| Virtualization is the latest technology to revolutionize | | | | easily managed in order to service hardware and shift |
| IT, data centers, and nearly all computing operations. | | | | loads when a network device fails. This dynamic and |
| The wide range of virtualization solutions has created | | | | robust setup helps to ensure stable data center |
| new opportunities for efficient information technology | | | | networks. |
| operations that any company can access and afford. | | | | Virtual Software and Applications |
| When it comes to data center virtualization, there are | | | | A large portion of virtualization solutions' cost savings |
| many services and procedures available to streamline | | | | can come from using virtual software. A central |
| any or all parts of data center management. | | | | server hosts all the necessary software and |
| Nearly any IT component or procedure can be made | | | | applications and then distributes them to terminals as |
| virtual. Data storage itself can be optimized with | | | | they are needed. Each user's terminal provides the |
| virtual drive utilization. Networks can be set up and | | | | processing power and memory, but the installed files |
| managed with virtual partitions and connections to | | | | remain on the host computer. In doing so, costly, |
| streamline communications and wiring. Applications and | | | | redundant application installations can be avoided, and |
| software can be distributed from a central server to | | | | scaling up the number of terminals that need to run a |
| end user terminals. Even hardware can be made | | | | given application becomes turnkey. |
| virtual by parceling out centralized processing power | | | | Making Hardware Virtual |
| on demand. Operating systems themselves can be | | | | On the other hand, virtualization solutions can take |
| made virtual, turning access terminals into full-fledged | | | | the form of virtual hardware as well. Instead of |
| computers. | | | | having each terminal as a fully-fledged computer, |
| Virtualization and Data Storage | | | | complete with processor and memory, terminals can |
| Optimizing data storage with virtualization solutions | | | | consist of a mouse, keyboard, and monitor. The |
| breaks down into two main methods. First, block | | | | required processor power is assigned from an |
| virtualization enables distributed storage networks to | | | | efficient, high power computer or server on an |
| appear to be a single physical device. Data center | | | | as-needed basis. Every data center operation would |
| virtualization, in this respect, would consist of | | | | be dynamically allocated CPU power, ensuring that |
| information that is mapped to remote drives instead | | | | computing resources are used efficiently without |
| of local hard drives. This scheme creates individual, | | | | waste. |
| virtual hard drives for each user that are all located | | | | Operating Systems |
| on a network drive but appear to, and function as, a | | | | Combining hardware, software, and operating system |
| typical hard drive. Data is then connected with a | | | | virtualization can create comprehensive virtualization |
| central source instead of disparate local drives, | | | | solutions. Data center access terminals, instead of |
| increasing data storage efficiency without sacrificing | | | | being a complete computer, could instead be a set of |
| accessibility. | | | | input devices with all the required components being |
| File virtualization solutions are geared towards | | | | distributed from a central, high efficiency central |
| providing flexibility for both users and networks. | | | | server. Each terminal would only use the resources it |
| Typically, workers manipulate files directly, navigating | | | | needed without having to have dedicated hardware |
| to a specific drive in order to open, move, or rename | | | | and software, which is often redundant. |
| files. Making this process virtual occurs by having | | | | Operating system virtualization follows the same idea |
| users access a pointer to necessary files. This results | | | | as remote application hosting. Instead of providing a |
| in the same functionality as before, but offers the | | | | suite of software, the operating system itself is |
| ability to manage the files on a drive, move them, | | | | made available to an end user. Each operating system |
| perform maintenance on the drive, or migrate to a | | | | is a self-contained version of common OS's. |
| new system and only have to update a global | | | | Ultimately, full virtualization services can radically |
| pointer. These changes can occur behind the scene | | | | transform data centers. Be removing hardware |
| without the need for each user to update their drive | | | | requirements and the associated capital investment |
| mappings. | | | | and lead time, entire systems can be dynamically |
| Flexible Virtual Networks | | | | scaled to meet specific needs. IT implementations |
| Wiring data center networks that are capable of | | | | can be leveraged for efficient operation without |
| handling new users easily while being reliable can be | | | | wasting resources. Overall, data center virtualization |
| achieved through network virtualization. Each network | | | | solutions make cost efficient, cutting edge |
| can be separated into individual smaller networks, | | | | technology more readily available to businesses of all |
| enabling a single Ethernet port to handle multiple | | | | sizes in any industry. |
| virtual connections. These connections can be more | | | | |