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Last updated: Aug 02, 2023

What is virtualization technology?

Here you will find out:

  • what is virtualization
  • how does it work
  • when DiskInternals can help you

Are you ready? Let's read!

What is virtualization?

A significant mechanism for representing resources virtually and independent of hardware is virtualization.

As a result, you may primarily observe servers, together with desktops, apps, storage, and other network resources.

You can use it to run software that is incompatible with other software as well as various versions of the same software.

Additionally, there won't be a hiccup if you need to move virtual machines from one server to another; this won't have an impact on the machine's efficient operation.

How does virtualization work?

A hypervisor, a specific application that manages resource allocation on the host OS, is the foundation of virtualization. The hypervisor provides the required RAM, processing power, storage capacity, and other resources to the guest computers upon request.

All the contents of the virtual machine are in one large file, which can be subjected to any action - moving, opening, and using on multiple computers, with all this happening in its natural form.

As a result, you may run numerous systems on a single computer thanks to this interaction, and each virtual system receives its own separate allocation of the machine's physical resources. More and more big businesses are using this great synergy.

What are Virtual Machines (VMs)?

Virtual Machines (VMs) are software-based emulations of a physical computer system. They allow multiple operating systems and applications to run on a single physical machine, making it possible to run different software environments on the same hardware without interference.

VMs can be created and run on a host machine through the use of specialized software called a hypervisor. The hypervisor manages and allocates the physical resources of the host machine, such as CPU, memory, storage, and network, among the virtual machines. Each VM runs as if it were an independent machine with its own operating system, drivers, applications, and data.

The benefits of using virtual machines include increased hardware utilization, improved resource allocation, and the ability to easily create and manage isolated environments. Virtualization also enables greater flexibility in software development, testing, and deployment, as it allows different versions of software to run on the same hardware without conflict. Additionally, VMs can be easily moved between physical machines, making them a valuable tool for cloud computing and disaster recovery.

What virtualization's benefits are?

Server consolidation

It enables multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server, which can help reduce hardware costs by reducing the number of physical servers required. Additionally, virtualization can increase resource utilization by allowing for the dynamic allocation of resources between virtual machines based on their needs.

Improved disaster recovery

It simplifies disaster recovery by allowing for the easy backup and migration of virtual machines to other physical servers. This means that in the event of a disaster, virtual machines can be quickly and easily recovered, reducing downtime and minimizing data loss.

Increased flexibility

It provides businesses with the flexibility to quickly respond to changing business needs by allowing for the rapid creation and deployment of virtual machines. This means that businesses can quickly spin up new virtual machines to meet demand, or scale down when demand decreases.

Better resource utilization

By dynamically allocating resources between virtual machines, it can help businesses make better use of their existing resources. This means that businesses can maximize the value of their hardware investments, and reduce waste by ensuring that resources are only allocated where they are needed.

Enhanced security

Virtualization can improve security by isolating applications and data on separate virtual machines. This means that if one virtual machine is compromised, it is difficult for an attacker to gain access to data on other virtual machines. Additionally, it can enable more granular access controls, improving overall security.

Testing and development

It can be very useful for testing and development. By creating virtual machines that mirror production environments, developers can test their applications in a safe and controlled environment. This can help reduce the risk of errors or downtime when deploying applications to production environments.

Cost savings

Finally, virtualization can help businesses save money. By reducing the number of physical servers required, businesses can save on hardware costs, energy consumption, and maintenance costs. Additionally, virtualization can help businesses make better use of their resources, reducing waste and maximizing the value of their investments.

What types of virtualization are?

Desktop virtualization

Also known as client virtualization, is a type of virtualization technology that allows multiple virtual desktops to run on a single physical machine or server. This technology enables users to access virtual desktops remotely using a thin client or a standard web browser.

In desktop, the virtual desktop is hosted on a server and accessed remotely over a network. Each user has their own individual virtual desktop environment, complete with its own operating system, applications, and files. The virtual desktop is isolated from the physical machine, providing an added layer of security and control over the user's environment.

There are two primary types of desktop virtualization: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Desktop as a Service (DaaS).

VDI is a technology that enables IT administrators to create and manage virtual desktops on a centralized server infrastructure. Users can access their virtual desktops from any device that has an internet connection, and the desktop environment can be customized to meet the specific needs of each user.

