Summary

Application optimization is the second level of strategic flexibility in the functional architecture of the N1 Grid system. That architecture is requirements driven and solution focused. The solution required to achieve complete application optimization is delivered through the hierarchical building-block architecture of build, virtualize, and provision:

• Build (leveraging the foundation of infrastructure optimization)

• Virtualize (improving the flexibility and utilization of applications and services through abstraction)

• Provision (delivering application optimization through the automated installation of service components)

This chapter presented this hierarchical architecture as delivering value through efficiency. TABLE 9-1 summarizes some of that efficiency through specific product examples. This value, while very tangible now, will only increase as the goal of strategic flexibility is ultimately delivered.

Table 9-1. Basic Value of Delivering Applications Efficiently

Application Optimization Examples	Basic Value Through Efficiency
Application virtualization with N1 Grid Containers	Improved resource utilization by enabling multiple application deployments on a single operating system instance Increased up-time by isolating applications and system faults Reduced costs by significantly reducing system, administration, and maintenance overhead
Application provisioning with the N1 Grid SPS	Accelerated application deployment time (from days to minutes) Reduced costs through automating manual and repetitive tasks Increased application availability through minimizing configuration errors

Application optimization leverages infrastructure optimization to deliver the second component required for strategic flexibility. There is, however, one more of the three functional architecture components required to deliver the N1 Grid system. Building on the foundation of infrastructure and applications, data center optimization delivers the next functional component.