Question

How can a manager use a workload chart?

Answer
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A workload chart for virtualization systems can be a real asset to an IT manager, or anyone else with responsibilities and interests in enterprise architecture. Like other kinds of visual dashboards, the virtualization workload chart presents complex information in an easily digestible way. Unlike many other types of charts and graphs, a tailored virtualization workload chart reveals information about the utilization of virtual machines and system components at a glance.

A virtualization workload chart generally shows various utilization states by presenting a utilization index (UI). The workload chart will show host and datastore utilization, and identify underutilized or overutilized virtual machines.

Since the specific creation of a virtualization workload chart is rather obscure in IT, one of the best examples is the workload chart tool developed by Turbonomic, a company offering unique automation tools to the IT community. The Turbonomic workload chart is color-coded to show utilization states of different numbers of virtual machines, and updates in real-time to show changes.

Using the workload chart, managers can identify overutilized virtual machines and move them to an environment where they will be more efficiently supported. Using custom graphs with presets, managers can also delve into various details about host and guest relationships, specific storage techniques and more.

In the most fundamental sense, the workload chart enables users to identify problems and execute solutions toward a desired state that balances optimized performance with minimal resource use. By working through an architecture environment in real time, companies can avoid overinvesting in resources, while still assuring that their applications and systems will have a certain standard of performance as well as high availability.

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Justin Stoltzfus
Contributor
Justin Stoltzfus
Contributor

Justin Stoltzfus is an independent blogger and business consultant assisting a range of businesses in developing media solutions for new campaigns and ongoing operations. He is a graduate of James Madison University.Stoltzfus spent several years as a staffer at the Intelligencer Journal in Lancaster, Penn., before the merger of the city’s two daily newspapers in 2007. He also reported for the twin weekly newspapers in the area, the Ephrata Review and the Lititz Record.More recently, he has cultivated connections with various companies as an independent consultant, writer and trainer, collecting bylines in print and Web publications, and establishing a reputation…