Virtualization : How Virtualization Works and What it Does

Virtualization is now offered not only bigger companies, but also by small or medium sized companies. But how this Virtualization works and what it does. We have published various articles on Virtualization, this article explains two basic questions :

• How Virtualization Works
• What Virtualization Does

How Virtualization Works

We have previously discussed about basics of server Virtualization Technology in an previous article.?The reduction in hardware prices and the presence of open source software making this technology increasingly affordable and if it is properly used, it can offer us more choices of operating systems ,while lowering the costs and bringing a greater control over our infrastructure. The major need to deploy the technology is dependent on type of processor (Tips : Read this post on the capable processors.) – the deployment of Virtualization is dependent on processor core – deployment differs from x86 and x64 processor.?A hypervisor or Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) is a virtualization software , which provides an environment for virtual machines created. Quite obviously, in order to manage the whole system, a specialized software is needed.

What Virtualization Does

The most common used application of Virtualization technology?is in the field of hosting – Virtual Private Server or Virtual Dedicated Server. As one physical dedicated server is split in to virtually existing 3-4 dedicated servers, the cost – both the one time investment and running costs are reduced, which translates to reduced cost of web hosting.

Although web hosting appears to be the most important practical usage of Virtualization, there are various other usage of Virtualization technology and most importantly, Cloud Computing is nothing but a product of Virtualization technology.

To summarize

• This technology makes one physical computer to behave as if like multiple computers.
• Among the various advantages, the technology reduces both the short and long term costs.
• It helps to avoid the under usage of resources.
• Desktop virtualization, Virtual Private Server / Virtual Dedicated Server, Database Virtualization and Storage virtualization, Cloud Computing are either direct or indirect benefits of the technology.