| Take a computer, any computer and do stuff with | | | | surf the web with no virus or spy ware software to |
| software so that to people it appears to work as | | | | protect you and when you get slammered or 300 |
| more than one computer. That's virtualization. | | | | windows pop up trying to sell you via... (well you |
| What's so great about that? ( What I'm about to say | | | | know what I'm talking about) who cares? Just erase |
| next might sound very boring, but really it affects | | | | the infected copy and run a new copy. There's an |
| you personally. I'm mean it. No joke!) (I'll talk about | | | | even easier way called Snapshots that I'm not even |
| company computer issues a bit as they relate to | | | | going to tell you about! |
| YOU and then tell you the good news about your | | | | Want to protect yourself should your computer fail? |
| workstation or home PC! ) | | | | Copy a VM to a usb drive. When your computer fails |
| Well when companies need a new computer service | | | | plug the drive into any computer, run the V software |
| ( that's email, database, accounting package, website, | | | | and your computer is back. Ok I could go on and on |
| you name it) they tend to buy a new computer to | | | | about this stuff, but I can hear the eyes starting to |
| put it on. As companies grow, hey they may have | | | | role squish, squish ( that's kinda gross people!) so I'll |
| 10, 20, 1000 or more computers. What's wrong with | | | | end it here except to give you recommendations on |
| that? | | | | how to play with this stuff and get your feet wet |
| It makes a company look bad when one of those | | | | for free. |
| computers breaks. Don't you love hearing "Sorry, our | | | | Free is Good! |
| computers are down at the moment, can you call | | | | Hey wouldn't you know it, there's a company called |
| back tomorrow?" Of course not. Virtualization solves | | | | VMware and they give away free virtualization |
| this issue ( I'll tell you how later.) | | | | software. They also give away free VM's |
| Think of all the wasted electricity! Those computers | | | | Here's the player. |
| use electricity and they generate heat so you need | | | | It's what you should start with because it's easy. It |
| to air condition the rooms that they are in to counter | | | | just works. Remember it plays the thing called a VM. |
| the heat. Ok well put all of those services onto one | | | | You have to download that too. ( Minnie explanation |
| computer. That's not a good idea either. Remember | | | | analogy ( Stan. Don't confuse them. Don't confuse |
| above how when one computer out of 10 or 20 or | | | | them....). The idea of a V and a VM is just like writing |
| 1000 breaks it is a big deal? If all of your stuff is on | | | | or reading a document in MS Word ( or insert your |
| one computer and it breaks then the company can't | | | | favorite word processor here for this analogy). Well |
| do any work at all! | | | | to actually do stuff with Word you need to either |
| Have you ever wondered, wouldn't it be nice to be | | | | write something in Word or open something |
| able to copy my computer completely and if anything | | | | someone else wrote.) The V is like Word and the VM |
| went wrong put it back the way it was quickly ( | | | | is the thing you have to either make or get one |
| within seconds not hours or days)? ( Ok backup | | | | someone else made. (Perhaps I've stirred the pot of |
| programs copy stuff off of the computer and they | | | | confusion and you can no longer even spell VM, well |
| can put it back but they don't do it quickly and if the | | | | take heart. There are pictures below to stare at. N |
| computer software is wrecked how do you get the | | | | joy!) |
| backup program to work?) | | | | Here's the VM's you can download. VMware calls |
| Ta Da . | | | | them Appliances. Way to make things clear! |
| Virtualization ( kinda rolls off the tongue doesn't it?) | | | | Well that about does it except that it would be nice |
| solves the problems above. ( OK I'm going to call it V | | | | to have a screen shot of what to expect. |
| 'cause it doesn't sound as complicated as | | | | Here's what VMware Player looks like: |
| virtualization, and there was a really cool sci fi show | | | | ( I've removed the pics because pics can cause |
| where aliens ate mice called... never mind.) | | | | security problems. I know I won't infect you with a |
| First take a computer and put the V software on it. | | | | nasty but you don't! To see the images you'll need to |
| This software lets you "create" these things called | | | | close your eyes and imagine them as they are on my |
| VM's that act just like computers. You can run these | | | | computer, in real 4D. While your eyes are closed |
| things (VM's that is) all at the same time. Each of | | | | continue reading the rest of the article. ) |
| these things can have Windows on it. So you can | | | | Now I've downloaded Ubuntu which is that Linuxy |
| have one computer running more than one copy of | | | | thing I wasn't going to talk about, so we're going to |
| Windows at the same time. ( I'm not going to | | | | use our imaginations and pretend it says Windows. |
| mention Linux so you don't get confused...oops!) Well | | | | Can we do that please? ( If you have no imagination |
| if it's running more than one copy of Windows it | | | | I will help you. See the very last picture.) |
| kinda appears to be more than one computer. | | | | Well what's so special about the picture below? |
| That's great, but you read the previous paragraphs, | | | | Notice that it's a window, obviously running on my |
| putting everything on one computer is BAD. | | | | Windows XP workstaton ( See my name on the |
| You're right. So you get another computer. You put | | | | Start button, Isn't that just the nerdiest thing you've |
| the same V software on it. And, here's the cool part | | | | ever seen? For those of you with no imagination, it |
| ( drum role please.) it will monitor the other computer | | | | has my name on it instead of the word "Start".) |
| and if the other computer BREAKS, it will start up | | | | Inside the window is what looks like the screen of |
| the VM's and your company keeps working. | | | | another computer. The V software ( Here's the quiz |
| We're green because we're making two computers | | | | at the end of my lesson: what do you think the V |
| doing the work of twenty! ( Is there a downside? | | | | software that we're using is called? VMware Player is |
| Sounds to good to be true. You're not selling snake | | | | the answer.) VMware Player is running another |
| oil are you? Will it run REEEEALLLLY | | | | system. That system could be Windows XP or Vista |
| SLOOOOOWLY?) | | | | or anything else that works on a PC. Now the kicker |
| Actually if you look at how hard the Brain of the | | | | is that anything bad that happens to that system, |
| computer is working ( processor for those of you in | | | | doesn't happen to your computer. We can imagine it |
| the advanced class) on an average computer, it's | | | | being confined to that system. That system doesn't |
| barely doing anything. Look at the same Brain on a V | | | | know it's a VM. It thinks it's got the computer all to |
| computer and it's not working much harder. Modern 4 | | | | itself! (A puzzle inside of a riddle inside of a Rubic |
| processor and 8 processor ( oops I meant Brain) | | | | cube!) |
| computers can be doing much more work than is | | | | (pic removed for your safety.) |
| sent to them. So doing the V thing well it's a no | | | | I think my High School english teacher would be mad |
| brainer ( ha ha ha). | | | | if I just ended it with a "The End". I mean this isn't a |
| Ok so here's how to make life easy for System | | | | movie. A proper essay must have concluding |
| Engineers and people who want to try their hand at | | | | information to summarize that which has been |
| V at home. (The following can be done for your | | | | stated... (THE END) |
| home PC, work PC or company Server. ) | | | | Windows XP: Use your imagination |
| Tons of copies. When you make a VM you can | | | | (Pic wasn't worth seeing anyways but removed for |
| make a whole bunch of copies of it. So now you can | | | | your safety! |