DaaS, on the other hand, is a cloud-based service that provides virtual desktops to users over the internet. With DaaS, users can access their virtual desktops from anywhere and on any device, without having to manage the underlying infrastructure. The virtual desktops are hosted and managed by a third-party service provider, who is responsible for ensuring the availability and performance of the virtual desktop environment.

Desktop virtualization offers a number of benefits, including increased flexibility and scalability, improved security and compliance, reduced hardware and software costs, and simplified desktop management. It is widely used in a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, education, and government, to provide employees and users with secure and reliable access to their desktop environments from anywhere and on any device.

Network virtualization

It is a type of virtualization technology that enables multiple virtual networks to operate on a single physical network infrastructure. With network virtualization, a physical network is partitioned into multiple virtual networks, each with its own unique identity, security policies, and network resources.

The primary goal of network virtualization is to increase network flexibility, scalability, and efficiency by separating the network's physical infrastructure from its logical functions. This allows for the creation of multiple virtual networks that can be customized to meet the specific needs of different users or applications, without requiring changes to the underlying physical infrastructure.

It is typically achieved using software-defined networking (SDN) or network function virtualization (NFV) technologies. In SDN, the network's control plane is separated from the data plane, allowing network administrators to manage network traffic and resources more efficiently. NFV, on the other hand, enables network functions, such as routing, switching, and firewalls, to be virtualized and run on standard server hardware.

The benefits include increased network flexibility and agility, improved network performance and reliability, reduced network complexity, and lower costs. It is widely used in data centers, cloud computing environments, and enterprise networks to create virtual networks that can be easily customized and managed, and that provide secure and reliable network access to users and applications.

Overall, it is a powerful technology that enables organizations to optimize their network infrastructure, improve their network performance, and reduce their overall network costs.

Storage virtualization

Storage virtualization is a type of technology that allows multiple physical storage devices to be combined into a single, virtual storage pool. With storage virtualization, a layer of software is used to abstract the physical storage resources and present them as a single, virtual storage device that can be managed centrally.

The primary goal is to simplify storage management and improve storage efficiency by allowing administrators to manage and allocate storage resources more effectively. By pooling storage resources and presenting them as a single virtual device, storage virtualization enables administrators to allocate storage more efficiently, balance storage utilization, and simplify data migration and backup processes.

Storage virtualization can be implemented using a variety of techniques, including storage area network (SAN), network-attached storage (NAS), and software-defined storage (SDS). SAN virtualization is typically used in enterprise environments, while NAS virtualization is used in smaller organizations and branch offices. SDS is a newer technology that uses software to abstract and virtualize storage resources, making it more flexible and scalable than traditional SAN and NAS solutions.

The benefits include increased storage efficiency, improved storage utilization, simplified storage management, reduced storage costs, and increased data availability and resiliency. It is widely used in a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, and government, to manage and protect critical data and applications.

Overall, it is a powerful technology that enables organizations to optimize their storage infrastructure, improve their storage efficiency, and reduce their overall storage costs.

Data virtualization

Data virtualization is a type of technology that allows data from multiple, disparate sources to be combined into a single, unified view or data layer. With data virtualization, a layer of software is used to abstract the physical location, format, and structure of data sources and present them as a single, virtual data source that can be accessed and queried using standard SQL or other query languages.

The primary goal is to simplify data integration and improve data agility by providing a unified view of data from multiple sources. By virtualizing data, data virtualization enables organizations to access and combine data from multiple sources in real-time, without requiring data movement or replication, or changes to the underlying data sources.

Data virtualization can be implemented using a variety of techniques, including data federation, data abstraction, and data caching. Data federation is typically used in enterprise environments, while data abstraction and caching are used in smaller organizations and branch offices. Its solutions can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud, and can be integrated with other virtualization technologies, such as storage virtualization and network virtualization, to create a fully virtualized IT environment.

The benefits include increased data agility, improved data quality and governance, simplified data integration and management, reduced data movement and replication, and increased productivity and efficiency. It is widely used in a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, and retail, to improve decision-making, drive innovation, and create competitive advantage.

Application virtualization

Application virtualization is a type of technology that allows applications to be run in a virtual environment, separate from the underlying operating system and hardware. With application virtualization, a layer of software is used to abstract the application from the operating system and hardware, creating a self-contained, portable package that can be run on any compatible system.

