ITDM IT WATCH
ON
VIRTUALIZATION

SUBMITTED BY GROUP 9 CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION TO VIRTUALIZATION 2. TYPES OF VIRTUALIZATION 3. ADVANTAGES OF VIRTUALIZATION 4. VIRTUALIZATION IN INDIA 5. REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION

Virtualization is the creation of a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, such as an operating system, a server, a storage device or network resources.
In layman's term, virtualization allows you to run an independent operating system within an existing operating system using the existing hardware resources. So if you want to learn another operating system like Linux, you can use virtualization to run Linux on top of the existing operating system.
Virtualization is the abstraction of IT resources, separating their physical instance and boundaries from their function. Virtualization has brought important innovation to IT
Virtualization concept was first developed by IBM in the 1960s to fully utilize mainframe hardware by logically partitioning them into virtual machines. These partitions will allow mainframe computers to perform multiple tasks and applications at the same time..

During the 1980s and 1990s, desktop computing and x86 servers become available and so the virtualization technology was discarded eventually. Client-server applications and the emergence of Windows and Linux made server computing significantly inexpensive. However, new challenges has surfaced which includes high maintenance and management cost, high infrastructure cost, and insufficient failure and disaster protection that lead to the invention of virtualization for x86 platform.
VMWare invented virtualization for the x86 architecture in the 1990s to address the above mentioned problems. In 1999, VMW are introduced a virtualization solution which transform x86 system into a fully isolated shared hardware infrastructure. VMWare started with a long history as an open source which greatly helped the concept developed considerably. Today, VMWare is the global leader in x86 virtualization which offers desktop, server and data center solutions.

TYPES OF VIRTUALIZATION

1. Hardware

Hardware virtualization or platform virtualization refers to the creation of a virtual machine that acts like a real computer with an operating system. In hardware virtualization, the term host machine refers to the actual machine on which the virtualization takes place; the term guest machine, however, refers to the virtual machine. Likewise, the noun adjuncts host and guest are used to help distinguish the software that runs on the actual machine from the software that runs on the virtual machine.
Different types of hardware virtualization include: 1. Full virtualization: Almost complete simulation of the actual hardware to allow software, which typically consists of a guest operating system, to run unmodified 2. Partial virtualization: Some but not all of the target environment is simulated. Some guest programs, therefore, may need modifications to run in this virtual environment. 3. Paravirtualization: A hardware environment is not simulated; however, the guest programs are executed in their own isolated domains, as if they are running on a separate system. Guest programs need to be specifically modified to run in this environment.
Hardware-assisted virtualization is a way of improving the efficiency of hardware virtualization. It involves employing specially-designed CPUs and hardware components that help improve the performance of a guest environment.

2. Desktop
Desktop virtualization is the concept of separating the logical desktop from the physical machine.
One form of desktop virtualization, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), can be thought as a more advanced form of hardware virtualization: Instead of directly interacting with a host computer via a keyboard, mouse and monitor connected to it, the user interacts with the host computer over a network connection (such as a LAN, Wireless LAN or even the Internet) using another desktop computer or a mobile device. In addition, the host computer in this scenario becomes a server computer capable of hosting multiple virtual machines at the same time for multiple user.
Another form, session virtualization, allows multiple users to connect and log into a shared but powerful computer over the network and use it simultaneously. Each is given a desktop and a personal folder in which they store their files.
Thin clients, which are seen in desktop virtualization, are simple and/or cheap computers that are primarily designed to connect to the network; they may lack significant hard disk storage space, RAM or even processing power. 3. SOFTWARE
Software virtualization is the virtualization of applications or computer programs. One of the most widely used software virtualization programs is SVS (Software Virtualization Solution), developed by Altiris.
The concept is similar to hardware virtualization where physical machines are simulated as virtual machines. Software virtualization involves creating a virtual layer or virtual hard drive space where applications can be installed. From this virtual space, applications can then be run as though they have been installed onto host OS.
Once a user has finished using an application, they can ‘switch it off’. When an application is switched off, any changes that the application made to the host OS, will be completely reversed. This means that registry entries and installation directories will have no trace of the application being installed or executed at all.

