This chapter "Monitoring Virtualization Performance", provides details about how organizations should monitor their virtual systems to ensure reliability, performance, and uptime.

The focus of this chapter was on the importance and benefits of monitoring virtualization. By monitoring the end-user experience and managing the entire virtual and physical environment, IT departments can help ensure that they are aligned with the needs of their users. In order to get an overall picture of the health of their data center servers, administrators must monitor performance at several levels. Statistics collected from the host OS, the Hypervisor, the guest OS, and from specific applications, can help provide pieces of information for performing troubleshooting and proactive management.

Automation is the key to managing virtual infrastructures without the added overhead and experience that would otherwise be required. Virtualization-aware performance management solutions can continuously monitor the entire data center while providing valuable insight into overall resource allocation. Overall, this approach helps maximize the value of an investment in virtualization technology.