Server Virtualization - Term Paper Example

These issues become a challenge when the business is unable to respond urgently due to budget constraints. Virtualization has proven to be a reliable solution in responding to problems associated with declining floor space and power. Virtualization is exemplified best in virtual memory where computer system software is capable of utilizing more memory than is physically available. This is made possible through the swapping process that allows data to be placed at the background of hard disk. Recent developments have seen this concept being applied in server hardware, networks, laptops, system software and application software.

The widespread application of virtualization is due to the fact that most of the system processing resources are normally underutilized. Simply put, much of system time is wasted given that most systems and their applications spend a considerable amount of their time in idle states (Kusnetzky, etal. 2011). Virtualization technology allows more work to be done from a single hardware. By creating more than one virtual machine in a single server or laptop, a business executive is able to optimize his or her system resource.

This is possible since the technology is non-disruptive and it does not interfere with normal functioning of the system. With the level of abstraction given by virtualization IT managers are able to respond to urgent needs of an organization and to implement cost effective IT infrastructure. This is possible because the managers have a quick access to a centralized pool of resources. Virtualization makes it possible for hardware to function independent of applications and system. In addition, this technology enables virtual machines to be installed in any system.

Also, management of operation system and application as a single unit is made possible by incorporating them into virtual machines (Kusnetzky, etal. 2011). Incase a server is overloaded; virtual machines can be deployed to a different server. This ensures that system response time is not compromised and that a system is not underutilized. When the workload goes down, the virtual machines can be incorporated back to their original server so as to cut down costs by saving power. Few years ago it was not possible to exploit full potential of virtualization.

This was because it was impossible deploying virtual machines in a secure environment. Server and network administrators at the time had difficulties managing virtual environment since routers and switches were not compatible with virtual machines. Nevertheless, with virtualization, management of resources was fairly easy since applications were readily available. In case a server encountered problems, virtual machines within it were readily restarted in a separate hardware. However, with automatic deployment made possible, efficiency is greatly improved since it is possible to move a virtual machine ahead of time in case a system administrator decides to service the server or to shut it down for some other reason.

Virtualization has evolved to an extent that network vendors are able to perform certain activities which they could not few years ago. The development of BLADE network technology has seen the launch of switches (VMready) that have solved most of previous experienced problems. The switches readily recognize virtual machines within servers. The switch is also compatible with almost all Hypervisors e.g. Microsoft, VMware, Red Hat etc (Kusnetzky, etal.