Virtualization in cloud computing refers to the process of creating virtual instances of hardware, operating systems, storage, or network resources to efficiently utilize and share physical resources among multiple users or applications. This technology enables the cloud to deliver scalable, cost-effective, and flexible computing solutions, empowering businesses to run diverse workloads on a shared infrastructure with improved resource allocation and management.
What is Virtualization – Definition | Microsoft Azure
Virtualization refers to the creation of a simulated or virtual computing environment rather than a physical one. It involves generating computer-based versions of hardware, operating systems, and storage devices. This enables organizations to divide a single physical computer or server into multiple virtual machines. Each virtual machine can operate independently, running different operating systems or applications, while sharing the resources of the host machine.
By leveraging virtualization, organizations can enhance scalability and workload management while reducing the need for numerous physical servers. This results in lower energy consumption, infrastructure costs, and maintenance requirements. There are four primary categories of virtualization. The first is desktop virtualization, which centralizes server-based delivery and management of individual desktops. Network virtualization, the second category, involves dividing network bandwidth into separate channels for specific servers or devices. Software virtualization, the third category, decouples applications from the underlying hardware and operating system. Finally, storage virtualization combines multiple network storage resources into a unified storage device accessible to multiple users.
Source: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/cloud-computing-dictionary/what-is-virtualization/
What is Virtualization? | IBM
Virtualization refers to the process of creating virtual versions or representations of various IT infrastructure components. It offers numerous benefits to IT managers and the overall enterprise. This text discusses different types of virtualization:
1. Desktop virtualization: This allows multiple desktop operating systems to run on the same computer, each in its own virtual machine (VM).
2. Network virtualization: By using software, network virtualization creates a simplified view of the network, enabling administrators to manage it from a single console. It abstracts hardware elements and functions, allowing modification and control without touching the physical components. Network virtualization includes software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV).
3. Storage virtualization: This technology allows all storage devices within a network, regardless of their physical location, to be accessed and managed as a single storage device. It simplifies storage provisioning for VMs and maximizes storage utilization.
4. Data virtualization: Enterprises often store data from multiple applications in various formats and locations. Data virtualization enables applications to access data from different sources and formats by creating a software layer that translates requests and returns results from multiple systems.
5. Application virtualization: Unlike desktop virtualization, application virtualization runs application software without directly installing it on the user’s operating system. It allows applications to run in a virtual environment while the user’s OS remains unchanged.
6. Data center virtualization: This abstracts most of a data center’s hardware into software, dividing it into virtual data centers for different clients. Each client can access their own infrastructure as a service (IaaS) on the same underlying physical hardware.
7. CPU virtualization: It enables a single CPU to be divided into multiple virtual CPUs, allowing multiple virtual machines to utilize a single physical CPU.
8. GPU virtualization: This technology allows multiple virtual machines to leverage the processing power of a single graphical processing unit (GPU), enhancing performance for graphic-intensive applications, artificial intelligence, and mathematical processing.
9. Linux virtualization: Linux offers its own hypervisor called Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) that supports virtualization processor extensions. It allows the creation of x86-based virtual machines within a Linux host OS.
10. Cloud virtualization: Cloud computing heavily relies on virtualization. By virtualizing servers, storage, and other resources, cloud service providers offer a range of services to customers.
These types of virtualization offer various advantages and play crucial roles in enhancing IT infrastructure and resource utilization.
Source: https://www.ibm.com/topics/virtualization
What’s the difference between cloud and virtualization?
Cloud and virtualization are often confused with each other due to their common goal of creating useful environments from abstract resources. However, they differ in their underlying technology and purpose. Virtualization refers to the creation of multiple simulated environments or dedicated resources from a single physical hardware system. On the other hand, a cloud is an IT environment that abstracts, pools, and shares scalable resources across a network.
Clouds are specifically designed to enable cloud computing, which involves running workloads within the cloud system. Cloud infrastructure can utilize various software technologies, including bare-metal, virtualization, or container software, to abstract, pool, and share resources across a network. At the core of cloud computing lies a stable operating system that provides users with independence across different environments.
Virtualization, when used alongside existing intranet or internet access, can create clouds, but it is not the only option. In virtualization, a software layer called a hypervisor sits on top of physical hardware and abstracts the machine’s resources. These resources are then made available to virtual environments known as virtual machines. These virtual machines can access raw processing power, storage, or cloud-based applications.
