VMware ESX Server Performance on Dell PowerEdge 2850 and PowerEdge 6850 Servers

VMware ESX Server software enables many different applications to run on the same hardware at the same time. ESX Server provides the virtualization layer that resides just above the hardware to create virtual machine (VM) containers. Each VM runs its own OS, which in turn has its own set of applications and services. Because each VM is isolated by ESX Server from the other VMs in the same way that physical systems are isolated from each other, ESX Server offers flexibility for concurrently running multiple types of applications and operating systems.

Each individual VM can be rebooted or powered down without affecting other VMs running on the same physical server. Because each application runs in its own VM, an application can be patched or upgraded and the VM rebooted without bringing down all other applications running on that physical server.

In addition, VMware ESX Server supports VMotion™ technology, which allows for a running VM to be moved from one physical server to another physical server without any downtime for the VM. In a pool of servers running ESX Server software and using VMotion, VMs can be moved around for load balancing or maintenance without affecting end user applications, because no downtime occurs during the movement of VMs.