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