The primary goal is to simplify application management and improve application compatibility by providing a standardized, isolated environment for running applications. By virtualizing applications, application virtualization enables administrators to deploy, update, and manage applications more efficiently, and to reduce application conflicts and compatibility issues.

Application virtualization can be implemented using a variety of techniques, including application streaming, containerization, and remote desktop access. Application streaming is typically used for large, complex applications that are delivered over a network to end-user devices. Containerization is used to run applications in lightweight, isolated containers that can be deployed and managed independently of the underlying operating system. Remote desktop access is used to provide remote access to applications running on a central server or cloud-based infrastructure.

The benefits include simplified application management, improved application compatibility, reduced application conflicts and compatibility issues, increased application security and privacy, and reduced application deployment and maintenance costs. It is widely used in a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, and education, to improve productivity and efficiency, and to enable new forms of work and collaboration.

Overall, it is a powerful technology that enables organizations to optimize their application infrastructure, improve their application management, and reduce their overall application costs.

Data center virtualization

Data center virtualization is a type of technology that allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single physical server or cluster of servers, effectively creating a virtual data center. With data center virtualization, a layer of software, called a hypervisor, is used to abstract the underlying hardware and create a virtualized environment in which multiple VMs can run independently.

The primary goal is to improve resource utilization and reduce infrastructure costs by consolidating multiple physical servers into a smaller number of virtualized servers. By virtualizing servers, data center virtualization enables organizations to run multiple applications on a single server, improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

Data center virtualization can be implemented using a variety of techniques, including server, storage, and network virtualization. Server virtualization is the most common form of data center virtualization and is used to create virtualized servers that can run multiple VMs. Storage virtualization is used to create a unified pool of storage that can be managed centrally and allocated to VMs as needed. Network virtualization is used to create a virtualized network environment that can be configured and managed independently of the physical network infrastructure.

The benefits include improved resource utilization, reduced infrastructure costs, increased agility and flexibility, improved scalability and availability, and enhanced disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities. It is widely used in enterprise environments, cloud service providers, and managed service providers to improve IT efficiency, reduce costs, and enable new forms of service delivery.

CPU virtualization

CPU virtualization is a type of technology that allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to share a single physical CPU, or multiple CPUs, by abstracting the underlying hardware and creating a virtualized environment in which each VM can run independently. With CPU virtualization, a layer of software, called a hypervisor, is used to allocate CPU resources to each VM and ensure that they run in isolation from each other.

The primary goal is to improve hardware utilization and reduce infrastructure costs by allowing multiple VMs to run on a single physical server. By virtualizing the CPU, CPU virtualization enables organizations to run multiple applications and workloads on a single server, improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

It can be implemented using a variety of techniques, including full virtualization and paravirtualization. Full virtualization is used to create a complete virtualized environment in which each VM has its own virtual CPU and operating system, while paravirtualization is used to create a partially virtualized environment in which each VM shares the same physical CPU but runs a modified version of the operating system.

The benefits include improved hardware utilization, reduced infrastructure costs, increased agility and flexibility, improved scalability and availability, and enhanced disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities. It is widely used in enterprise environments, cloud service providers, and managed service providers to improve IT efficiency, reduce costs, and enable new forms of service delivery.

Overall, it is a powerful technology that enables organizations to optimize their IT infrastructure, reduce their infrastructure costs, and improve their agility and flexibility.

GPU virtualization

GPU virtualization is a type of technology that allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to share a single physical graphics processing unit (GPU) by abstracting the underlying hardware and creating a virtualized environment in which each VM can access a portion of the physical GPU resources. With GPU virtualization, a layer of software, called a hypervisor, is used to allocate GPU resources to each VM and ensure that they run in isolation from each other.

The primary goal is to improve hardware utilization and reduce infrastructure costs by allowing multiple VMs to run high-performance graphics-intensive workloads on a single physical server with a single GPU. By virtualizing the GPU, GPU virtualization enables organizations to run multiple applications and workloads that require GPU acceleration on a single server, improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

It can be implemented using a variety of techniques, including hardware-based virtualization, software-based virtualization, and API-based virtualization. Hardware-based virtualization uses a specialized GPU hardware to create multiple virtual GPUs, while software-based virtualization uses a software layer to create multiple virtual GPUs. API-based virtualization uses an API layer to create multiple virtual GPUs that can be accessed by multiple VMs.

