Capacity planning determines the future IT infrastructure requirements for new equipment and additional network capacity. It is impossible to tell how big your school or organization is going to grow over the next ten to twenty years. Capacity planning attempts to determine future growth so you can plan for additional capacity. There are numerous tools and techniques used today to help knowledge workers and IT specialist determine future requirements. Let's take a look at a few of the major players in the capacity planning arena. Capacity Planning Professional Associations Capacity Planning Evaluation Tools Capacity Planning Vendors Benchmark A benchmark is a test used to compare the results of hardware and/or software. For example, if you released a new version of software you might perform a benchmark to ensure that the new version runs faster than the old version. Benchmarking is an integral part of capacity planning. Visit any of the following links to learn more about benchmarking. White Papers White Papers are publications, or reports, describing technologies from different companies. White papers typically include benchmarking information. If you are interested in a new technology you can read the white paper and find out all kinds of information. Capacity Planning Additional Information and Resources | 