Deploying efficiency-boosting technology is exciting. Managing it… Oftentimes, not so much. Steve Taylor and Jim Metzler dispense some “look before you leap” advice at Network World.

Server virtualization does, however, create some significant challenges. One of these challenges is that in a typical setting servers are connected by a switch and there is management functionality inside the switch that enables the IT organization to monitor the inter-switch traffic. However, once the server has been virtualized IT organizations typically loose visibility into the traffic that goes between VMs on a single physical server.

Basically, always consider the management aspect of a virtualization platform and determine if it offers the reporting and controls that you require. Actually, it’s good advice for any new IT initiative.