* How to get from here to utility computing

By Andreas M. Antonopoulos, Network World, 06/21/05

On the road to a flexible data center, there are four major steps: consolidation, standardization, virtualization and utility. Whether we look at storage, computing, networking or identity management, the same four steps can lead to a utility- and service-oriented architecture.
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Each company may choose one of these areas - say, storage - to start on the virtualization roadmap. Some companies may attempt to push all aspects of the data center towards virtualization. While the effort is not without challenges, it can also bring benefits, especially in the form of reduced operational costs and greater agility.