There are a lot of reasons why "it depends" is the correct answer to this question.
You can definitely reduce overhead on the VM layer by running multiple applications on a single Linux guest. When you have a few applications with a few dozen servers, it may make sense to have one appliction per server. When you get to dozens of applications and hundreds of servers, it makes more sense to put multiple applications on a single server. Managing operation of and software on hundreds of Linux guests is no easier than hundreds of stand-alone servers. (Although, there is still less hardware management needed.) The type of server makes a big difference also. A database server should probable support only a single application. However, web servers are very lightweight and can easily support many different applications. Applications that are truly mission critical most likely need to be isolated to their own servers. A server that provides common function to multiple applications should probably have its own server. (e.g. MQ) Another factor is business organization. It might be useful to group application belonging to one part of your organization on a set of servers. Servers that belong to a different business unit would be hosted by a different set of servers. Think of it like a service bureau. The Linux farm is like hosting a service bureau. ____________________________________ Rick Barlow Senior z/VM Systems Programmer Nationwide Services Co., Web-zLinux Support, z/VM and System z Linux Support One Nationwide Plaza MB-02-201 Columbus OH 43215-2220 U.S.A Voice: (614) 249-5213 Fax: (614) 249-3912 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Linux on 390 Port <LINUX-390@VM.MARIST.EDU> wrote on 03/26/2008 12:42:31 PM: > LINUX-390@VM.MARIST.EDU > > I'm wondering about this. I'm a z/OS person with some Linux knowledge. > But we don't run Linux on z around here. In the Windows world, the > mantra is generally "One server, one function". On z/OS it is the > opposite of "one server, lots of functions". How does Linux, in general, > stack up on this scale? It is better to have multiple guests, each doing > a specific job. Or is it better to have multiple functions in a single > guest? Yeah, I know, "it depends!". I am fairly sure that if a Linux > system is very busy, that it would be better for it to be "stand alone". > But is the same true of low activity functions? No, I don't have any > examples of a "low activity function", maybe simple email. > > Just curious. > > Also, what do ya'll think of VMWare's "appliance" philosophy? I.e. > instead of having a generalized Linux (or other) system which can do > many things, each "appliance" does one thing and is specialized to do > that only. When you want to upgrade, you replace the entire appliance, > OS and application, as a single "black box". > > -- > John McKown > Senior Systems Programmer > HealthMarkets > Keeping the Promise of Affordable Coverage > Administrative Services Group > Information Technology > > The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged > and/or confidential. It is for intended addressee(s) only. If you are > not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, > reproduction, distribution or other use of this communication is > strictly prohibited and could, in certain circumstances, be a criminal > offense. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the > sender by reply and delete this message without copying or disclosing > it. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit > http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390
