Virtualization Overview

Module 1

Prerequisites
System administration experience on Microsoft Windows or Linux operating systems Good knowledge on Networking and TCP/IP Knowledge on Storage technology (optional)

Introduction to Virtualization

Objective
Understand the concept of virtualization Identify the benefits of using virtual machine Describe scenarios for using virtualization

What is 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 Virtualization is a technique for hiding the physical characteristics of computing resources to simplify the way in which other systems, applications, or end users interact with those resources. Virtualization lets a single physical resource (such as a server, an operating system, an application, or storage device) appear as multiple logical resources or Making multiple physical resources (such as storage devices or servers) appear as a single logical resource

What is virtualization
Virtualization is a technology that transforms hardware into software.

Virtualization allows you to run multiple operating systems as virtual machines on a single computer
Copy of an O.S is installed into each virtual machine.

Virtualization is not

Simulation Emulation

Computers in 1990s
Fast Forward to the 1990s
Intel/AMD servers are now very popular (known as x86 servers) Each server runs Operating Systems such as Microsoft, Linux, or Netware Companies put ONE operating system & ONE application on each server 2 servers would grow to 6 servers, eventually to 50 or more servers! Electricity and space (footprint) becomes a problem.

File Web Server Server

File Server

File Server Web Domain Server Server DNS App Server Server

Each Server Running 1 Application

Computers in 2000s
Fast Forward to the 2000s
Manufacturers to the rescue! Focus on making servers small Rack form factors (6-20 servers per cabinet) Blade form factors (30-60 servers per cabinet) Space/footprint problem helped.some
Example HP Blade Servers

Electricity and heat still a problem

As Servers Got Faster

Server utilization became even lower Average server utilization ranges between 4 -10% STILL one application per server

Example Dell Rack Servers

Todays IT Challenges What this Equates to Today:

Continued Server Sprawl
Power, space and cooling costs represent one of the largest IT budget line items One-application-per-server approach leads to complexity and high costs of equipment and administration

Low Server Utilization Rates

Result in excessive acquisition and maintenance costs

Typical Dev/Test Infrastructure is an IT Headache

Server sprawl under desks, in closets Aging, cast-off hardware

Dirty systems inability to maintain clean state

Users and IT bogged down in provisioning requests Release management is resource intensive and error-prone

*Actual customer photos

Virtualization is the Key

Apply Mainframe Virtualization Concepts to Intel / AMD Servers:
Use virtualization software to partition an Intel / AMD server to work with several operating system and application instances
Oracle SQL Application Servers Email File Print DNS Domain

Deploy several virtual machines on one server using groundbreaking virtualization software

Virtualization Layer Explored

Virtualization Layer - Compatibility
A virtual machine is compatible with standard x86 operating systems such as Windows and Linux
A virtual machine has a motherboard, CPU, memory, disk and network just like a physical server

Applications developed for the standard OSs will work on a virtual machine
No adjustments are needed to run applications on virtual servers

Virtualization Layer - Isolation

Virtual machines on the same physical machine run independently They are protected from each other

Virtual Hardware

Virtualization Basics
System without Virtualization Software System with Virtualization Software

The Basics of Virtualization

The Basics of Virtualization

Virtualization Basics
Before Virtualization: Single OS image per machine After Virtualization: Hardware-independence of operating system and applications Virtual machines can be provisioned to any system Can manage OS and application as a single unit by encapsulating them into virtual machines

Software and hardware tightly coupled

Running multiple applications on same machine often creates conflict

Underutilized resources
Inflexible and costly infrastructure

How does virtualization work

Virtualization allows multiple operating system instances to run concurrently on a single computer within virtual machines.

A virtualization layer creates the virtual machines.

The virtualization layer is implemented through either a hosted or a baremetal hypervisor architecture.

Virtualization Approaches
Hosted Virtualization
A virtualization approach where partitioning and virtualization services run on top of a standard operating system (the host). In this approach, the virtualization software relies on the host operating system to provide the services to talk directly to the underlying hardware.

Hypervisor
A thin layer of software that generally provides virtual partitioning capabilities which runs directly on hardware, but underneath higher-level virtualization services. Sometimes referred to as a bare metal approach.

Virtualization Approaches
Hosted Architecture
Installs and runs as an application Relies on host OS for device support and physical resource management

Virtualization Using a Bare-Metal Hypervisor

A bare-metal hypervisor system does not require an operating system. The hypervisor is the operating system.

VMware ESX/ESXi use a hypervisor architecture.

Virtual Machines Explored

Virtual Machines
A virtual machine is a collection of software that has been translated into files These files are collected and organized in containers These containers can be moved in seconds from one physical machine to another in case of physical server failure or performance needs. Virtual machines have all the same hardware resources available such as CPU, memory, disk, and network

What is a Virtual Machine?

From the users perspective, it is a software platform that, like a physical computer, runs an operating system and applications. From the hypervisors perspective, it is a discrete set of files. These are the main files:
Configuration file Virtual disk file

NVRAM settings file

Log file

Virtual Machine

Why Use Virtual Machines?

Physical Machine Difficult to move or copy Bound to a specific set of hardware components Often has short life cycle Requires personal contact to upgrade hardware Virtual Machine Easy to move and copy:
Encapsulated into files Independent of physical hardware

Easy to manage:
Isolated from other virtual machines running on the same physical hardware Insulated from physical hardware changes

Virtualization benefits
Infrastructure is what connects resources to your business. Virtual Infrastructure is a dynamic mapping of your resources to your business.

Result: decreased costs and increased efficiencies and responsiveness

Hardware-independence

Server isolation Highly portable Security Administration

TCO and ROI

Virtualization Benifits
Using virtualization solutions, enterprise IT managers can address challenges that include:
Server Consolidation and Containment Test and Development Optimization Business Continuity

Enterprise Desktop

Key Features of Virtualization

Hardware-Independence
Reliably recover a virtual machine to any hardware Enable waterfalling of equipment to recovery site

Encapsulation
All information about a system is stored as data on disk Entire systems can be protected with data protection tools

Partitioning and Consolidation

Reduced hardware requirements at production and DR site Can use higher consolidation ratios at DR site

Resource Pooling
Transparently share and allocate hardware resources Automatic resource optimization