Virtualization is one of the key concepts in contemporary information technologies and technologies in general. It is the act of developing an electronic replica of the physical hardware system for effectively and securely executing sundry software programs on common hardware platforms. This has changed the approach to technology, because virtualization provides ways and means for users to control data, applications and computing environments in a more efficient manner.
Virtualization Tools and Their Uses
In today’s environment virtualization is a fundamental aspect in ICT technology. These tools support this process of virtualization and can help the organizations achieve the goal of making efficient use of their IT population. We can classify virtualization tools in three different categories, such as virtual machine monitors, hypervisors and virtual infrastructure management platforms. Within the framework of this article, the authors are going to provide the reader with brief information on some of the most successful virtualization tools and ways their usage could be useful for an ordinary user and a company, respectively.
1. VMware vSphere
vSphere is a type of virtualization software used by many largest enterprises that allows creating virtual machines (VM’s). vSphere is consist of vCenter Server, ESXi and vSphere Client which helps in creating, managing and optimizing of virtual infrastructures.
Also, vSphere one of the strengths, which can be noted, is the support calculations of high performance computing that have to be used in the work with intensive applications. Lastly, it is also possible to mention that vSphere offers such spectacular opportunities in terms of storage and network configurations as well as possible protocols.
2. Microsoft Hyper-V
Microsoft Hyper-V is hypervisor that is integrated into the Windows Server operating systems. You get a complete set of all the tools to create and manage virtual machines through Live Migrations, Clusters and so forth, by utilizing the Hyper-V role. Windows, Linux and other Unix-based operating systems are supported by this software.
– It provides enhanced security: – It provides isolation of guest OSs from other systems and as such provides improved protection of the OSs. Furthermore, Microsoft 365 is easily connected to other Microsoft solutions, such as System Center and Azure, which is a decisive factor for a company to choose solutions that work well together with Microsoft.
3. Citrix Hypervisor
Citrix Hypervisor is the updated version of XenServer, built on open-source and is an optimum solution for virtualization with a lightweight interface. Reliable, secure with fast performance. Based on the Xen Project hypervisor, the original is known to be.
Citrix Hypervisor is highly beneficial for the organizations, which have to work with numerous quantities of VMs or operate numerous different OSs on one physical server. It also provides some of other features including live migration, high availability and protocol of storage.
4. Oracle VM VirtualBox
Oracle VM VirtualBox is virtualization free that works for Windows and Mac computers. As with many open-source platforms its main charm lies in its simplistic design, cost effectiveness, and active community. VirtualBox operates with different operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and Mac operating system.
Otherwise, one of the more defining characteristic of VirtualBox is that creating and managing VMs is extremely easy. Moreover, it presents all the networking features like different network modes and network adapters.
5. RHEV which is Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization is one of the important products of Red Hat
Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization built and operates on Linux-based virtualization software that includes hypervisors plus management applications. RHEV was developed on top of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux foundation that provides native integration with other red Hat products.
Another nice feature RHEV offers is for companies that need highly sophisticated IT environments like live virtual machine migration, cluster virtual machines and High Availability. With enhanced storage management functions, users can now tweak the storage systems and make better resource utilization.
Virtualization Tools: Key Considerations
There are some factors that determine the choice of right virtualization tool in an organization based on its needs. These include:
1. Hardware compatibility: Find if the tool you are choosing can support the current hardware platforms you are using in order to avoid having to replace your hardware or buy new hardware.
2. Scalability: Select a virtualization tool that can be expanded with the increase of your organization’s demands and provide the options to upgrade it.
3. Cost: Virtualization tools available can be either open source, of which they are many, or they can be very expensive tools in the enterprises level. You need to think through your perspective in terms of what you are willing to spend and how the tool will help achieve organisational goals.
4. Support and community: Having a large and dedicated user/fan base for your virtualization tool greatly improves your satisfaction with it as well as technical support. Look for those tools that have a large user base and those with a healthy help desk staff.
5. Compatibility with existing infrastructure: In these regards you should strive to purchase a virtualization tool which is compatible with your actual IT platform, OS as well as networks and applications.
6. Security: Virtualization tools should be equipped with additional secured measures to confine your data and applications. Consider what features these certain tools have that secure them in a different degree like encryption, access control, or network separation.
Moreover, virtualization tools have become crucial to utilizing technology in the most effective manner possible for all users of IT resources as well as to computing environment optimization. If an organization achieves success in identifying an appropriate virtualization tool, then the position of performance increases, cost decreases, and security fortification will be available. Some of the tools that are available include VMware vSparse, Oracle VM VirtualBox among others and like we said before, each tool is designed to serve a particular user whether an individual user or an entire organization. Select the tool that you need most to get your IT infrastructure fully virtualized.
