What type of virtualization can optimize your IT resources?
What type of virtualization for your company? In view of the many advantages it offers, the question of virtualization in business is more than relevant.
This IT technique, which enables the creation and execution of a virtual version of physical machines and associated resources, is winning over more and more professionals. Over the years, it has emerged as a guarantee of flexibility, cost reduction and limitation of hardware constraints.
But what is virtualization really all about? And above all, shouldn't we use the plural term " virtualization" to encompass the various variations associated with the process?
To give you a clearer picture, and to help you identify the solutions best suited to your needs, this article presents the advantages of the different types of virtualization most commonly encountered.
But first, let's take a look at the precise definition and benefits of the virtualization concept.
Definition and principle of virtualization
According to the most common definition :
Virtualization is the process of running multiple systems, servers or applications on a single physical server.
In other words, thanks to virtualization technology, several systems, initially running on different physical environments, run and cohabit on a single machine.
To achieve this, software is used to create a virtual representation of the resources and underlying hardware involved.
This virtualization of systems is reminiscent of cloud computing and containerization. However, they are not the same thing.
Virtualization ≠ Cloud Computing
While Cloud Computing is based on virtualization, the two concepts differ:
- virtualization allows IT environments to be uncoupled from their machines;
- Cloud Computing involves hosting and operating data on remote servers, via the Internet.
Virtual machines ≠ containers
The notion of container is also often likened to that of virtualization. But once again, differences exist.
As the name suggests, a virtual machine is a virtual imitation of a computing device created, in the context of virtualization, using hypervisor software, and equipped with a complete operating system (or OS).
Containerization virtualization, on the other hand, consists of partitioning directly at operating system level. Each container runs its own environment, but shares the same host OS. For this reason, containers are generally used to virtualize a program, rather than an entire server.
The benefits of virtualization
When you choose virtualization for your business, you benefit from a number of advantages:
- lower costs: virtualization means fewer servers, less space to host them, lower maintenance costs, etc. ;
- energy savings: fewer servers = less digital pollution;
- better use of resources: up to now often under-utilized, the company's hardware capacities are greatly optimized thanks to virtualization;
- business continuity: in the event of disaster or interruption, virtualization facilitates disaster recovery planning ( DRP).
- greater agility: by freeing you from hardware constraints, virtualization encourages process flexibility and team mobility.
Convinced by the benefits of introducing and deploying virtualization within your company?
There are different levels and types of virtualization, designed to meet different needs. Let's take a closer look.
The different types of virtualization
Server virtualization
Server virtualization is the first type of virtualization encountered. This technique involves grouping several virtual servers into a single physical server, using a software layer. Each of the virtual machines created then acts autonomously and in isolation, running its own operating system and applications.
This type of virtualization relies on the role of the hypervisor, i.e. the software installed on the physical server that manages the various guest OSs.
There are two types of hypervisor:
- Type 1 hypervisor, or bare metal: this operates directly on the hardware, and thus becomes the operating system's control tool. Guest OSes run on top of this hypervisor.
Examples of type 1 hypervisors: VMware's vSphere, or KVM, the free hypervisor for Linux.
- Type 2 hypervisor, or host metal : runs inside another operating system.
An example of a type 2 hypervisor is VirtualBox, an Open Source software package published by Oracle.
💡 Why opt for server virtualization?
- The number of servers used is reduced, a timely advantage when you consider that in a non-virtualized environment, each server is only used to 15-20% of its capacity ;
- Resources are optimized, and hardware and maintenance costs reduced.
Operating system virtualization
Operating system virtualization, sometimes used on a domestic scale, enables several different OSes to be run on a single machine, without interfering with each other.
Example: navigate on the same computer from a Windows environment to a Linux environment.
These virtualized operating systems also result from the use of a hypervisor, like Hyper-V (also known as Windows Server Virtualization).
💡 Why opt for operating system virtualization?
- Thanks to this type of virtualization, you can launch an application requiring an operating system other than your own, or an earlier version of it;
- Operating system virtualization is also a good way of familiarizing yourself with an OS you're not familiar with.
Desktop virtualization
One of the most popular types of virtualization used in business is desktop virtualization. This technique reproduces the desktop environment, enabling professionals to access their personal files and applications from any workstation.
This type of virtualization is made possible by hosting the virtual desktop on a VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) server, which runs the entire desktop environment (operating system and applications). TS2log (an alternative to Citrix) and Virtuel Bureau are good examples of solutions offering this secure access to virtualized desktops.
💡 Why opt for desktop virtualization?
- Desktop virtualization offers a great deal of flexibility, particularly in mobile situations;
- This technique facilitates the transfer of work environments to subcontracting teams;
- Costs associated with the multiplication of workstations, particularly those associated with software licenses, are reduced.
Example of a virtualized desktop administration console:
Application virtualization
Applications are virtualized when they run in an encapsulated form (i.e. with raw data), independent of the underlying operating system.
Example: using a Linux application on a Windows environment.
💡 Why opt for application virtualization?
- With this type of virtualization, resort to your favorite applications, whatever the operating system, the device used or the latest update ;
- Run multiple versions of the same application on a single OS;
- As with desktop virtualization, application virtualization promotes flexibility, agility and mobility.
Storage virtualization
Storage virtualization (also known as Software Defined Storage, or virtual SAN ) involves grouping all physical storage devices into a single, simulated device. This is managed from a central console.
A solution such as SANsymphony, developed by DataCore, a pioneer in this field, makes it possible to place a scalable virtualization layer on storage infrastructures. In this way, cohabitation between different storage materials is possible.
💡 Why opt for storage system virtualization?
- Easily consolidate your different storage technologies, whatever their origin (different networks, different data centers, etc.);
- Readjust your storage capacities according to your needs and the structural evolution of your business, without requiring too much investment.
Network virtualization
Network virtualization is the process of reproducing a physical network and its various components (ports, routers, etc.). Using virtualization software, this technique enables isolated, partitioned networks to be made available, but operating on a shared infrastructure.
💡 Why opt for network virtualization?
This type of virtualization is particularly advantageous for deploying IT infrastructures quickly, and replicating them.
With WhatsUp Gold's network virtualization module , you simply map your virtual environment while monitoring its performance via advanced, customizable features:
- an automatic alert system for your virtual infrastructure, based on processor, memory, disk and interface utilization thresholds,
- automatic generation of dynamic maps of your Hyper-V and VMware infrastructure in just a few clicks,
- a 360° dashboard view of your wired and wireless network, as well as your physical and virtual servers, to quickly assess the health of your entire IT infrastructure, and much more!
A virtualization solution for every company
Virtualization offers proven solutions for improving IT productivity, seizing opportunities and protecting your resources and data. At the same time, we've seen that it can reduce costs, and therefore ultimately increase the value of your business.
But make no mistake, a company's virtualization needs are relative to its size, structure and the nature of its business: A small company will see the benefits of desktop or software virtualization, while server virtualization is more appropriate for large accounts.
Have you ever used virtualization? If so, which software solution did you use? Don't hesitate to give us your feedback in the comments section.
Article translated from French