IBM, Intel Roll Out Virtualization Tools

Among the first services the companies plan to introduce under the program is a benchmarking setup called vConsolidate, IBM said Thursday. The blueprint describes a methodology for simulating workloads on commercially available virtualization technologies, such as EMC's VMware.

Using procedures outlined by vConsolidate, IBM and Intel customers can predict the effects of running multiple instances of consolidated database, mail, Web, and Java workloads in multiple, virtual CPU partitions on IBM's Intel-based System x servers, before moving into production.

The methodology will allows users to generate recommendations for target processor utilization rates, the total number of virtual machines that will be needed to run an application, and the number of physical servers that will be needed to support desired computing workloads, IBM said.

IBM and Intel have submitted the methodology to industry standards bodies for approval.