How many articles have you read and vendor testimonials have you listened to that promote the virtualization of hardware? That many, huh? Yet now one company is claiming that virtualization is creating its own problems: operating system sprawl, as well as additional burdens to an already taxed (and pricey) IT management department. Despite the benefits of virtualization, the drawbacks include higher overhead and inefficiencies, such as overloading the servers with a variety of operating systems.

Before you choose virtualization, read this white paper by SWSoft. Its Virtuozzo product offers an alternative to what I've come to consider to be "blind virtualization." OS silos can remain, but with a more intelligent design plan.