However, virtualization alone does not constitute a cloud. To transform virtual resources into clouds, they need to be allocated into centralized pools. The addition of management software allows administrative control over the infrastructure, platforms, applications, and data used in the cloud. This management layer replaces or reduces human interaction by providing repeatable instructions and processes, offering the self-service component of the cloud.
A cloud is considered to be established when an IT system is set up that:
Cloud computing offers several advantages over traditional virtualization, including self-service access, automated infrastructure scaling, and dynamic resource pools. These features distinguish cloud environments from conventional virtualization. However, virtualization itself has its own benefits, such as server consolidation and improved hardware utilization, which reduce power, space, and cooling requirements in datacenters. Additionally, virtual machines provide isolated environments suitable for testing new applications or setting up production environments.
Source: https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/cloud-computing/cloud-vs-virtualization
What is Virtualization in Cloud Computing and What Does it Entail?
Virtualization in cloud computing involves transforming physical hardware and resources into virtual copies that behave like their physical counterparts. It serves as a key component for building a cloud environment, which requires infrastructure, virtualization environments, container environments, and a cloud platform. Virtualization encompasses various types, including server virtualization, desktop virtualization, application virtualization, data virtualization, network virtualization, and storage virtualization.
Server virtualization allows multiple virtual machines or servers to run on a physical server through a hypervisor. Desktop virtualization decouples a user’s desktop environment and operating system from the physical client device, enabling access from any endpoint device. Application virtualization separates applications from the physical desktop, making them accessible from any endpoint device. Data virtualization retrieves and delivers data without the need to know its exact storage location. Network virtualization abstracts physical network resources into virtual networks. Storage virtualization combines multiple storage devices into a single virtual storage unit.
Virtualization offers several benefits. It reduces costs by consolidating physical servers into virtual ones, enabling significant savings on capital expenditure. It improves security by centralizing virtual desktops, applications, and data in a protected location, even if an endpoint device is compromised. Virtualization enables rapid and frequent testing, simplifies disaster recovery and business continuity by facilitating backups and replication of virtual components, and improves availability through redundancy and load balancing.
Parallels RAS is a virtualization solution that supports hosting virtual applications and desktops in on-premises data centers or public clouds, delivering them securely to any endpoint device. It provides features such as data encryption protocols, auto-scaling, and auto-provisioning, enhancing the inherent strengths of virtualization and cloud computing. Parallels RAS supports various cloud deployment models, including private, public, and hybrid, offering flexibility based on specific organizational needs and requirements.
Source: https://www.parallels.com/blogs/ras/what-is-virtualization-in-cloud-computing/
The six types of virtualization in cloud computing
Virtualization has become a mainstream practice in enterprise IT infrastructure, enabling businesses to run more efficiently and cost-effectively. It plays a significant role in digital transformation, allowing cloud providers and users to manage and distribute services effectively. Virtualization represents operating systems, applications, and data storage in a virtual form, making it easier for cloud providers to configure services based on customer needs and improve scalability and flexibility.
In cloud computing, virtualization enables providers to create virtual emulations of multiple products or services on a single machine, without compromising system efficiency. It helps reduce hardware resources, implement energy-saving techniques, and allows users to purchase computing resources according to their specific requirements. This ensures that users only subscribe to the necessary resources as their workload expands.
There are six types of virtualization that should be considered for implementing virtualization in IT infrastructure:
1. Storage virtualization: This involves merging multiple physical storage units into one storage cluster over a network, enabling scalable storage management without the need for physical facilities.
2. Network virtualization: It merges multiple networks into one, duplicates network resources, and facilitates interconnection between virtual machines. Virtual networks can be separated and deployed with unique configurations, allowing different users to run the same virtual network on a physical network without latency issues.
3. Application virtualization: It enables remote access to applications from a server, eliminating the need for installing applications on native devices. Users can access applications over the internet and choose between different versions of an application through hosted applications or packaged software.
4. Desktop virtualization: This type involves hosting end users’ operating systems on a server or data center, providing remote access to desktops from different machines. It offers flexibility, portability, user mobility, and simplifies software updates and patch management.
5. Data virtualization: It addresses the challenge of analyzing data from multiple sources by collectively analyzing data from different sources to enhance productivity. It centralizes data management and consolidates data stored in various sources into a single dataset.
6. Server virtualization: It helps organizations partition server resources for maximum utilization. Physical servers can be divided into multiple instances of virtual servers, each running as a standalone server. This enables scalability, efficient resource allocation, and cost savings without investing in physical servers.
