Blade server systems and virtualization are key building blocks for Next Generation Enterprise Data centers Blades offer modular, pre-wired, ultra high-density servers (up to 10x traditional servers) with shared components (power, cooling, switches) - reducing complexity and cost, and improving flexibility, availability, manageability, and maintainability Virtualization enables consolidation of physical servers by allowing many virtual servers to run concurrently on one physical server - improving system utilization, reducing the total number of physical servers, reducing costs, and increasing flexibility This is the first book covering these complementary technologies and how, together, they provide a strong foundation for the future It examines the history, architectures, features, examples, and user case studies of blade systems and virtualization, and offers guidance and considerations for how to evaluate and implement solutions