SERVER VIRTUALIZATION
Server virtualization functions by running multiple, mutually exclusive, virtual operating systems on a single computer. Server virtualization transforms hardware into software, creating a virtual hardware resource on a server that incorporates CPU, RAM and hard drives. Server virtualization allows users to maximize physical resources in the most efficient way possible.
Server virtualization can help you to:
- Increase Server Utilization
- Consolidate Servers (Reduced space requirements) (Reduced power requirements)
- Boost Application Availability
- Add System Flexibility
- Simplify Deployment of Software
As server workloads vary, virtualization provides flexibility for virtual machines that are over utilizing the resources of a server to be moved to underutilized servers. This dynamic load balancing creates efficient utilization of server resources.
It is not unusual to achieve 10:1 virtual to physical machine consolidation. This means that ten server applications can be run on a single machine that had once required as many physical computers to provide the unique operating system and technical specification environments in order to operate. Server utilization is optimized and legacy software can maintain old OS configurations while new applications are running in VMs with updated platforms.
Although a server supporting many VMs will probably have more memory, CPUs, and other hardware it will use little or no more power and occupy the same physical space reducing utilities costs and real estate expenditures.
Disaster recovery is a critical component for IT, as system crashes can create huge economic losses. Virtualization technology enables a virtual image on a machine to be instantly re-imaged on another server if a machine failure occurs.
Improved System Reliability and Security
- Lower number of physical servers - you can reduce hardware maintenance costs because of a lower number of physical servers
- By implementing a server consolidation strategy, you can increase the space utilization in your data center
- By having each application within its own "virtual server" you can prevent one application from impacting another application when upgrades or changes are made.
- You can develop a standard virtual server build that can be easily duplicated which will speed up server deployment.
- You can deploy multiple operating system technologies on a single hardware platform (i.e. Small Business Server 2008, Exchange, Windows 2000, etc).
By taking advantage of server virtualization you can easily improve the efficiency of your Windows Data Center, as well as lower your total cost of ownership. Virtualization is being used by a growing number of small to medium sized organizations to reduce power consumption and air conditioning needs. Virtual Servers can help eliminate the space requirements associated with server farm growth. Virtualization also provides great flexibility for critical applications and will streamline application deployment and migrations. Virtualization can simplify IT operations and allow IT departments to respond faster to changing business demands.