The benefits include improved hardware utilization, reduced infrastructure costs, increased agility and flexibility, improved scalability and availability, and enhanced performance for graphics-intensive workloads. It is widely used in enterprise environments, cloud service providers, and managed service providers to improve IT efficiency, reduce costs, and enable new forms of service delivery.

Linux virtualization

Linux virtualization is a type of technology that allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single physical server running Linux operating system. It is achieved through a number of techniques, such as full, para, container-based, and hardware-assisted.

It involves creating a complete virtual environment for each VM, including a virtual CPU, memory, network interfaces, storage, and other hardware components. The hypervisor, which is a layer of software that manages the virtual machines, abstracts the underlying hardware and provides a virtualized environment for each VM to run independently.

Paravirtualization is a technique that enables multiple VMs to share the same physical resources by modifying the operating system to run on the hypervisor directly, without the need for emulation. This can result in improved performance and reduced overhead compared to full virtualization.

Container-based is a lightweight technique that enables multiple applications to run on the same host operating system using isolated containers. Each container provides a separate environment for running applications, and they share the same kernel and system resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage. Container-based virtualization provides fast startup times, low resource usage, and high density of application instances.

Hardware-assisted is a technique that utilizes hardware extensions in the CPU to provide better performance and security for virtual machines. This allows virtual machines to access the underlying hardware directly, without having to go through the hypervisor, resulting in improved performance and reduced overhead.

Linux virtualization is widely used in data centers, cloud environments, and enterprise IT to consolidate workloads, improve hardware utilization, and reduce costs. It enables multiple operating systems and applications to run on a single physical server, providing greater flexibility, scalability, and efficiency. It is an important component of modern IT infrastructure, and it is expected to continue to evolve and improve in the coming years.

Cloud virtualization

Cloud virtualization is a type of technology that enables the creation of virtualized resources, such as servers, storage, and networking, that can be provisioned and accessed over the internet as a service. Cloud virtualization is achieved through the use of virtual machines, containers, or serverless computing, and it provides users with a flexible, scalable, and cost-effective way to access and manage IT resources.

Here, virtual machines or containers are created on a physical server and managed by a hypervisor or container manager. These virtualized resources can be dynamically provisioned, scaled up or down, and migrated between physical servers as needed to meet changing demand. Serverless computing, which involves running applications without the need for managing the underlying infrastructure, is another form of cloud virtualization that provides even greater scalability and cost-efficiency.

It is widely used in public, private, and hybrid cloud environments, and it is a key component of cloud computing. It enables organizations to quickly and easily provision IT resources, improve hardware utilization, and reduce costs. Cloud virtualization also provides greater agility and flexibility, allowing businesses to rapidly respond to changing market conditions and customer needs.

It also provides a number of benefits, including increased security, availability, and reliability. With cloud virtualization, users can access their virtualized resources from anywhere with an internet connection, making it ideal for remote workers or distributed teams. Cloud virtualization also allows for greater automation and orchestration of IT resources, enabling faster and more efficient application deployment and management.

In summary, it is a powerful technology that enables businesses to achieve greater flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness in managing their IT resources. It is a critical component of modern IT infrastructure and is expected to continue to grow in importance in the coming years.

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What is a Hypervisor?

A Hypervisor, also known as a virtual machine manager, is a software layer that creates and manages virtual machines (VMs) on a physical machine. The hypervisor enables multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a single physical machine, without interference between them.

There are two main types of hypervisors: Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 hypervisors run directly on the host machine's hardware and manage the virtual machines directly. They are often referred to as "bare-metal" hypervisors, as they have direct access to the host machine's hardware resources, such as CPU, memory, and I/O devices. Examples of Type 1 hypervisors include VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Citrix XenServer.

Type 2 hypervisors, on the other hand, run on top of an existing operating system, such as Windows or Linux. They rely on the underlying operating system to manage hardware resources and provide device drivers. Type 2 hypervisors are sometimes called "hosted" hypervisors because they rely on the host operating system to provide hardware support. Examples of Type 2 hypervisors include Oracle VirtualBox and VMware Workstation.

Hypervisors are essential components of virtualization technology, enabling multiple virtual machines to share a physical machine's resources efficiently. They play a critical role in cloud computing, where virtualization is used to create and manage virtual instances of servers and other computing resources.

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