Computer virtualization

First of all I need to give definition to this term and later I need to explain the benefits of it and some drawbacks of why not to use it.

Virtualization is splitting physical hardware onto several parts. Of course it is not done physically, but through software. There are a number of software solutions that do virtualization. I am not going to recommend one or another, because I don’t know your environment and your skill set. There is software made by Oracle, Microsoft and there are also open source versions of the virtualization software.

Benefits are that you standardize on a single platform. Hardware may be different, but this hardware is hidden behind virtualization. The focus is on the application, but not how to manage the hardware.

Another benefit is the cost. It is cheaper to maintain virtual hardware than physical one.

If underlying hardware dies (hopefully there is backup in place), then it is much easier to span up virtual hardware than physical one.

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When not to use virtualization?

There are couple items here:

When utilization of the computer is high. It may be necessary to install more servers rather than virtualize them. (Or to get more virtual computers)

Running databases. It is a good idea to have dedicated hardware for the databases and not the virtual one, because virtualization will reduce access to the system resources and performance, but the databases need fast access to the data.

Study Guide: Understanding Virtualization

Key Concepts:

Virtualization: The process of creating virtual versions of hardware resources, such as servers, operating systems, storage devices, or network resources. This is achieved through software rather than physical division.

Physical Hardware: The tangible computer components, including the CPU, RAM, storage, and network interface cards.

Virtual Hardware: The software-defined representations of physical hardware resources created by virtualization software.

Standardization: The process of establishing and maintaining uniform hardware and software configurations across an IT environment.

Cost Efficiency: The ability to reduce expenses related to hardware acquisition, maintenance, power consumption, and physical space.

Resource Allocation: The process of assigning and managing computing resources (CPU, memory, storage) to virtual machines or applications.

High Utilization: A state where a computer's resources are consistently close to their maximum capacity.

Dedicated Hardware: Physical hardware resources that are exclusively assigned to a specific application or workload, without being shared with other virtual machines or processes.

System Resources: The fundamental components of a computer system that applications rely on, such as CPU cycles, memory bandwidth, and disk input/output (I/O) operations.

Performance Overhead: The reduction in performance that can occur when using virtualization due to the software layer managing the virtual resources.

Quiz:

Define virtualization in your own words. What is the key mechanism that enables it?

According to the source, what is a primary advantage of standardizing on a virtualized platform? How does this benefit simplify IT management?

Explain how virtualization can lead to cost savings compared to using purely physical hardware. Provide at least two distinct reasons.

Describe the process of recovering from hardware failure in a virtualized environment as outlined in the text. Why is it potentially faster than in a non-virtualized setup?

What is one scenario presented in the source where virtualization might not be the optimal solution due to high computer utilization? Explain the reasoning behind this recommendation.

Why does the source suggest using dedicated hardware for running databases instead of virtualized environments? What specific performance concern is highlighted?

Name at least two software vendors mentioned in the text that offer virtualization solutions. Does the author recommend a specific product? Why or why not?

Explain the difference in focus when managing applications on virtualized infrastructure compared to managing them directly on physical hardware.

What is meant by the statement that in virtualization, hardware is "hidden behind virtualization"? What is the user or application primarily interacting with?

How might virtualization impact access to the underlying system resources compared to running applications directly on physical hardware?

Answer Key:

Virtualization is the process of using software to divide the capabilities of physical hardware into multiple isolated virtual instances. This is enabled through virtualization software that manages and allocates the underlying hardware resources.

A primary advantage is standardization on a single platform, which hides the complexities of the underlying physical hardware. This simplifies IT management by allowing administrators to focus on managing the virtual environment and applications consistently, regardless of the diverse physical infrastructure.

Virtualization reduces costs by requiring less physical hardware, leading to lower acquisition and maintenance expenses. Additionally, it can improve resource utilization, potentially decreasing power consumption and the physical space needed for servers.

If underlying hardware fails, virtual machines can be quickly spun up on different physical hardware (assuming backups are in place). This is faster than procuring, installing, and configuring new physical hardware.

Virtualization might not be ideal when the computer's utilization is consistently high. In such cases, the overhead of virtualization could further strain resources, making it potentially better to install more physical servers or acquire more virtual machines.

The source suggests dedicated hardware for databases because virtualization can reduce access to system resources and negatively impact performance. Databases require fast and direct access to data, which can be hindered by the virtualization layer.

