VM Sprawl

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What Does VM Sprawl Mean?

Virtual machine (VM) sprawl or virtualization sprawl is the phenomenon which occurs when the number of virtual machines connected to the network exceeds the network’s capabilities.

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Techopedia Explains VM Sprawl

VM sprawl often happens when there is freedom to provision instances because of a lack proper implemented policies regarding provisioning.

To prevent VM sprawl, a proper virtual machine life cycle management (VMLM) has to be implemented, with tools that allow administrators to oversee the implementation, operation, delivery and maintenance of all virtual machines during their entire existence. In such a way, all VM creation are monitored so accountability can be set, and then each created VM can be decommissioned once their purpose has been served.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.