4. Memory * Memory virtualization, aggregating RAM resources from networked systems into a single memory pool * Virtual memory, giving an application program the impression that it has contiguous working memory, isolating it from the underlying physical memory implementation 5. Storage * Storage virtualization, the process of completely abstracting logical storage from physical storage

6. Data * Data virtualization, the presentation of data as an abstract layer, independent of underlying database systems, structures and storage * Database virtualization, the decoupling of the database layer, which lies between the storage and application layers within the application stack

7. Network * Network virtualization, creation of a virtualized network addressing space within or across network subnets

BENEFITS OF VIRTUALIZATION

Today’s IT intensive enterprise must always be on the lookout for the latest technologies that allow businesses to run with fewer resources while providing the infrastructure to meet today and future customer needs. * Server Consolidation
It is not unusual to achieve 10:1 virtual to physical machine consolidation. This means that ten server applications can be run on a single machine that had required as many physical computers to provide the unique operating system and technical specification environments in order to operate.
Although a server supporting many VMs will probably have more memory, CPUs, and other hardware it will use little or no more power and occupy the same physical space reducing utilities costs and real estate expenditures. * Dynamic Load Balancing and Disaster Recovery
As server workloads vary, virtualization provides the ability for virtual machines that are over utilizing the resources of a server to be moved to underutilized servers. This dynamic load balancing creates efficient utilization of server resources.
Disaster recovery is a critical component for IT, as system crashes can create huge economic losses. Virtualization technology enables a virtual image on a machine to be instantly re-imaged on another server if a machine failure occurs. * Virtual Desktops
Multinational flexibility provides seamless transitions between different operating systems on a single machine reducing desktop footprint and hardware expenditure.

* Improved System Reliability and Security
Virtualization of systems helps prevent system crashes due to memory corruption caused by software like device drivers. VT-d for Directed I/O Architecture provides methods to better control system devices by defining the architecture for DMA and interrupt remapping to ensure improved isolation of I/O resources for greater reliability, security, and availability

VIRTUALIZATION IN INDIA

1. India – the next virtualization giant?
By CloudTweaks
The recent growth of virtualization in the Asia-Pacific region cannot be overlooked. Statistics show that 75% of end-users want to switch to cloud computing services within the next year.
This percentage is the highest compared to other countries of the region (even surpasses
Singapore and Malaysia). The survey was conducted by VMware. China and India lead the region with their future cloud adoption plans with majority of its organizations ready for the smooth transformation and implementation of cloud computing solutions. 60% of the organizations are either planning or have implemented, cloud computing solutions. Greatest adoption is likely from the ITES/IT manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.
The survey conducted by VMware also showed an upward trend in India’s understanding of cloud computing and virtualization. Indian audience recognizes the importance of capacity on demand, pay per use model and automated management. IT as a service is one theme everyone is trying to follow. to perk up their businesses. 60% of the organizations in India who are involved in IT related activities are willing to adopt the cloud infrastructure for scalability on demand as it provides essential benefits such as reduced hardware infrastructure and simplified IT solutions. Cost saving is one of the immediate advantages that is attracting people to the concept of the cloud.

2. Server virtualization: India Inc.'s top data center priority for 2010
The benefits of server virtualization are not debatable. Indian businesses are definitely in agreement with this technology, going by the results of SearchDataCenter.in team's Data Center Purchasing Intentions Survey for Indian organizations. Server virtualization came as the most prominent server-related trend and key investment area for 2010 in the Data Center Purchasing Intentions Survey results. Almost 51% of the surveyed CIOs cite an increase in server virtualization-related budget allocation for 2010. This is largely compounded by server virtualization's benefits like savings on space and power fronts

3. VirtualizationPro Summit & Expo
March 16-19,2010
Summit on virtualization is held every year.it is a destination for those who are either already working with the virtualization software or are keen on learning,managing,optimizing or deploying the software.
The conference held in 2010 focussed on Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware solutions-and featured independent industry experts (as well as speakers from Microsoft and VMware) discussing VDI and desktop virtualization, server virtualization, application virtualization, virtualized storage, high availability and disaster recovery, and the dynamic data center.

REFERENCES

* www.Searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com * www.infobarrel.com/history of virtualization * www.artofservice.com.au/what-is-software-virtualization * software.intel.com/the-advantage-of-using-virtualization-in-the-enterprises * //searchdatacenter.techtarget.in/news