Seven reasons to use virtualization

http://www.aliyun.com/zixun/aggregation/13995.html > Server virtualization and Desktop virtualization use a software kernel called a hypervisor to run multiple operating systems on the same physical server hardware. Each operating system is independent and has the required dedicated resources.

Because businesses can buy modern servers with multiple processors, large amounts of memory, storage, and high-bandwidth network connections, each operating system has the same powerful computing power that a single server provides. Operating systems and applications rarely use all available resources, especially at the same time. As a result, more operating systems and applications can coexist in one hardware, resulting in better hardware utilization.

If your organization is still hesitant about using virtualization, you can consider these issues:

1. Virtualization makes the most effective use of server hardware

Many servers have a low utilization rate for most of the day. Adding multiple operating systems and applications can help you effectively leverage these expensive server resources. Because a server can run many virtual machines, organizations can significantly reduce the total cost of hardware.

2. Virtualization will better fault tolerance for the establishment of redundant servers

The management program runs the operating system and its applications migrate from one system to another. If a hardware server or operating system or application fails, these operating systems and applications can migrate to a management program running on a different physical server. Large servers generally have better fault tolerance than small servers. For example, two large servers have better application migration capabilities and better fault tolerance than more than 10 small servers, with less power consumption and easier management.

3. Simplified management

Since all operating systems in one hypervisor can be managed through a simple interface, and the system can get more computing resources as needed, it is easier to manage dozens of virtual servers than to manage more than 10 physical servers. Each operating system must be managed separately, but the available plug-ins can also simplify the process.

4. Partitioning applications to different operating systems for increased availability

In general, a physical server will run an operating system. The operating system will have multiple server applications, such as Web servers, e-mail servers, database servers, and so on. However, running multiple server applications on one operating system increases the likelihood that one application will interfere with another application, causing bottlenecks and even system crashes. By partitioning applications into different virtual machines, each application has its own operating system and resources, which reduces the interaction between applications.

5. Simplify the setup of new server prototype production, testing and migration

With virtualization, creating an additional server for testing takes only a few minutes and does not require any additional hardware. By contrast, buying a new physical server (or retaining an existing server for testing) is expensive, and installing the operating system and applications is time-consuming. Because existing virtual machines can use all operating system settings and application clones, replicating a production system for testing new patches or new versions of applications is a straightforward process.

6. Energy Saving

Although the server has taken a big step in saving energy, running one or two large servers is still cheaper than running more than 10 or more servers. With the latest servers, core pauses and other features allow resources to be shut down in the unused time, further reducing energy consumption. Large servers hosting more than 10 virtual machines may consume less power than smaller servers at low usage rates. Large servers can replace more than 10 small servers.

7. Virtual Desktop infrastructure can cost savings on PCs

In addition to virtualizing server operating systems and applications, you might want to consider virtualization desktops. The virtual Desktop infrastructure allows you to run a thin client or new thin client hardware on existing desktop hardware to access a virtual Windows 7 or other desktop operating system. This means that you can provide Windows 7 desktops to existing systems that do not support users running Windows 7 locally. Management is also simple because using patches to fix windows and application vulnerabilities takes only one time, and every system on this virtual desktop infrastructure works.

There is a reason why most enterprise data centers use virtualization extensively. This provides tempting cost-saving benefits in terms of hardware, energy use, and management costs, while also supporting good fault tolerance.