Virtualization

Virtualization is software that separates physical infrastructures to create various dedicated resources. It is the fundamental technology that powers cloud computing.

"Virtualization software makes it possible to run multiple operating systems and multiple applications on the same server at the same time," said Mike Adams, director of product marketing at VMware, a pioneer in virtualization and cloud software and services. "It enables businesses to reduce IT costs while increasing the efficiency, utilization and flexibility of their existing computer hardware."

The technology behind virtualization is known as a virtual machine monitor (VMM) or virtual manager, which separates compute environments from the actual physical infrastructure.

Virtualization makes servers, workstations, storage and other systems independent of the physical hardware layer, said John Livesay, vice president of InfraNet, a network infrastructure services provider. "This is done by installing a Hypervisor on top of the hardware layer, where the systems are then installed."

Virtualization is a foundational element of cloud computing and helps deliver on the value of cloud computing. Cloud computing is the delivery of shared computing resources, software or data — as a service and on-demand through the Internet.

Evolution of Virtualisation

The first seeds of virtualization were sown as far back as the 1960s. What began as a need to improve parallel processing eventually evolved into a system of enhancing resource utilization. Running a software layer and creating multiple independent virtual instances using the same physical resource translated into major savings for companies, and better ROI models have gone emerged with the evolution of virtualization.

Building the Virtual Machine

The first virtual machine began with IBM’s CP-40, which was primarily built to virtualize the mainframe and improve its time-sharing capabilities, especially as compared to traditional methods. From the days of the CP-40, the virtual machine has evolved to a very refined stage today, wherein every possible IT resource – apps, compute, storage, OS and network, has been virtualized.

Over the years, the pioneers in this space have been companies such as IBM, VMware, Citrix and Microsoft. While organizations of every size are increasingly moving toward virtualization, managed or hosted app service providers are increasingly moving toward incorporating virtualized services in their product portfolio too.

Today, practically every resource can be virtualized. The broader applications of virtualization are seen in:

• Desktop Virtualization
• Server Virtualization
• Storage Virtualization
• Network Virtualization
• Application Virtualization

While virtualization has immensely helped in resource optimization and ease of scalability, IT admins face virtualization challenges from time to time, too. The majority of virtualization issues typically pertain to areas like security, performance, licensing and management. This gave rise to the development of monitoring tools. Today, specialized solutions like Xangati can help administrators monitor, analyze and control the virtualized hybrid cloud infrastructure, in order to improve performance, deliver consistent results and keep IT costs in check.

Portability of Software

Software portability forms the founding pillar of application virtualization, and refers to the ease with which software can be run across various environments. Portability is considered the hallmark of well-designed software, since the ease of installation and utilization increases tremendously if it’s highly portable across various run-time environments.

Cloud-based infrastructure also reduces the challenges and costs of working from multiple locations, no matter the geographical distance between them!

Application Virtualization

Software portability enables an application to be environment-agnostic and improves the ease with which it can be virtualized. Application virtualization also helps ease deployment, and offers substantial benefits by ensuring better security and manageability. On the flip side, it can be highly resource-intensive.

Companies need to weigh the benefits of application virtualization against possible access issues, as well as the requirements for virtualization troubleshooting, before making an investment.

Virtual Desktops

Virtual desktops are a form of workspace cloud and in terms of implementation, quite similar to server virtualization. Virtual desktop infrastructure or VDI hosts physical resources for the desktop at a central location, which is usually the data center or cloud. It extends the virtual instances to end users, while retaining the functionality of a physical desktop.

Typically, VDI troubleshooting is also extended from a central location, which helps make manageability much easier. Common VDI issues like a heavy dependency on the network service provider, need to be tackled right from the start. With hybrid-cloud tools, virtualization monitoring, analysis and control efforts become easy for administrators to implement, which leads to a better quality of experience for end-users.