Gotcha! How virtualization savings can vanish

As a consultant at Accenture, Jay Corn has seen IT organizations plan a virtualization deployment to drive down server operating costs - and then realize that they would achieve zero cost savings.

Here's the problem: If you host your servers at a colocation facility, chances are the service provider - not you - will get all of the benefits. The problem lies in the pricing models. "They still look it as one server image and they don't care if it's virtual or physical - they charge the same for it. That's definitely a big gotcha," he says.

Some of the larger hosting companies want to move to a virtulized model because they're running out of space, power and cooling in their facilities, but most still haven't come up with a pricing model that passes on some of the savings to customers, Jay says.

In his role at Accenture, Jay has worked with many Fortune 100 clients on virtualization projects and says he has seen it all.

He will be offering tips tomorrow (October 22nd) during a live online panel discussion entitled "Virtualization Gotchas" - and you're invited. The panel is part of Computerworld's Virtual Directions virtual trade show. You don't have to travel to attend.  All you have to do is sign up by clicking here, then log in, listen in - and bring your questions. 

The panel also includes Dan Blanchard at Marriott International and Paul Poppleton, who heads up virtualization efforts at Qualcomm. We start at 1:15 p.m. Eastern time. We'll also be answering your questions during this event. See you there.