Updated June 2, 2023
What is Server Virtualization?
Server Virtualization can be described as a process of creating and implementing multiple copies of one physical server into several virtual servers, which is used for imitating the actual server in all the virtual servers and the performance of the virtual servers are the same as the original server. It is important to keep the virtual servers in synchronization with the one physical server. This method is used for a few special purposes, like for the purpose of consolidating the physical servers, for the purpose of data recovery in the case of data lost from the databases, and for the purpose of virtualizing the web servers.
How does Server Virtualization Work?
It is done by separating the software from the hardware, this is done using a software component called a hypervisor.
Hypervisor are of different kinds which are available in the market.
- Type 1 Hypervisor: This is the most commonly used hypervisor it is directly placed on the server, and from there it performs the partition work. That is the reason it is said a bare-meta-hypervisor.
- Type 2 Hypervisor: This type of hypervisor is most often used with the software with the operating system.
This hypervisor is generally used for testing servers or lab servers.
The virtualization work is done using the following steps:
- First, an organization that wants to virtualize its servers must identify which server is not used to its full capacity, the server is not used to its full capacity are the best candidate for server visualization so, virtualization helps to utilize those unused resources of the server and re utilize for other works.
- Once the server is identified then the organization should monitor the resource usage of the server. The resource includes the memory, disk usage, and the different kind of loads which needs to be monitor thoroughly before implementing the virtualization.
- Once that part is completed then the user can deploy the virtualization software to create a partition of the server. Any software such as Microsoft Hyper V or VMware etc. The selection of the software depends on the server and it is physical (hardware) configuration.
- Once the partitioning or rather the virtualization is completed then the server needs to be monitored again for the resource usage and performance after the migration.
Usage of Server Virtualization
The various usage of the server virtualization are as follows:
1. Consolidating the Physical Server
- Virtualization for the server helps in consolidating the server which means 1 single physical server can act as multiple servers due to partitioning and each partition can carter multiple clients with different needs.
- So, to maintain the hardware of the 1 physical server the company will not require much cost, compared to that of multiple servers.
- So basically, it helps in cost-cutting and proper management of the IT infrastructure
2. Data Redundancy
- If an organization uses virtualization and copy, their data in multiple partitions then it helps them to keep their data safe. If one partition is lost or if the data in one partition gets deleted, they can still recover it is using the other partition.
3. Usage of Virtualization as a Web Server
- To get a web server to host a website is a costly task, virtualization can help in this if a server is virtualized then a dedicated part of the server can work as a web hosting platform for the website.
- If multiple partitioned is done then it can host multiple websites all with different requirements, such as different resource configurations, operating systems and we can customize the partition as per the requirement of the website.
Advantages
Given below are the advantages mentioned:
- Less use of physical and costly resources since virtualization helps in sharing and distributing limited resources.
- If we do virtualization, we are basically performing a live migration of data with the help of software
- Virtualization also helps in reducing the use of physical devices.
- The virtualized partition of the server can run its own software and OS independent of the other partition and the actual physical server.
- This helps in reducing the cost of the servers.
- If virtualization is done, then it is quite easy to backup the current state of the server, and restoration is also quite easy if the server runs into some trouble.
- Virtualization also helps in reducing energy and power consumption.
- If the server is partitioned into multiple parts using virtualization then it can help in consolidating the server.
- Through virtualization, it is easy to install software and security updates and patches quite easily.
- Virtualization of the server is the easiest and cost-effective way for hosting websites.
Recommended Articles
This is a guide to Server Virtualization. Here we discuss how does server virtualization work along with usage and various advantages. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –
