What is virtualization?

Virtualization is a type of technology that allows for the creation of virtual versions of computing resources, like servers, storage, and networks. By separating the physical infrastructure from the software that runs on it, virtualization makes utilization of resources, greater flexibility, and cost-saving more accessible.

In an article published by Forbes magazine, Belle Wong and Kiran Aditham wrote:

“Virtualization uses software called hypervisors to create multiple virtual computers (known as virtual machines or VMs) on a single physical machine. These virtual machines can access all the parts of the physical machine, including the computer’s brain or processors, memory and storage.”

Key concepts

Some of the key concepts are:

  • Hypervisor

The hypervisor, sometimes referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM), is an essential part that allows several operating systems to share a single physical host. It manages resource allocation and provides virtual machines (VMs) with essential support.

  • Virtual Machine

A virtual machine is a virtual version of a computer system with a complete operating system and applications.

  • Resource pooling

Virtualization allows for the pooling of physical resources, like memory, CPU, and storage, which allows for more efficient distribution and utilization.

  • Decoupling

Virtualization decouples software from the underlying hardware, providing flexibility and independence between the two layers.

Types

The following are the types of virtualization:

  • Server virtualization

This involves creating multiple servers on a single physical server, allowing for better utilization of hardware resources.

  • Desktop virtualization

Enables virtualization in desktop environments, allowing multiple devices to access virtual desktops remotely

  • Storage virtualization

Increases flexibility and simplifies management by abstracting physical storage resources and presenting them as a single virtualized storage pool.

  • Networking

Network virtualization enables the creation of multiple virtual networks on a single physical network.

Image depicting and defining Virtualization
Image created by Market Business News.

Benefits

There are several benefits to virtualization, including:

  • Resource efficiency

It maximizes the use of physical resources, allowing multiple virtual instances to run on a single server.

  • Cost savings

Through server consolidation and resource optimization, organizations can save money on hardware, energy, and maintenance.

  • Flexibility and Scalability

Virtualization provides flexibility in allocating resources to VMs and allows for easy scalability by adding or removing virtual instances as needed.

  • Isolation and security

Since VMs are isolated from each other, there is greater security and minimizes the impact of issues in one VM on others.

  • Disaster recovery

It is a lot easier to recover since it has the ability to create snapshots and backups.

Challenges

Virtualization presents a number of challenges, including:

  • Resource overhead

Over-virtualization can affect overall performance and add overhead to the virtualization layer.

  • Complexity

Managing a virtualized environment can be complex and requires expertise in virtualization technologies.

  • Security concerns

Although virtualization enhances isolation, vulnerabilities in the virtualization layer can still pose security risks.

  • Licensing cost

Some virtualization solutions may require licensing fees, which impact the overall cost savings.

Examples of use

The following are some examples of use:

  • Data centers

Virtualization is widely used in data centers to optimize server resources and improve overall efficiency.

  • Cloud computing

Virtualization is used by cloud service providers to give customers access to flexible and scalable computer resources.

  • Development and testing

Creating isolated environments for development and testing can be achieved economically.

  • Desktop Infrastructure

Virtual desktop infrastructure, or VDI, enables organizations to consolidate and manage desktop environments more effectively.

The future

Virtualization has a promising future in the world of technology. To keep abreast of the latest developments in virtualization, here are some key future trends to watch out for:

  • Edge virtualization

Extending virtualization to the edge of networks to support IoT devices and edge computing.

  • Containerization

The rise of containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes complements virtualization for lightweight application deployment.

  • Serverless Computing

By using virtualization, serverless designs help developers by abstracting infrastructure administration.

Written by Nicolas Perez Diaz