The Times of India
While concerted efforts are on to eliminate computer hardware waste in a manner which is least harmful to the environment, software companies are opting for green computing, helped by approaches such as virstualisation, cloud computing and dynamic infrastructure.
"Implementing virtualisiation enabled us to reduce the number of (server) racks required to host our data centre hardware from four to one," says Raghuvir Singh Sohal, manager, management information systems at Bajaj Auto Limited. Importantly, "we have reduced the server fleet power and cooling costs considerably," Sohal adds.
Majority of companies globally have added (or are planning to do so within the next 12 months) virtualisation technology to their servers, consolidated storage systems, or retro-fitted their server rooms. "Businesses around the world have discovered that going green isn't just good for the planet; it's good for their bottom line as well," said Ramesh Narasimhan, director, general business, IBM India/South Asia. "Green IT strategies are leading to savings in operational expenditure; lower space and power and higher return on investment."
A study by Springboard Research says virtualisation software and services market in Asia-Pacific will grow at an estimated 42 per cent to reach $1.35 billion by 2010 as interest in the technology has steadily increased. Virtualization services, estimated to grow to $1 billion by 2010, will form a major portion of this market as organisations will spend two-three times more on services than on software.
Of particular interest to start up businesses and mid-size firms would be cloud computing which envisages the use of a pool of highly scalable managed IT infrastructure that can be used by virtually any business, which can thereby concentrate fully on the core business and bring home huge savings in terms of cost of power in addition to saving the heavy up-front investment in IT set-up. The savings in IT infrastructure and maintenance (including the energy bill) is estimated to be 25 per cent for those businesses using cloud computing.
According to IDC research, global cloud computing services spending will increase almost three-fold in three years, from about $14 billion now, to $42 billion by 2012. The savings in IT infrastructure and maintenance cost is estimated to be 25 per cent.
Of course, larger businesses, which would not want to use an external agency for cloud computing, can create their internal cloud' to reap the same benefit of an optimised IT infrastructure.
IBM has recently unveiled its dynamic infrastructure lab which combines the advantages of virtulisation and cloud computing. The lab aims to help organisations deliver the visibility, control and automation needed to address quality service, manage risk and compliance, besides maximising return on investments and accelerate business growth.
Ponani Gopalakrishnan, vice-president, IBM India software lab, said: "A dynamic infrastructure transforms physical and digital assets into higher valued services. It is highly optimised to achieve greater results with improved service management, and leverages new technologies and strategies to reduce costs, manage risk and deliver superior business and IT services with agility and speed."
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