Virtualization in cloud computing offers several benefits, including system resilience, protection against viruses and bugs, efficient data transfer between virtual devices and servers, and easy mobility of entire machines without physical infrastructure. It enhances efficiency, productivity, and cost-effectiveness in managing cloud environments.
For more in-depth exploration of virtualization, refer to a TechRepublic article that discusses the pros and cons of virtualization and offers advice on its implementation.
Source: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/cloud-computing-virtualization/
Virtualization in Cloud Computing – javatpoint
Virtualization in cloud computing refers to the creation of virtual versions of servers, desktops, storage devices, operating systems, or network resources. It allows for the sharing of a single physical resource or application among multiple customers and organizations by assigning a logical name to a physical storage and providing access to that resource when needed.
The concept behind virtualization involves creating a virtual machine that is separate from the underlying hardware and operating system. The host machine is where the virtual machine is created, and it is referred to as the guest machine.
There are different types of virtualization:
1) Hardware Virtualization: This involves installing virtual machine software directly on the hardware system, and a hypervisor is used to control and monitor the processor, memory, and other hardware resources. Different operating systems can be installed on the virtualized hardware system, allowing for the execution of various applications.
2) Operating System Virtualization: Here, the virtual machine software or virtual machine manager is installed on the host operating system rather than directly on the hardware. It is mainly used for testing applications on different operating system platforms.
3) Server Virtualization: This type of virtualization involves installing virtual machine software directly on the server system. It allows a single physical server to be divided into multiple virtual servers, enabling load balancing and scalability.
4) Storage Virtualization: Storage virtualization involves grouping physical storage from multiple network storage devices to create the perception of a single storage device. It is commonly implemented using software applications and is used for backup and recovery purposes.
In cloud computing, virtualization plays a crucial role by enabling users to share the infrastructure rather than just the data or applications. Cloud providers can use virtualization technology to provide standardized versions of applications to their users, avoiding the need to constantly update and maintain software. This is achieved by outsourcing the maintenance of servers and software applications to third-party providers, who charge fees on a monthly or annual basis.
In summary, virtualization in cloud computing allows for the running of multiple operating systems on a single machine while sharing hardware resources. It provides a pool of IT resources that can be shared among users, resulting in business benefits.
Source: https://www.javatpoint.com/virtualization-in-cloud-computing
Ultimate Guide to Understanding Virtualization
Virtualization is a method that allows for the efficient utilization of computer hardware resources by creating multiple virtual instances. It involves the use of a software hypervisor to distribute system elements such as storage, memory, and processors among secure virtual computers. Virtualization in cloud computing extends this concept on a large scale, enabling multiple users to share a single physical resource simultaneously. A virtual machine is a virtual representation of a physical device that can execute different operating systems. The hypervisor acts as a software layer that manages the interaction between virtual machines and hardware resources. It ensures proper access to resources and prevents interference between virtual machines. Various types of virtualization exist, including desktop, network, storage, application, GPU, and cloud virtualization. Each type has its own benefits and use cases. Virtualization offers advantages such as resource efficiency and easier management. To learn more about virtualization and related topics, you can refer to Simplilearn’s course on the subject.
Source: https://www.simplilearn.com/virtualization-in-cloud-computing-article
13 Important Benefits of Virtualization in Cloud Computing
Virtualization in cloud computing has gained popularity due to its numerous advantages. By creating virtual versions of physical resources such as storage devices, servers, and desktops, companies can reduce costs and enhance performance. Here are the key benefits of virtualization in cloud computing:
1. Protection From System Failures: Virtualization ensures data backup across multiple devices, safeguarding against system failures and preventing loss of progress.
2. Hassle-Free Data Transfers: Virtualization simplifies data transfer between physical servers and virtual clouds, making it efficient and effortless.
3. Firewall and Security Support: Virtualization enables the implementation of virtual firewalls, providing cost-effective data security measures.
4. Smoother IT Operations: Virtual networks are faster, easier to operate, and minimize downtime, enhancing the efficiency of IT professionals.
5. Cost-Effective Strategies: Virtualization reduces operational costs by eliminating the need for multiple physical servers, saving on maintenance, electrical fees, and server space.
6. Efficient Disaster Recovery: Virtualization ensures easy data recovery and duplication, simplifying the recovery process in case of system issues.
