What is a simplified deployment?

Let's look at two scenarios, a traditional and virtual deployment.

Traditional deployment

Within a traditional environment, when a user comes to you with a request for a new service (email, web server, file or print services etc...) the deployment goes something like this...

1. Establish the specification of the need
2. Design a minimum specification for the server and components
3. Purchase a new server
4. Buy new air-conditioning, UPS, switches etc as needed
5. Wait for delivery (typically a week or two)
6. Install the physical machine and components
7. Install the server software
8. Install and configure the application software

Virtual deployment

With a virtualised environment, when the time comes to deploy a new server, typically it goes something like this...

1. Clone (copy) from an existing template
2. Install and configure the application software