| Virtualisation is one of the technologies buzzing | | | | This can be useful to some companies who |
| around the IT industry that has been touted as | | | | previously may have had to have two servers - one |
| revolutionary towards the sector. However, many IT | | | | for Windows and one for Linux - because they run |
| managers still aren't too clear on what virtualisation is, | | | | different applications or software. However, they |
| how it works or why they should implement it within | | | | may not have been using either machine to full |
| their departments. | | | | capacity and therefore they were wasting resources |
| Virtualisation is the abstraction of computer resources | | | | and money. Using virtualisation you can consolidate |
| which has many forms; which is probably what | | | | costs and capacity onto one machine. |
| makes it so confusing. These forms include platform | | | | In addition, virtualisation enables cost effective scaling. |
| virtualisation, application virtualisation and storage | | | | It is possible that you could have several virtual |
| virtualisation to name just a few. | | | | machines across a couple of computers and only pay |
| Virtualisation technology uses virtual machines - or | | | | for the virtual machines you are using at any one |
| VMs - which is a software implementation of a | | | | time. As your web or application traffic scales you |
| computer that executes programmes like real | | | | can switch on more virtual machines to cope with |
| machines. What this means for platform virtualisation, | | | | demand, only paying for those switched on. The |
| for example, is that virtualisation separates the | | | | opposite is also true - if you find that you've gone |
| operating system from the underlying platform | | | | through a busy period and demand is slowly dying |
| resources. | | | | down you can instantly turn off the virtual machines |
| Why would you want to do this? It boils down to | | | | that are not needed saving valuable financial |
| more effective usage of your resources and this will | | | | resources. |
| ultimately save you money while also affording you a | | | | As well as the few practical uses touched on above, |
| greater flexibility of your computing resources. | | | | virtualisation has many practical uses. This technology |
| Effectively you are slicing your physical servers into | | | | and can be used by companies of all shapes and |
| separate virtual machines, which you can treat | | | | sizes, and can help them make the most of saving |
| differently - for example, you can have both | | | | money by running servers at full capacity - an |
| Microsoft Windows and Red Hat Linux on one | | | | excellent advantage, particularly during the current |
| machine. | | | | recession. |