Since you can buy modern servers with multiple CPUs, large amount of memory, lots of storage, and high-bandwidth network connections, each OS can have as much computing power at need as an individual server might provide. The operating systems and applications seldom use all available resources, especially at the same times--so more operating systems and applications can coexist on a single piece of hardware, resulting in better utilization of hardware.

If you're not , you should be thinking about it. Here's why.

1. It enables you to get the most out of your server hardware.

Many servers typically run for most of the day at very low levels of utilization. Adding multiple OSs and applications helps you get the most out of those expensive server resources. Since many virtual machines can run on one server, you substantially reduce the total expenditure for hardware.

2. It will allow you to set up redundant servers for better fault tolerance.