Linux sever sprawl can sneak up on an organization, and may become obvious after an audit. A lack of active management can compound the problem. After an analysis of the problem on Linux platforms, a three pronged approach will be presented to help you address Linux server sprawl issues. This includes a root cause analysis, a technological approach and an executive approach. The technological approach will be considered closely and should include consideration of virtualization, vertical scaling, and blade technology.

Virtualization is a common approach and very popular during hardware refreshes. There are a multitude of options available on Linux, and these three solutions will be covered: VMware, Xen, and KVM. But virtualization isn't a panacea, and has the potential for virtual sprawl. These common virtualization pitfalls are covered.