The text mentions Oracle, Microsoft, and open-source options as providers of virtualization software. The author does not recommend a specific product because they lack information about the user's environment and skill set.

In a virtualized infrastructure, the focus shifts from managing individual pieces of physical hardware to managing the virtual environment and the applications running within the virtual machines. The underlying hardware becomes less of a direct concern for day-to-day application management.

"Hardware is hidden behind virtualization" means that users and applications interact with the virtualized resources presented by the software, rather than directly with the physical hardware components. The virtualization layer acts as an abstraction.

Virtualization can introduce a layer of abstraction that may slightly reduce the direct and immediate access applications have to the underlying system resources compared to running directly on physical hardware. This is due to the virtualization software managing and mediating resource allocation.

Essay Format Questions:

Discuss the primary benefits of implementing virtualization within an organization's IT infrastructure. Provide specific examples of how these benefits can translate into tangible advantages.

Analyze the situations where virtualization might not be the most suitable solution, according to the provided text. Elaborate on the technical reasons why dedicated hardware might be preferred in these scenarios.

Compare and contrast the management of hardware and applications in a traditional, non-virtualized environment versus a virtualized environment. Highlight the key differences in focus and approach.

Evaluate the claim that virtualization leads to cost savings. Consider both the potential reductions in expenses and any potential costs or complexities associated with implementing and managing a virtualized environment.

Based on the provided information, discuss the trade-offs between the flexibility and efficiency offered by virtualization and the potential performance overhead it might introduce for certain types of workloads.

Frequently Asked Questions on Virtualization

Q1: What is virtualization, as described in this context?

Virtualization, in this context, refers to the process of using software to divide the resources of a physical hardware system into multiple isolated virtual environments. This allows a single physical machine to run multiple operating systems and applications independently, as if they were running on separate physical machines. This division is logical, achieved through software, rather than a physical partitioning of the hardware.

Q2: What is the primary advantage of standardizing on a single platform through virtualization?

By implementing virtualization, organizations can abstract away the complexities and differences in their underlying physical hardware. This standardization allows IT teams to focus on managing and deploying applications and services consistently across all virtual machines, regardless of the specific hardware they reside on. It simplifies management and reduces the need to handle diverse hardware configurations.

Q3: How does virtualization contribute to cost savings?

Virtualization leads to cost savings in several ways. Firstly, it enables better utilization of existing hardware resources, reducing the need to purchase more physical servers. Secondly, managing virtual hardware is generally less expensive than maintaining individual physical machines in terms of power consumption, cooling, and physical space. Additionally, the increased efficiency and simplified management can lead to lower operational costs related to IT administration.

Q4: What advantages does virtualization offer in disaster recovery or hardware failure scenarios?

In the event of underlying hardware failure, virtual machines can be quickly and easily migrated or restored on different physical hardware (assuming backups are in place). This significantly reduces downtime compared to the process of procuring, installing, and configuring new physical servers. The portability of virtual machines enhances business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities.

Q5: Under what circumstances might virtualization not be the optimal solution due to high computer utilization?

When a physical computer's resources are consistently operating at or near their maximum capacity, adding the overhead of a virtualization layer can further strain the system and potentially lead to performance bottlenecks. In such scenarios, it might be more efficient to deploy additional dedicated physical servers or to scale up the existing virtual environment with more virtual resources to handle the high demand, rather than further dividing already highly utilized hardware.

Q6: Why might it be preferable to use dedicated physical hardware for running databases instead of virtualizing them?

Databases often require high levels of performance and fast, direct access to system resources such as CPU, memory, and storage. Virtualization introduces a layer of abstraction that can potentially introduce latency and reduce the direct access to these critical resources. For optimal database performance, especially in high-transaction environments, dedicated physical hardware can provide the necessary resource isolation and performance consistency.

Q7: What are some examples of software solutions mentioned for implementing virtualization?

The source mentions software solutions for virtualization offered by Oracle and Microsoft, as well as open-source alternatives. Specific product names are not provided, but these are examples of vendors and categories of software available for implementing virtualization.

Q8: What is a key factor to consider when choosing a virtualization software solution?

The source emphasizes that the best choice of virtualization software depends on an individual's specific environment and their technical skill set. This suggests that factors such as existing infrastructure, compatibility requirements, budget constraints, and the expertise of the IT staff should all be carefully considered when selecting a virtualization platform.