Server virtualization has, without doubt, taken the IT industry by storm. It provides a cost-effective way to dramatically reduce downtime, increase flexibility, and use hardware much more efficiently.

However, small and medium businesses often find it hard to evaluate whether virtualization is an appropriate fit and, if it is, how to adopt it with a small IT staff and limited funding. It's easier for larger companies with more developed IT staffs to figure out, but it can still be a challenge.

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Whether you're big or small, this six-part virtual case study explores the key considerations and deployment approaches you should examine when virtualizing your servers. Each part covers a key stage of the virtualization process, using the fictional Fergenschmeir Inc. to lay out the issues, potential mistakes, and realistic results any company should be aware of — but that you're not likely to see in a typical white paper or case study.

So follow along with Eric Brown, Fergenschmeir's new infrastructure manager, his boss Brad Richter, upper management, and Eric's IT team to find out what did and didn't work for Fergenschmeir as the company virtualized its server environment.

The virtual virtualization case study
Stage 1: Determining a rationale
Stage 2: Doing a reality check
Stage 3: Planning around capacity
Stage 4: Selecting the platforms
Stage 5: Deploying the virtualized servers
Stage 6: Learning from the experience
Matt Prigge is contributing editor to the InfoWorld Test Center, and the systems and network architect for the SymQuest Group, a consultancy based in Burlington, Vt.