Typical enterprise IT infrastructure consists of several servers with separate dedicated tasks. For example, one is a mail server, the other is a web, and the latter runs internal applications. The problem is that most of the servers are idle because the workload is directed to only a few servers in the network. This leads to a wastage of expensive resources, hardware, power, maintenance, and cooling. Virtualization is the answer to this problem.
Virtualization is the abstraction of physical system resources, enabling the creation of multiple logical sections in which different operating systems will run simultaneously on a single physical server. Each partition, called a virtual machine, is a software environment providing resources (by emulating hardware or devices). An operating system and one or more applications can be installed on top of it. This is how virtualization works. Let’s explore the main types of technology.
What are the 3 main types of virtualization?
Desktop Virtualization
Many of you do know desktop virtualization – the most prominent example is Windows Server terminal services. The terminal server provides its computing resources to the clients, and the client application is running on the server, while the client receives only the "image". This kind of access model allows decreasing requirements for hardware, software, and network bandwidth on the client's side, as well as increasing security. As terminal clients, even smartphones or old computers can be used.
Working with the terminal server does not necessarily mean having a high-speed connection to the local network. This makes terminal solutions suitable for companies with a highly distributed structure. Besides, thin clients significantly increase security, because users may run only a limited set of applications. Moreover, no information can be copied.
One more advantage is a simplified administration: it is easier to update applications; any user's terminal session can be connected remotely without installing additional software.
Application virtualization
It refers to the migration of critical applications and platforms (such as databases, ERP and CRM systems, email, business intelligence tools, etc.) to a virtual environment.
Virtualized applications are faster, more responsive, more available, more flexible, and can be recovered or used in the cloud. VMware's application virtualization solution, based on VMware vCloud Suite, helps you improve the quality of your IT services, reduce infrastructure complexity, maximize efficiency, and lower costs by allocating the right amount of resources.
Application virtualization allows running a single application in an isolated environment. Applications are isolated in a virtual environment between the operating system and the application stack.
The virtual environment boots up to the application isolates it from other applications and the operating system and prevents the application from modifying local resources (such as files and registry settings). Applications can read information from the local registry and files, but writable versions of those resources are maintained within the virtual environment. This technology allows several incompatible applications to be used simultaneously on the same computer, or more precisely on the same operating system. Application virtualization allows users to run the same pre-configured application or group of applications from a server. In this case, the applications will work independently and without making any changes to the operating system.
Server virtualization
The architecture of modern x86 servers implies that only one operating system is running on the server. This structural limitation can be overcome with x86 server virtualization. This technology abstracts the operating system and applications from the physical hardware layer, making the server environment less complex and more adaptive and cost-effective. With virtualization, multiple operating systems can run on a single physical server in the form of virtual machines, each with access to the server's computing resources.
The technology of server virtualization allows you to run several logical units on one server - virtual machines, which fully replicate the work of independent physical servers. This enables to place several dozens of independent operating systems and corporate applications on a single piece of equipment, using the IT infrastructure more efficiently.
Server virtualization is useful for testing purposes. For example, new applications or operating systems can be tested before deployment in a virtualized environment without having to buy hardware.
Virtualization helps to reduce the number of servers by consolidating them, i.e. instead of multiple servers, you can deploy only one and run as many guest OSs in a virtualized environment, as you want. This will save on the cost of purchasing equipment, as well as reduce power consumption.
Conclusion
Virtualization is possible through a wide range of technologies that are available for use. Cloud4Y virtual cloud is based on the VMware virtualization platform because it provides the best virtualization capabilities and performance.
Virtualization makes it easy to save money on hardware and eliminates energy costs associated with running it. While it may not be suitable for everyone, the efficiency, security, and economic benefits are significant for you to consider. But whatever type of virtualization you need, always look for service providers that provide simple tools to manage resources so you don't have to spend a lot of time managing virtual servers.
