It is the process of creating a virtual version of applications and desktop workstations from one central computer system. This technology enables users to access and use needed apps and desktops from a central server via a remote network.
This is essential for today’s distributed workforce.
What are the benefits for Virtualization?
Because apps and desktops live in the datacenter, instead of on specific devices, users leverage virtualization to securely work from anywhere, at any time, and get the same great experience across any app or device. Which is a key benefit for employees.
For IT departments and the entire enterprise, application and desktop virtualization enables flexibility and reduces costs.
IT can centrally rollout updates and security patches from the datacenters without having to accss each individual device and virtualization gives teams the choice to run their resources on-premises, in the cloud or a hybrid of both.
Virtualization gives IT teams total control over who accesses what resource, on which device, helping businesses meet the needs of a flexible, dynamic workforce.
With all data stored in a centralized data centre or cloud infrastructure, the risk of information leaks are reduced as none of the data is stored on user’s personal devices.
This also means that data can be recovered easily.
Advanced virtualization technology grants users with secure and remote access to apps and desktops like, Windows, Linux, SaaS and Web.
The flexibility and security provided by virtualization enable users to increase productivity and enable IT teams to optimize costs and resources.
The difference between virtualization and cloud computing
The distribution of shared computer resources, network, or any other infrastructure as a service on Internet is known as cloud computing. Cloud computing is made feasible by virtualization technology, which allocates virtual resources into centralised pools that can be easily controlled and launched using a stack of management solutions.
Let us see how it works:
Virtualization employs an application called hypervisor to generate virtual computers from physical hardware, making the computational power, software, and storage of those servers available to as independent working machines.
These virtual resources are aggregated in a centralised place (often an on-premises data centre) that other computers may access via a network. A cloud is another name for this consolidated resource pool.
When computers on a network want extra storage or computing capacity, cloud management software allows administrators to quickly allocate and distribute these system resources to the necessary device. This process can even be automated to offer a “self-service” aspect to the cloud, allowing users to use cloud services without having to wait for administrators permission.
When the computer no longer requires these computing services or resources, the cloud’s automated features may cut off the excess resources, reducing waste and controlling additional computing expenses. This is referred to as elastic infrastructure scaling or auto scaling.
The distinction between virtualization and cloud computing is that, virtualization is a technology that allows one server to offer capacity for many computers, whereas cloud computing allows multiple computers to access a common set of resources on demand.
Types of Hypervisors
Type 1 Hypervisor
- A hypervisor that runs directly on the host hardware to control the hardware and manage the guest operating system.
- They are called as Native or Bare Metal Hypervisors.
- Example: Microsoft Hyper V, Oracle VM Server, VMware ESX, etcetra.
Type 2 Hypervisor
A Hypervisor that runs on a conventional machine’s operating system as just another software or application.
- They are called as Host OS Hypervisors.
- Example: Oracle VirtualBox, VMware Workstation etcetra.
Difference between Hypervisors — Type 1 vs Type 2
The primary distinction between Type 1 hypervisors and Type 2 hypervisors has been that Type 1 Hypervisor functions directly on the host’s hardware, but Type 2 Hypervisor functions on top of host operating system similar to that of conventional computer applications.
Running programmes on separate systems wastes resources. This problem can be solved using virtualization. Virtualization, in reality, is the process of generating a virtual isolation of an instance’s, resources like, network, or storage device. It also allocates resources across various execution environments. Furthermore, a hypervisor is associated with virtualization. It’s a VMM (Virtual Machine Monitor) (VMM). To put it another way, it generates and operates virtual computers.
