Virtualization in Windows Server is one of the foundational technologies required to create your software defined infrastructure. Along with networking and storage, virtualization features deliver the flexibility you need to power workloads for your customers.
Many versions of Windows 10 include the Hyper-V virtualization technology. Hyper-V enables running virtualized computer systems on top of a physical host. These virtualized systems can be used and managed just as if they were physical computer systems, however they exist in virtualized and isolated environment. Special software called a hypervisor manages access between the virtual systems and the physical hardware resources. Virtualization enables quick deployment of computer systems, a way to quickly restore systems to a previously known good state, and the ability to migrate systems between physical hosts.
Create a software-based—or virtual—representation of applications, servers, storage and networks to reduce IT expenses while boosting efficiency and agility.
What Is VMware Server Virtualization?
Many businesses deploy multiple servers for their IT needs, but in many cases these servers aren’t used at their full capacity, which leads to bloated operating costs and inefficiencies. One answer to this problem is server virtualization.
Server virtualization refers to the creation of software-based versions of the physical server. The process of virtualizing a server involves dividing one physical server into several isolated and unique virtual servers. The resulting multiple server instances operate in parallel, separated in terms of function but relying on the same underlying hardware.
Server virtualization provides businesses and IT professionals with an effective way to boost agility and productivity within an organization, while in many cases reducing IT hardware expenses by reducing the need for additional physical servers. Companies may also leverage server virtualization to mask resources on a server from users of the server. These masked resources might include the identity and number of processors, VM operating systems, and certain physical servers.
How Does VMware and Virtualization Work?
Now that you understand server virtualization, you may be wondering what the relationship is between VMware and virtualization. VMware provides virtualization software and is a popular choice among companies looking to leverage the benefits of server virtualization.
VMware server virtualization software offers a straightforward way to simulate hardware and establish a virtual computing system. Using a VMware server virtualization tool makes it easier for businesses to establish and manage a virtualized environment, as described below.
Virtual environments are made up of virtual machines (VMs). In IT infrastructures, a virtual computer system is referred to as a virtual machine—an isolated software container with an application and operating system inside of it. Every self-contained virtual machine will work independently. Having multiple virtual machines on one device allows several applications and operating systems to run on a single physical server. Virtual machines are separated from the host by a software layer called the hypervisor, which allocates resources to the VMs.
Using VMware virtualization technology allows businesses to more easily create and handle this kind of virtual environment. As a result, VMware server virtualization can allow businesses to maximize server resources and minimize the amount of hardware necessary for key operations. This consolidates the server, typically improving productivity and minimizing costs.
There are three types of server virtualization, which are outlined below.
1. Full Virtualization
Full virtualization utilizes a hypervisor, a type of software that communicates directly with the physical server’s CPU and disk space. The hypervisor tracks the physical server resources and ensures every virtual server is kept independent and unaware of other VMs. Hypervisors also relay resources to the appropriate virtual server from a physical server, as applications are being run. The key limitation of full virtualization is hypervisors have their own processing requirements, which can cause a lag in application and server performance.
2. Para-Virtualization
Para-virtualization entails the complete network operating as a single unit, which is different from how full virtualization functions. In para-virtualization, all virtual server operating systems are aware of each other, which means the hypervisor doesn’t need to consume as much power while processing and managing operating systems.
3. OS-Level Virtualization
OS-level virtualization, which stands for operating system-level virtualization, doesn’t use a hypervisor at all. Rather, OS-level virtualization uses its virtualization capability (a part of the operating system on the physical server) to perform the hypervisor tasks and responsibilities. For this to work, however, all virtual servers have to run the same OS.
Benefits of VMware Virtualization Technology
This guide has already touched on a few of the benefits of VMware virtualization technology, but there are many more worth mentioning:
- Quicker workload deployment
- Improved performance
- Increased server ability and reduced or eliminated downtime
- Increased responsiveness and IT productivity
- Increasingly automated operations, simplifying IT management processes and driving costs down
- Ability to provision resources and applications faster
- Simpler disaster recovery and business continuity
- Simplified management of the data center
- Establishes a software-defined data center
- Lower operating costs
- Mitigated server complexity