7. Quick and Easy Set-Up: Setting up a virtual system in the cloud is a straightforward and time-saving process compared to physical servers.
8. Easy Cloud Migration: Migrating from physical servers to a virtual cloud system is simple and cost-effective, reducing power, cooling, and maintenance expenses.
9. Reduced Downtime: Virtualization allows for quick system replication or cloning, minimizing downtime in case of server issues.
10. Energy Savings: By replacing physical servers, virtualization cuts down on maintenance, power, and energy costs, promoting energy efficiency and waste management.
11. Increased Efficiency and Productivity: With fewer servers to manage, IT teams can focus on core tasks instead of infrastructure maintenance, boosting productivity.
12. Streamlined Processing and Operations: Virtualization centralizes resources, simplifying system maintenance, repair, software installation, and patching.
13. Control Independence and DevOps: Virtualization enables easy cloning and testing of virtual machines, facilitating independent development and seamless integration into production systems.
Despite these benefits, there are some disadvantages to consider:
1. Data Vulnerability: Virtualization on third-party resources can expose data to cyber threats if proper security measures are not in place.
2. Learning New Infrastructure: Shifting from physical to virtual servers requires learning new technologies, potentially necessitating the hiring of cloud computing experts.
3. High Initial Investment: While virtualization reduces costs in the long run, the initial investment for a cloud-based system can be expensive, requiring careful consideration and assessment of needed services.
In conclusion, virtualization in cloud computing offers significant advantages, including system protection, cost savings, streamlined operations, and enhanced productivity. However, organizations should also be aware of potential data risks, the learning curve involved, and the initial investment required.
Source: https://www.knowledgehut.com/blog/cloud-computing/benefits-of-virtualization-in-cloud-computing
What is Virtualization in Cloud Computing?
Virtualization in Cloud Computing is a technology that enables the creation of virtual resources such as servers, networks, and storage in the cloud. It allows users to leverage these virtual resources without having to worry about physical infrastructure. Virtualization helps startups, SaaS products, and side projects to rapidly develop and release applications by simplifying infrastructure management. It allows for efficient resource utilization, secure access control, and resource sharing among multiple applications.
The main concept behind virtualization is the Hypervisor, which partitions the hardware resources on a physical machine and runs virtual machines (VMs). The VMs function as digital files that can be moved between systems, increasing portability. Hypervisors can provision VMs to users and handle requests for extra resources.
Virtualization in cloud computing involves multiple layers of virtualization, including hardware/physical, network, storage, and application virtualization. The interaction begins with users requesting virtual resources through cloud software, which is then processed by the hypervisor. This simplified interaction enables users to set up their infrastructure quickly and easily.
The architecture of virtualization involves replacing the operating system with the hypervisor, which creates virtual machines with dedicated resources for applications. This architecture allows for efficient resource utilization and provides an isolated environment for applications.
Some characteristics of virtualization include managed resources, simplified resource allotment, resource isolation, load balancing, and portability. Managed resources relieve users from maintaining underlying hardware and configuration. Resource allotment is straightforward, allowing users to customize their infrastructure easily. Resource isolation ensures dedicated environments for applications, preventing data breaches. Load balancing distributes incoming requests to appropriate servers, enhancing performance. Portability allows for the copying and movement of virtual resources, reducing configuration repetition.
Types of virtualization in cloud computing include server virtualization, network virtualization, storage virtualization, and desktop virtualization. Server virtualization divides physical machine resources into virtual machines, network virtualization integrates and manages networking configurations, storage virtualization provides virtual storage for various data types, and desktop virtualization simulates user machines to enable remote access.
Virtualization in the cloud offers several advantages, including reduced cost, increased uptime through backup resources, increased security with multiple layers of protection, flexible resource provisioning, easy setup and migration, and more. However, there are also disadvantages such as data privacy concerns, a learning curve for mastering virtualization technology, increased risk of overbilling, and possibilities of vendor locking.
Virtualization plays a significant role in cloud computing by enabling efficient resource sharing and reducing the overhead of infrastructure. It has revolutionized software development and operations by eliminating the need for physical servers and reducing capital investment. Important terminologies associated with virtualization include virtual machine (VM), hypervisor, virtualization software, and virtual networking.
Mastering virtualization technology in cloud computing can be a valuable skill for career advancement.
Source: https://www.knowledgehut.com/blog/cloud-computing/virtualization-in-cloud-computing
