I’m often asked by prospective users what level of CPU utilization AppLogic achieves. Of course, the  question is understandable given virtualization caught on as server consolidation to combat low utilization. However, this question skirts the real point. The more important issue to be solved is how much hardware is required for a given task and utilization addresses only half the equation because it assumes the code (OS, middleware, and application) are fixed. In many cases that’s been true . . .  but it shouldn’t be.

Sun’s JeOS project, Just enough Operating System, is targeting the OS in that equation. Recognizing that much of modern operating systems isn’t required in a virtualized environment, their goal is to strip out what’s not needed in a virtual appliance. The result should be a small fast OS tailored to virtual environments.

We’ve had Linux variants slimmed down for use in physical appliances for some time. I’ve used them in load balancers, switches, routers, and firewalls. IMHO, though, Sun’s onto something in trying to create a more general purpose OS tailored for vritualization. As soon as we get the next release of AppLogic out, we’ll give it a try.