WHAT IS SERVER VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY ?

      The term virtualization gets bandied about a great deal in the world of business, but what does that term really mean? The term virtualization is used to refer to a number of different technologies, but it is most commonly associated with servers and server technology.

In its simplest terms, virtualization means disconnecting, or decoupling, the software used on that server from the hardware itself. For servers, that means that the same hardware can be used to host a number of different servers, regardless of the type of software each one is running.

That means that the same physical piece of hardware can be used to host a server running Windows, another running Linux, another running OS/2 and so on. Since the software is no longer dependent on the hardware platform, a number of different software environmenets can share the same physical box.

      So with virtual server technology, you could have a single blade system running three separate Windows servers, two different Linux systems and so on. Since these server environments are virtualized, they can all run on the same blade server.

This approach helps companies save money on hardware, since the physical hardware is often the most expensive part of running a web or application server. Instead of each server running on its own dedicated hardware, several different servers can share the same environment, allowing companies to cut costs and reduce the complexity of managing their computer systems. Fewer servers means less need for costly support and maintenance, providing yet another cost savings for cash strapped companies.

Virtual Machines 

    The term virtual machine is often used in conjunction with virtual server technology. In essence, the virtual machine is the server environment that is running on a particular piece of hardware. So each Windows and Linux server running on that blade system is a separate virtual machine.

The virtualization process works by placing a thin layer over top of the physical server. That thin layer is used to partition the sever into distinct areas, with each area dedicated to a single virtual machine. The computing resources on the server are shared among all those virtual machines, allowing them to take advantage of the power available without needing to dedicate the entire piece of hardware to a single software process.

Separate Entities 

     One of the advantages of virtual server technology is that each vitual machine is its own separate entity. That means that a problem with an application or piece of software on one virtual machine will have no impact on the remaining virtual machines, even though all those other servers are running on the same piece of hardware. That strict separation of resources allows companies to run multiple servers on the same hardware, without fear that a problem with one system will bring the entire company to its knees.

     Server virtualization technology has been gaining traction in recent years, and it is only expected to grow in popularity as companies everywhere look for ways to get more done with fewer resources. By harnessing the power of a single piece of hardware to perform multiple tasks, companies can slash their hardware budgets without risking their critical systems or impacting their operations.