Finding servers which are the Best Fit virtualization candidates can be tricky.
I have put together the following criteria checklist to help determine whether a new server provision or a P2V should use virtualization.
The Best Fit checklist uses my own criteria and weight recommendations but it can be modified with more liberal values. However, remember the “Best Fit” for virtualizing a server should always consider the user’s experience, too liberal will produce poor performance and complaining users.
The “Best Fit” file has been attached for you to use it as-is or you can make your own. Open file: best-fit-virtualization-criteria-checklist-vBeginners
Best Fit Virtualization Criteria Checklist
Requestor: ____________________________________________ Date: ___________________
Server Name: __________________________ Server Role: ______________________________
Primary Application: ______________________________ Database: ______________________
Purpose:
The purpose of this checklist is to evaluate new server provisions for server virtualization. The checklist criteria are designed to only allow “Best Fit” usage for virtualization. A weight of 3 or more will waive the server’s provision for virtualization.
Instructions:
Each item has a weight assigned. While going down the checklist place the weight value on the line to the left of the items that apply. Once you are complete, total the weights.
Checklist:
| ____ | 1. Is the primary application supported when hosted on a VMware VM? Yes/No (If no add 3 Pt.) Self explanatory. |
| ____ | 2. If this is a database server will clustering be required? Yes/No (If yes add 3 Pt.) Caveat: If clustering is required, high availability is hindered on the host server. |
| ____ | 3. Is this server considered a fail-over for a physical server? Yes/No (If yes add 3 Pt.) Caveat: Fail-over servers should be provisioned on an equivalent platform. |
| ____ | 4. Can recommended system requirements be scaled back (CPU/Memory)? Yes/No (If no then use items 5 and 6 to calculate weight. |
| ____ | 5. Will memory requirement be greater than 2 GB? Yes/No (If yes add 1 and .5 for each additional 512 MB) |
| ____ | 6. Will disk requirements grow beyond a 20 GB (C: or Root disk) and 50 GB of combined additional disk space. Yes/No (If yes add 1 and .5 for each additional 50 GB) How much? _____GB |
| ____ | 7. Will this be a temporary installation/deployment? Yes/No How many months? _____ (If yes can Lab Manager be used?) (0 Pt.) |
| ____ | 8. Will a database be hosted on the server (SQL/MySQL/Oracle)? Yes/No Other ___________ (If yes add 1 Pt.) |
| ____ | 9. _______________________________________________________ |
| ____ | 10. ______________________________________________________ |
( ) A server with a total 3 and greater should not be virtualized.
Evaluation Summary: ___________________________________________
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