VIRTUALIZATION

Virtualization is the creation of a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, such as an operating system, a server, a storage device or network resources a virtual machine is subjectively a complete machine (or very close), but objectively merely a set of files and running programs on an actual, physical machine (which the user need not necessarily be aware of). The usual goal of virtualization is to centralize administrative tasks while improving scalability and overall hardware-resource utilization. With virtualization, several operating systems can be run in parallel on a single central processing unit (CPU). This parallelism tends to reduce overhead costs and differs from multitasking, which involves running several programs on the same OS. [ The phenomenon reduces costs and helps multitasking ]. With using Virtualization an enterprise will be able to better manage updates and rapid changes to the operating system and applications without disrupting the user. "Ultimately, virtualization dramatically improves the efficiency and availability of resources and applications in an organization. Network virtualization is a method of combining the available resources in a network by splitting up the available bandwidth into channels, each of which is independent from the others, and each of which can be assigned (or reassigned) to a particular server or device in real time. The idea is that virtualization disguises the true complexity of the network by separating it into manageable parts, much like your partitioned hard drive makes it easier to manage your files. Storage virtualization is the pooling of physical storage from multiple network storage devices into what appears to be a single storage device that is managed from a central console. Storage virtualization is commonly used in storage area networks (SANs). Types of VIRTUALIZATION : Hardware virtualization : The servers hardware is virtualized thus allowing us to be able to run different OS and different applications simultaneously on the same hardware. Benefits are:

a) Less number of servers required for the same number of applications. b) Less power consumption. c) Less maintenance overhead for the IT staff. d) More resource utilization. e) Easier (and faster) to add more capacity. f) Patch management and upgrades become easier. g) DRP (Disaster Recovery Planning) becomes easier. Without any interruption to the service, one can backup and even migrate entire virtual environments.

Mobile virtualization Desktop virtualization : Desktop virtualization is the concept of separating

the logical desktop from the physical machine. Rather than interacting with a host computer directly via a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, the user interacts with the host computer using another desktop computer or a mobile device by means of a network connection, such as a LAN, Wireless LAN or even the Internet. Benefits are obvious: 1) Easier upgrades and patch management. 2) IT Desktop support process becomes much more easier. 3) You can easily add more users as your organization grows and provisioning of new applications and VMs takes minutes and not days/weeks. 4) Better resource utilization and less power consumption. 5) Easier recovery management.

Storage virtualization : from physical storage.

The process of completely abstracting logical storage

Data virtualization : The presentation of data as an abstract layer, independent of underlying database systems, structures and storage. Database virtualization : The decoupling of the database layer, which lies between the storage and application layers within the application stack over all. Network virtualization : across network subnets. Creation of a virtualized network addressing space within or

Different types of hardware virtualization include:

1. Full virtualization: Almost complete simulation of the actual hardware to allow software, which typically consists of a guest operating system, to run unmodified. 2. Partial virtualization: Some but not all of the target environment is simulated. Some guest programs, therefore, may need modifications to run in this virtual environment. 3. Paravirtualization: A hardware environment is not simulated; however, the guest programs are executed in their own isolated domains, as if they are running on a separate system. Guest programs need to be specifically modified to run in this environment.