Nowadays we hear a lot about virtualization and its wide array of benefits. You may be using the virtualization technology everyday at your office workstation and may not be aware of the functioning of this new age technology. Virtualization is popularly known among the technocrats as a software technology that uses a physical source like a server and breaks it up into essential resources known as virtual machines (VM’s). Virtualization permits users to strengthen substantial resources, abridge operation and management, and mitigate power and cooling supplies. While virtualization technology is very much accepted in the world of servers, it is also extensively used in data storage like Storage Area Networks, and within the operating systems like Windows Server 2008 accessorized with Hyper-V.
The concept of server virtualization is very simple. Server virtualization means concealing the server resources from the server users. To be more precise server virtualization aids in hiding the number and character of operating systems, processors and every material server. The administrator takes the responsibility of dividing a single physical server into numerous separate virtual environments commonly known as containers or guests or instances or emulations.
Some of the most popular virtualization products are Xen, Virtual iron, Microsoft Hyper V and VMware. Every time we speak of server virtualization, we keep on pondering about its merits. It has plenty of advantages. This technology helps in server consolidation, disaster recovery, green computing, ease of operation and management.
Server virtualization has 3 very popular approaches namely the virtual machine model, the Para virtual machine model and virtualization at the level of operating system.
The working of Virtual Machine Model is very simple. The process is based on the host and guest pattern. The guests operate on the virtual replication of the hardware layer helping the system to function without any modification. The guests operate without having any knowledge about the host. The para virtual machine model commonly known as PVM works on a similar pattern. The only difference is that in this kind of virtualization the guest operating system code is modified by the virtual machine monitor.
Virtualization at the level of operating system works in a different manner. The host/ guest paradigm is not followed here. There is only one host, which distributes system processes ensuring reduced overhead CPU usage.
You will be amazed to know that Virtualization is employed as a tool for e- learning as well. A virtual classroom environment is created where students log in to converse and discuss about the different topics. This process is also a form of server virtualization. Most of the online courses are taught with the help of virtualization.
Almost all the big and small enterprises use VM ware (using it as a collective term for all virtualization products) to improve efficiency and accessibility of resources. You can virtualize your business environment as a cost cutting measure and feel the difference. Organizations using VM ware save 50-70% on overall IT expenses.
Let me give you some special insights about a virtual machine. The virtual machine is very similar to that of a physical computer. It can run its own operations and applications. They are separated from each other like the physical machines and can run free of underlying hardware. Lastly it provides the users with a comprehensive computing environment.
So if you want you want to augment your business efficiency, get a VM ware today and see how it makes a difference to your business approach.
