What is Virtualization?

We get this question many times. So let's start with the basics: A server is a computer that has been set aside to hold data and/or run a specific application. However, data use must be secured and protected. Deploying a server is not enough, for larger organizations, servers must be monitored and fine-tuned. What if you need multiple servers? Is it best to purchase more physical servers? What if space is limiting or processes don't require separate physical servers.

Virtualization allows you to run multiple servers on a single physical machine. This not only reduces upfront hardware costs but ongoing support and (to some degree) maintenance requirements. Virtualization solutions are available from top vendors such as VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft (Virtual Server), EMC, Cisco, Dell, HP and F5. There are many aspects and details to virtualization.

How are both the servers sharing the work load? Load balancing is a technique to spread work between two or more computers, network links, CPUs, hard drives, or other resources, in order to get optimal resource utilization, maximize throughput, minimize response time, and decreases downtime. Using multiple components with load balancing, instead of a single component, may increase reliability through redundancy. This solution means the organization will have high availability utilizing hardware and software solutions. Overall, this decreases costs.