Why You Should Go Virtual For Sustainability

What Virtualization Really Means?

Virtualization is the act of creating a virtual version of resource or device in computing, such as a storage device, server, network or OS where the structure segregates the resource into one or more implementation environments.

Evolution of Virtualization

The advent of Virtualization began 1960s mainframe computers as a technique to logically divide the mainframe resources for different applications. The meaning of the term broadened since then.

Areas of IT where Virtualization is ascending:

Network Virtualization

It is a method of integrating the available resources in a network by breaking up the available bandwidth into channels, each of which is free from others, and also each of which can be allocated or de-allocated to a specific device or server in real time.

It is classified either external virtualization integrating many networks into a virtual unit, or internal virtualization, which provides a network-like operation to software containers on a particular network server.

Storage Virtualization

It is the integration of physical storage from several network storage devices into a single storage device that is controlled by the central console. Storage virtualization is often used in storage area networks (SANs). The storage virtualization uses virtualization to allow better functionality and more improved features in computer data storage systems.

There are two types of virtualization that occurs in storage virtualization:

a) Block Virtualization

It refers to the separation of logical storage from the physical storage so that it can be accessed without considering the physical storage. This parting allows the administrators of the storage system greater pliability in how they organize storage for end users.

b) File Virtualization

It eliminates the dependencies between the data accessed at the file level and the position where the files are physically stored. This provides opportunities to elevate the storage use, server consolidation and to perform non-disturbing file migrations.

Server Virtualization

It is the concealing of the server resources which includes the number and identity of distinct physical servers, processors and the operating systems from server users. This spares the users from having to understand complexities involved in the details of the server resources. It also allows the resource sharing, utilizing and maintaining the ability to expand later.

It basically does the partitioning of one physical server into smaller virtual servers.

There are three general approaches to the server virtualization which are:

1. The Virtual Machine (VM) model
2. The Para-virtual Machine model
3. Virtualization at the OS Layer

Advantages of Using Virtualization

In today’s period where intensive developments in IT look out for the latest technology that allows the businesses to ladder with fewer resources and providing the infrastructure to meet up with today and future needs.

It may also interest you to know the benefits of Virtualization for business enhancement was taken up at the 13^th International Virtualization conference & Expo in June 11-14, 2012.

The concept of virtualization is incredible for the corporates and soon its implementation would be inevitable.