Wikipedia defines Virtualization, in computing, is the creation of a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, such as a hardware platform, operating system, a storage device or network resources.
Virtualization can be viewed as part of an overall trend in enterprise IT that includes autonomic computing, a scenario in which the IT environment will be able to manage itself based on perceived activity, and utility computing, in which computer processing power is seen as a utility that clients can pay for only as needed. The usual goal of virtualization is to centralize administrative tasks while improving scalability and workloads.
Thus Virtualization is the new technology that works with the alternative option of using less and saving time and energy. It can be opt for the system operation of an operating system, a server, a storage device or network resources. The world of virtualization not only saves times but in alternative ways it increases efficiency and effectiveness in every possible way by reducing errors, radiation , using less energy etc. virtualization works with a wide variety of hardware and software, including storage, networking and security products. Virtualization enhances the performance of your applications by fully understanding best practices in deploying and optimizing a virtualized infrastructure.
There are basically three types of virtualization
- Network Virtualization
- Storage Virtualization
- Server Virtualization
Network Virtualization is the process of dividing the resources for optimum performance at individual level where different channels are created and each channel can be assigned (or reassigned) to a particular server or device in real time. The basic idea behind virtualization is to create individual channels which make it easy to transfers and manage file and data’s individually with greater efficacy.
Storage Virtualization is the process of storing data in a pool of physical storage with the accessibility from multiple networks into a single storage device that is controlled by a single console. Virtualizing storage enables high-performance access to shared storage resources and creates efficiency of storage arrays used.
Server Virtualization is a systematic replication of resources including various aspect of the configuration from physical server, operating system, processors to different users within the network. The basic idea behind is to reduce the difficult of using expensive resources and increasing time effectiveness within the stipulated time for better work operation and system management while increasing resource sharing and utilization and maintaining the capacity to expand later.
Importance of Virtualization:
- It reduced cost and increases energy efficiency and it requires less hardware
- It helps in better recovery of system and delivers higher rate of data transfer
- Since the data center uses effective system so it reduces radiation
