On This PageBenefits of Consolidating and Migrating LOB ApplicationsThe Solution Accelerator for Consolidating and Migrating Line of Business (LOB) Applications facilitates the deployment of Windows Server 2003-based solutions, specifically those that support: | • | Consolidation, which is the process of grouping multiple application servers on a single operating system running on a single hardware platform. Consolidation can dramatically reduce server sprawl, increase operational efficiency, and reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) for an enterprise. | | • | Migration, which is the process of re-architecting or otherwise upgrading the software and hardware for application servers. Migration to the latest Windows operating systems can provide significant improvements in security, availability, and manageability, especially when deploying them onto newer hardware platforms. | | • | Virtualization, which is the process of re-hosting applications in virtual machines. With Virtual Server 2005, the operating system running on the physical computer is Windows Server 2003, but each virtual machine runs its own operating system, such as Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000® Server, or for short-term solutions, Windows NT 4.0. This offers many of the same benefits of consolidation, but can also ease the transition to newer platforms. |
The key to consolidating and migrating an existing Windows NT Server 4.0 environment is to have a standard process for assessing, planning, designing, and implementing solutions. To help you achieve these goals, Microsoft® has developed the Solution Accelerator for Consolidating and Migrating LOB Applications. Note: This Solution Accelerator focuses on determining and implementing appropriate solutions for Windows NT 4.0-based LOB application servers, but much of the logic and many of the general methodologies could be applied to other Windows-based servers. Solution Accelerator HighlightsThis Solution Accelerator provides guidance for consolidating and migrating LOB applications to Microsoft® Windows® Server™ 2003-based solutions, including onto Virtual Server 2005-based virtual machines. It provides technical information and recommendations, processes, build notes, job aids, test scripts, and documented test validation of the processes. The documentation includes the following components: | • | Solution Accelerator Overview: Provides a brief introduction to the Solution Accelerator, information about the technologies and benefits of a Windows Server 2003 technologies, and a roadmap to the guidance provided for deployment of a Windows Server 2003-based solution. | | • | Decision Tree: Provides in-depth guidance for assessing LOB applications and mapping individual requirements to specific solutions that are built on Windows Server 2003-based technologies, including Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1, Microsoft Windows System Resource Manager (WSRM), and Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. |
| • | Introduction to the Virtual Server 2005 Solution: Provides a brief introduction to a Virtual Server 2005-based solution for LOB applications and the tools that can be used to deploy it, including Automated Deployment Services (ADS) and the Virtual Server 2005 Migration Toolkit (VSMT). | | • | Planning Guide for the Virtual Server 2005 Solution: Provides in-depth planning and design guidance for a Virtual Server 2005-bsed solution for LOB applications, including a scenario-based sample of how the planning and design might be done in an enterprise environment. | | • | Implementation Guide for the Virtual Server 2005 Solution: Provides in-depth implementation guidance for a Virtual Server 2005 solution, specifically for migrating LOB applications intact to virtual machines using VSMT, including lab-validated, scenario-based installation and configuration procedures. | | • | Test Guide for the Virtual Server 2005 Solution: Provides information about the specific planning, environment, and processes used to validate the Virtual Server 2005 solution. | | • | Test Kit: Includes the test cases, scripts, and results of the testing used to validate the Virtual Server 2005 solution. |
To facilitate deployment of Virtual Server 2005-based solutions, Microsoft is preparing to release the Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 Migration Toolkit (VSMT). VSMT provides tools that simplify the process for re-hosting applications on virtual machines and enable migration of an LOB application server intact to a virtual machine on a computer running Windows Server 2003 and Virtual Server 2005. FeedbackWe always appreciate technical feedback. Please send your comments to the Windows Server System Reference Architecture (WSSRA) team at:wssra@microsoft.com. Further InformationFor additional information about consolidation, see Maintain Fewer Servers at the Microsoft Website: http://www.microsoft.com/serverconsolidation For additional information about Virtual Server, see Virtual Server 2005 at the Microsoft Website: http://www.microsoft.com/virtualserver For additional information about WSSRA and solution accelerators, see Microsoft Systems Architecture at the Microsoft Website: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/solutionaccelerators/wssra/default.mspx
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