it is sized properly, well used and supported, rather than replaced with a second one it doesn't need.
Discover moreVirtualised Servers
Several virtual servers running on one physical host. This is where most consolidation savings come from, and it keeps your systems on your own hardware.
Discover moreCloud Servers
Run some or all of your servers in the cloud and stop maintaining hardware altogether. It makes your internet connection more important, so we plan connectivity and continuity alongside it.
Discover moreHow a Consolidation Project Works
Audit
We review every server, what it does and how much of its capacity it actually uses.
Plan
We design the new setup and agree a migration order that keeps disruption to a minimum.
Migrate
We move each service across, test it, and only retire the old hardware once everything works.
Support
We monitor, patch and back up the new environment as part of your ongoing support.
Running Windows Server 2016? Its support ends in January 2027, which makes now a sensible time to consolidate rather than replace like for like. Our backup and disaster recovery service covers protecting the new setup.
Server Consolidation FAQs
What is server consolidation?
Will consolidation cause downtime?
Is virtualisation the same as moving to the cloud?
Do you work with Hyper-V and VMware?
Related guides
Running More Servers Than You Need?
We'll look at what your servers actually do and tell you honestly whether consolidating would save you money.
Contact usCall us: 0333 014 4544
