There is a lot of hype today about server virtualization. You wouldn’t know it, but the reality is the technology is still only deployed on about 6–8 percent of the installed x86 server base worldwide. To take this penetration rate to a more meaningful level requires that we in the industry find a way to gain adoption in the small and medium-sized enterprises. To date, these organizations have been largely shut out of the market by the high cost and complexity of available solutions.

Fortunately, as the market matures, things are beginning to change. New solution alternatives, better market awareness and broader distribution worldwide are enabling organizations of all sizes to realize the true benefits of fully featured server virtualization. This article looks at one small organization that is getting big benefits from server virtualization. The good news is, we are seeing case studies like this one every day.

Emanuel County is located 90 miles west of Savannah, Georgia. It covers almost 700 square miles in east-central Georgia and is home to just over 22,000 residents. While the area is largely rural, the county school district puts a high priority on developing strong educational programs and it views information technology as an important enabler for achieving this goal. The school system educates 4,500 students in eight schools covering pre-K through 12th grade.