IDC defines the five main types of server consolidation initiatives as the following:

• Centralization: collocating servers and/or storage into fewer locations or one central location


• Physical: consolidating servers or storage systems with the same application types or platforms onto fewer or larger systems with the same application type or platform


• Data Integration: combining data with different formats onto a similar format or platform


• Application: consolidating servers or storage systems supporting different types of workloads onto fewer or larger systems


• Storage: consolidating storage onto fewer or larger storage systems independent of server type, OS, or application