Today, many organizations have implemented virtualization in allocating server hardware resources. So, what is virtualization? Virtualization is a software-based or virtual process that represents something—such as virtual applications, servers, storage, or network connections. Virtualization is one of the most effective ways to reduce IT costs while increasing efficiency for various types of businesses.
For example, imagine you have three physical servers, each with a specific purpose. The first server functions as a mail server, the second as a web server, and the third hosts internal applications. Each server operates at only 30% capacity. However, because the application server is critical for operations, you must maintain its performance and the physical server that hosts it.
Traditionally, it is easier to run individual tasks on individual servers—one server, one operating system, one task—rather than a single server running multiple tasks. With virtualization, you can separate the mail server into its own virtual instance so it can handle its task independently, allowing the internal application server to be migrated.
You can further divide the first server so it can run additional workloads, increasing utilization from 30% to 60% or even 90%. By doing this, the now-idle third server can be repurposed for other tasks or retired entirely to reduce workload and maintenance costs.
Why Is Virtualization Widely Adopted?
If you are considering why virtualization is the right decision for your organization or company—both economically and technologically—here are some key reasons:
Cost Savings
Virtualization reduces the number of physical servers you need to operate. This means lower hardware costs and reduced energy consumption. A single physical server can be divided into multiple virtual servers, each running its own independent workload.
Environmentally Friendly
Virtualization is considered a green technology. By reducing the amount of hardware required, energy consumption decreases significantly. This helps reduce the need for additional power generation, contributing to environmental sustainability.
Reduced Administrative Work
With virtualization, system administrators no longer need to support numerous physical machines. They can shift their focus from troubleshooting routine issues to more strategic tasks. This is why virtualization is widely used by cloud computing providers to allocate and manage physical hardware.
Improved Hardware Utilization
Virtualization significantly increases server hardware utilization. Each physical server can support multiple virtual machines, increasing utilization rates from around 15% to as high as 80%.
Easier System Installation
Most software vendors now deliver their products as preinstalled virtual machines. As a result, traditional installation methods are becoming less common.
Types of Virtualization
Currently, most virtualization implementations focus on server virtualization. The three main types of server virtualization are:
Operating System Virtualization (Containers)
This involves creating isolated representations of an existing operating system to run applications in specific environments. Each container reflects the OS version and patch level of the host system.
Hardware Emulation
This type replicates a computer’s hardware environment in software, allowing a single machine to run multiple operating systems.
Paravirtualization
A thin software layer coordinates access between multiple operating systems running on the same hardware.
How Virtualization Works
A software component called a hypervisor separates physical resources from virtual environments. A hypervisor can run on top of an operating system or be installed directly on the hardware, which is the approach most enterprises use. The hypervisor allocates physical resources and distributes them so virtual environments can utilize them.
Resources are partitioned from physical hardware into multiple virtual environments based on demand. Users interact with and perform computing tasks within these virtual environments. Virtual machines function as single data files—like most digital files, they can be moved between computers, opened, and shared.
How to Implement Virtualization
After evaluating virtualization and deciding to adopt it, the next step is implementation. A virtualization project generally follows these five steps:
Evaluate Current Server Workloads
Determine whether virtualization can benefit your organization and identify its potential impact.
Define System Architecture
Decide which type of virtualization to use and what workloads will be virtualized.
Choose Virtualization Software and Hosting Hardware
Carefully evaluate software capabilities to ensure they meet your requirements, and consider newly released products.
Migrate Existing Servers to the New Virtual Environment
Decide whether to use migration tools or perform manual migration. In either case, create a project plan to ensure all systems are covered.
Manage Your Virtualization Environment
Determine whether built-in virtualization management tools are sufficient or if more general system management tools are needed for monitoring.
Popular Virtualization Tool Providers
There are many vendors in the virtualization market, and product selection should be based on organizational needs. However, there are six major players commonly recognized:
VMware
VMware is the largest player in the virtualization industry, offering products such as VMware Server and ESX Server. Indonesian Cloud uses VMware to deliver high-performance, resource-efficient VMware Private Cloud services.
Xen
Although relatively new, Xen is popular due to its paravirtualization capabilities and is bundled with Linux.
XenSource
The commercial sponsor of Xen, XenSource provides enterprise extensions with a focus on Windows virtualization. XenSource has been acquired by Citrix.
OpenVZ
An open-source operating system virtualization platform available for Linux and Windows.
SWsoft
The commercial sponsor of OpenVZ, offering a commercial version known as Virtuozzo.
OpenSolaris
The open-source version of the Solaris operating system, providing OS-level virtualization and future support for Xen.
Before transitioning to virtualization, consult with Indonesian Cloud to assess your needs. With expertise in virtualization technologies, we offer high-performance, secure, and reliable public cloud services, as well as private cloud solutions tailored specifically for individual organizations to ensure optimal performance.
If you would like to read more technology-related articles or obtain further information about Indonesian Cloud products, please visit our website at Indonesiancloud.com and our VPS website cloudhostingaja.com. See you in our next article.