Although it is not well known to the general public, virtualization technology is widely used in technical environments for being useful when carrying out multiple tasks and for the possibilities it offers for better resource usage.
Virtualization technology software is increasingly used by professionals in the sector, having already become an essential tool for the work of many of them. In this article, we are going to find out what virtualization is and we will discover some of the most common uses it is usually given. Let’s begin!
What is virtualization technology?
We know virtualization technology as the creation, through software, of the virtual version of an environment or technological resource. Let’s take a better look at this definition through an example.
A virtualization software can allow you to create several “virtual computers” (for example 3) within one. Thus, the software will create the “illusion” of generating 3 different computers, each one with its own operating system and its own resources.
Does this mean that with this software you will be able to multiply by 3 the capacity of your computer? Not really. The actual capacity will stay the same, but its functions will get divided into 3, allowing you to obtain multiple advantages, such as using different operating systems on the same computer.
How does virtualization technology work?
In order to carry out virtualization, the VMM (Virtual Machine Monitor), also called Hypervisor, generates a abstraction layer between the hardware and the operating system of the virtual machine, in such a way that it divides and manages the hardware resources between the number of virtual machines that you wish to use.
So, each of the virtual machines can be used to carry out different tasks, and even, as we said, different operating systems can be used. Another interesting question is that the attributions of virtual machines might be fixed (so that the resources devoted to each of them stay always the same) or they might be variable (so that the tool will distribute the resources among each of the virtual machines depending on the existing needs).
However, this example we are talking about only gives a glimpse of a small part of the many tasks that virtualization technology is used for today. Let us take a close look at a few of them.
5 examples of virtualization technology
For the last few years, and as “cloud” services have become more popular, virtualization has grown to become the widely used tool that it is today.
Today, virtualization technology is used to carry out multiple functions. Let’s see some of the most common ones.
Application virtualization
Widely used in recent years, hand in hand with the concept known as SaaS (Software as a Service). Application virtualization allows the user to use software that is not installed on their computer. Therefore, and on demand, the software provider’s server supplies the user with a package that saves the settings and the environment necessary to run the software, so that they can use it without having to carry out a complete download.
Desktop virtualization
It has also become a very popular application, widely used in work environments. Thanks to it, a virtual desktop that is not stored on the user’s computer, but on the servers of the service provider is created. So, each time a user is accessing their virtual desktop, the programs, applications, data, etc., will be hosted on said servers, which will offer multiple possibilities to the user, for example allowing the use of the desktop on different devices and from multiple locations.
Server virtualization
It is common for both companies and service providers. Server virtualization divides these into a series of virtual servers, which offers advantages such as cost savings or the automation of some tasks.
Thus, many companies use virtual servers instead of physical servers, generally for economic reasons, but also for other reasons such as higher service stability.
Storage virtualization
Although in other types of virtualization the common practice is to divide a physical resource into different virtual resources, this does not mean that virtualization always follows that direction. An example of the opposite is usually found in storage virtualization.
In this type of virtualization, it is common practice to centralize the information in a single hypervisor where you may access all the data, regardless of whether it is stored in different places and media, making management easier and improving availability and speed.
Network virtualization
This is the form of virtualization that uses the physical resources of a network in order to create different virtual networks that work independently and separately from each other.
Network virtualization has also been widely used for years, especially for compatibility and security reasons.
And so far we have seen what virtualization technology is and what some of the most frequent uses that it is usually given are. You have to bear in mind, in any case, that these are only some general outlines, since virtualization can be very heterogeneous and complex. And, of course, on many occasions it will make a lot of sense to monitor it, which leads us to Pandora FMS. Don’t you know what it is yet?
Pandora FMS is a flexible monitoring software, capable of monitoring devices, infrastructures, applications, services and business processes.
And, of course, one of the things that Pandora FMS is capable of monitoring are virtual environments. Do you want to find out more? Go here.
If you have to monitor more than 100 devices, you may also enjoy a FREE 30-day Pandora FMS Enterprise TRIAL.
Dimas P.L., de la lejana y exótica Vega Baja, CasiMurcia, periodista, redactor, taumaturgo del contenido y campeón de espantar palomas en los parques. Actualmente resido en Madrid donde trabajo como paladín de la comunicación en Pandora FMS y periodista freelance cultural en cualquier medio que se ofrezca. También me vuelvo loco escribiendo y recitando por los círculos poéticos más profundos y oscuros de la ciudad.
Dimas P.L., from the distant and exotic Vega Baja, CasiMurcia, journalist, editor, thaumaturgist of content and champion of scaring pigeons in parks. I currently live in Madrid where I work as a communication champion in Pandora FMS and as a freelance cultural journalist in any media offered. I also go crazy writing and reciting in the deepest and darkest poetic circles of the city.
