DATA CENTER VIRTUALIZATION
Server virtualization refers to the servers and data storage devices that are simulated using software. It is the division or segregation of servers. Every single virtual server runs on its own and as a part of another physical server. Many virtual servers can run on a single physical server. These virtual servers can be isolated and can be handled singly, even away from the physical servers.
At a business and enterprise level, virtualization of data centers helps in reducing equipment costs, improves quality and system availability.
All the resources need to be managed well like the software and hardware in order to create virtualization efficiently and in an affordable manner.
In the traditional and conventional methods, every new application required a separate server. This inturn adds overhead costs and takes several weeks to be employed. This means that there are huge stacks of servers staged in different rooms. This would lead to excess power consumption and energy wastage.
Virtualisation is a technique of creating a virtual pool of servers, operating systems, storage devices and network resources. It enables a single user to access multiple physical devices at the same time. With this, one operating system can control the operation of multiple computers or vice versa.
Through virtualization, you can install a software only once and be rest assured that everyone will have access to it. You don’t need multiple licences to make the software available to all your employees. Since you are technically installing it only on one system, you are not violating any laws either. Same is true with storage. This technique avoids the need for data replication, thus saving storage space.
The drawback with data centers is the challenge you will face while scaling up as and when the need arises. Your data center host must have rack space to accommodate an extra server or two and also must be equipped to handle an increase in cooling and power needs. Of course, there is a problem of your resources going on standby mode when not in use, too.
Storage virtualization is one type of virtualization that greatly helps in reducing the operational costs and improving the agility of performance. It means that the large number of servers and storage devices are virtually stacked up in a pool, for e.g. a virtual storage pool. Storage virtualization leads to the next generation of data centers.
Computing virtualization is also growing very fast. Some of the leading companies in the space have developed cross-platform virtualization software that allows data center managers to cluster and partition servers. .With the help of these tools, many virtual servers can be offered on an a single server or a single server can offer the roles of many different virtual servers.
Networking virtualization can occur at the LAN or the WAN. On the LAN, virtual LAN technology allows network managers to isolate and partition LANs running on a single physical LAN.
On the WAN side, the same effect can be achieved with MPLS, a technology that offers partitioning of WANs into multiple isolated virtual WANs running on a single physical infrastructure. Virtualization can bring higher utilization, better security and easier management.
Server utilization can definitely bring in some great amount of flexibility and energy efficiency into data centers.
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