Virtualization Technologies Are a Must For Businesses That Rely on Their Servers

There are a number of Virtualization technologiesservers; Dell has "DRAC" and HP has iLo that will
on the market. The two most interesting from ado this on the hardware, but at an additional cost.
business perspective are desktop virtualization andAlso, VM's with boot problems can be repaired by
Server virtualization. Desktop virtualization isattaching their virtual file systems to other virtual
where a server keeps the applications but theyservers. This is not easily done with iLo or DRAC,
appear on the local users desktop. This is whatespecially not remotely.
Citrix Metaphrame (now renamed to Xen App)Virtual Machines sound good so far, but
does. The other virtualization technology importantexperienced System Administrators will be
to Business is Server Virtualization.skeptical about putting all of there servers onto
The virtualization technology discussed here isone machine and with good reason. "Don't put all
"Server Virtualization". In this type of virtualizationyour eggs in one basket" is a motto to live by in
the servers physical hardware appears to workthe IT world. Virtualization technology is mature
as many servers. These many servers are calledenough to handle this issue.
virtual machines or VM's; this appearance is doneA good virtual server design includes fail over. If
through virtualization software, referred to as theone server is needed two are implemented. If
"hypervisor". Stated another way. The hypervisorone should fail, the virtual servers are started on
is software that runs on the hardware and itthe alternate machine. Thus, ones systems are
controls the VM's. It makes each VM think it is asafe in case of a hardware failure. This type of
fully functioning computer with full control of thedesign is far superior to the current scenario in
hardware, when in fact, it is just one of severalmany small and medium sized IT shops where if
sharing the hardware.a server fails, that service is down until repairs or
The operating system on each virtual machine,replacements occur.
usually Windows Server or Linux, sees itself asVirtualization brings disaster recovery within reach
fully controlling the hardware. The hypervisor letsof many small shops too! Similarly to the fail over
the VM's share the hardware. In most casesscenario above, the virtual servers can be
many VM's can run on the hardware withoutcontinuously copied to a backup site and when the
taxing its processing capabilities. Thus we eliminatemain site fails the backup site can come up
the need for buying new hardware when weautomatically.
need more servers. We just create move VM'sHow does this IT "stuff" relate to business? The
on our existing hardware. This saves energy,answers are in system reliability and productivity.
money and management time. These aren't theThis technology increases reliability thus staff is
only benefits.less likely to be sitting idle because they can't
VM's can be easily saved as templates. If aaccess their data. Reliability has a direct impact on
disaster strikes the virtual machine (VM), forproductivity. Additionally, when designed properly
instance, rather than taking the server offline, it'sthese technologies can minimize the risk of lost
easy to power up a copy of the virtual machinedata or services during a disaster; this loss can be
from the template and the service is restored.disastrous! Also, when systems are up and
The damaged VM can then be debugged, repairedworking properly it makes the organization appear
or deleted.more professional and reliable as compared to
Virtualized servers allow the Administrator to shutthose companies where the staff complain that
down and restart a server remotely and seetheir computers are slow or down.
what's happening during boot up. If there is a bootGiven the current state of the art of virtualization
problem with a server the administrator cantechnology and its benefits all companies who
diagnose and repair it remotely. This is generallydepend on their IT infrastructure should seriously
not possible without additional hardware on mostconsider implementing virtualization.