So what is Virtualization?

Virtualization is a word that we hear every day, but what does it mean and how does it apply to me? There seems to be more questions than answers, but let’s start by defining the term “Virtualization”.

IBM’s definition of virtualization:

“Simply put, virtualization is a technique for hiding the physical characteristics of

computing resources from the way in which other systems, applications or end

users interact with those resources.”

Click here for article

So that explains everything, right? Not really. So what does it REALLY mean?

Essentially what virtualization does is organizes all of the components of your server network in such a way that it works smoothly in the background without requiring you to look at the raw parts.

Some of the benefits of virtualization include:

- Higher energy efficiency

- Better allocation of server resources

- Easier to move and maintain

- Much more versatile

- Lower hardware cost

- Better disaster recovery options

Some of the cons:

- Single point of failure (can be overcome by adding a failover cluster)

- Complexity

- hardware/software compatibility

- Moving from a physical server to a virtual server can be tricky (that’s why you need master IT)

To use an illustration, when you get in your car and head to work do you usually take time to look over the engine and all the mechanical parts of your car? Probably not. What you do look at are the nice leather seats and that really cool dash board. Just because you don’t see the fan belt turning and piston firing doesn’t meant that it’s not there. Similarly, in your virtualized server network you don’t see all the components doing their jobs; all you see is the results.

For more information about virtualization click on this informative video www.youtube.com/virtualization

We will soon be adding a video by masterIT technical guru Casey; explaining how masterIT uses virtualization to provide topnotch service to our customers.