Executive Summary; Features; Vmware Vsphere Essentials* Editions - Intel S5520HC Installation Manual

VMware vSphere* 4.1 Installation Guide for ESX*

Executive Summary

Intel® Server Platforms and VMware* virtualization solutions together help reduce the cost
and complexity of virtualization deployments. The Intel® Xeon® processor 5600 series yield
higher performance than the Intel® Xeon® processor 5500 series and cut costs by requiring
less servers to perform the same tasks. They also enable secure platforms through new
security technologies such as Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel® TXT) and Intel®
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). VMware virtualization improves server utilization and
reduces power and server management costs. The Intel® Server Board platforms have the
flexibility to support VMware capabilities such as High Availability, DRS, DPM and VMware
VMotion* with external storage. A variety of server platforms provides flexibility in
delivering virtualization solutions to meet computing needs. Affordable platforms are
available to deploy small business solutions or higher-performance servers can be deployed
for meeting highly-scalable virtualization solutions for the data center and cloud computing.
With VMware vSphere Essential* editions, customers can deploy easily managed servers
while providing an affordable business continuity solution. Customers can take advantage of
data center capabilities with vSphere* standard, advanced and enterprise plus editions to
provide high availability, automated resource management and simplified operations.
VMware virtualization software certified on Intel® Server platforms makes it easier to bring
fully-tested products to market faster and at a lower cost.

VMware vSphere Essentials* Editions

Figure 1 - VMware vSphere Essentials* Editions
Designed especially for small IT environments with fewer than 20 physical servers, the VMware vSphere
Essentials* Editions deliver enterprise-class capabilities in a cost-effective solution package for
organizations wanting to optimize and protect their IT assets with minimal up-front investment. It is an all-
in-one solution for small offices that want to consolidate and manage many application workloads while
reducing hardware and operating costs with a low up-front investment.
5