The idea of creating real items in a virtual environment is known as virtualization. Virtualization is the technique through which resources like virtual machines, storage devices, network resources, and operating systems are created and used virtually.
Cloud-based technology makes extensive use of virtualization. Normally, with cloud computing, users share the data and programs that are available in the cloud, but with cloud virtualization, users can also share the infrastructure.
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Virtualization in Cloud Computing
Virtualization is the process of creating virtual services out of already existing physical resources. With virtualization, we can get physically existing components like Memory (RAM), Storage (SSD/HDD), Processing Power (CPU,) and Operating Systems (Windows/Linux/MacOS) virtually in a digital environment.
It allows users to use the existing machines to their fullest capacity, thereby improving business agility where the capabilities of services are distributed.
There are 2 main machine components involved in Virtualization.
- Firstly, we have the host machine, which is the device where the virtual machine will be used.
- Secondly, the guest machine which is the virtual machine itself.
Virtual Machines provide an environment that is logically separated from the existing hardware. It enables businesses to share a single powerful physical source with numerous users. Let’s now understand how virtualization works.
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Working of Virtualization
Virtualization allows for the separation of an application, a guest operating system, or data storage from the underlying software or hardware.
Virtual machines, created through virtualization, provide their customers additional isolation, flexibility, and control once the majority of systems and applications are fully utilized.
While creating numerous virtual machines on a single physical system, a thin software layer known as a Hypervisor mimics the motions and capabilities of the hardware resources for the abstracted hardware or software.
Features of Virtualization
The key characteristics of virtualization that make it stand taller in the dynamic market are discussed below. Doing the mentioned tasks without virtualization could lead the organization to spend more on time, costs, or resources. Hence, let’s find out the importance of virtualization.
1. Rapid Deployment
We can quickly deploy virtual resources like Storage, Networks, etc. with the click of a button saving time in the process.
2. Reducing Hardware Cost
As more emphasis is placed on using virtual resources, less hardware is used, which lowers the cost associated with it.
3. Resource Allocation
There are two methods for allocating resources in a virtual environment: dynamic and static.
- Static allocation refers to the virtual environment using a fixed amount of memory that has been assigned to it.
- Static allocation refers to the virtual environment using a fixed amount of memory that has been assigned to it. In dynamic allocation, a virtual environment can expand its memory allocation as and when necessary.
These three mentioned R’s tell a lot about virtualization. Now let’s start with the architecture of Virtualization.
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Architecture of Virtualization
The main concept behind using virtualization is having interconnected layers to deliver a virtual version of our Operating System as opposed to a Physical version.
The main component in the virtualization architecture is the hypervisor. Multiple virtual machines that share the system’s physical computing resources (including processor time, memory space, network, and other resources) can run simultaneously on the host computer as guests. Thanks to the hypervisor’s ability to isolate operating systems and applications from the underlying computer hardware.
There are mainly 2 types of architecture available in Virtualization.
Let’s have a look at what each of these does.
1. Bare-Metal architecture: In Bare-Metal architecture, the Hypervisor is installed directly on top of the Hardware layer skipping the OS for the host machine. We can now have multiple Virtual Machines with their own Guest OS and Applications. This type of architecture is performed by Type-1 Hypervisor.
2. Hosted architecture: In Hosted architecture the Operating System is installed on top of the Hardware layer. The Hypervisor is then installed on top of the host machine’s OS. We can then have multiple Virtual Machines that have their own Guest OS and Applications. This type of architecture is performed by Type-2 Hypervisor.
Pros and Cons of Virtualization Architecture
Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of the different Virtualization architectures discussed above.
1. Bare-Metal architecture:
- The pros of Bare-Metal architecture are that it is very efficient because the Virtual Machines have direct access to Hardware resources like Memory, Storage, Network, and CPU. Hence security is tight since there is no third-party application or software which is installed.
- The cons are that we need a dedicated machine to perform the tasks and be able to control the different Virtual Machines that are present.
2. Hosted architecture:
- The pros of Hosted architecture are that the Host OS gets quick and easy access to the Guest OS on the Virtual Machines.
- The cons lie in the fact that since the Virtual Machines don’t have direct access to the underlying hardware, it lag in comparison to the Bare-Metal architecture in terms of performance.
Types of Virtualizations in Cloud Computing
Virtualization is classified into six types. We’ll examine each one separately.
1. Network Virtualization
In Network Virtualization resources are abstracted from the hardware and are put into the software. It allows the physical layer to be split into different independent virtual networks.
2. Application Virtualization
Application virtualization allows users to be able to access applications without actually needing to have the application installed on the Guest OS.
3. Storage Virtualization
Storage Virtualization allows users to combine the physical storage from different network storage devices. This makes it look like a single storage device.
4. Server Virtualization
In Server Virtualization users install the virtual machine manager (VMM) or virtual machine software directly on the server system. This type of virtualization involves the masking of server resources. Here, the identity number and processors of the physical server are changed to create many virtual servers. Therefore, each system can independently run its own operating system.
5. Desktop Virtualization
Desktop Virtualization allows users to store the OS on a server, allowing them to access their desktop virtually from any location and even from a different machine. The benefits will include user portability, user mobility, simple application installation, updates, and patches.
6. Data Virtualization
Data collection from numerous sources and management or manipulation done in one location fall under this virtualization.
It can be used to carry out a wide range of tasks, including data integration, business integration, service-oriented architecture, and data services.
Given these wide varieties to use, virtualization is indeed a technology that is making humans put less effort into their digital work field.
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Benefits of Virtualization
The key benefits of virtualization in cloud computing are:
- Protection from Failure and Disaster: It prevents your IT system from failing due to bugs and viruses. By any chance, if there is even a benefit of the doubt that one part of the system will crash, it will not put any consequence on the rest of the components.
- Security: In the cloud, virtualization significantly improves security. It’s far more difficult for viruses and malware to spread because virtual machines and virtual infrastructure remain isolated from other components of your systems.
- Ease of Data Transfer: Without having to trawl through actual hard drives or data centres, you can move data quickly between virtualized devices and servers. You can move complete computers using virtualized desktops and storage without transferring any real infrastructure. You’ll consequently save time, effort, and money.
- Better Access Control: System and network administrators are given a higher level of access control, separating their tasks and enhancing the effectiveness of the system.
- Cost-Effectiveness: There is no need to buy physical hardware or software if one is using virtualization, therefore reducing the costs and optimizing the whole expenditures.
We have seen that virtualization in cloud computing helps enhance resilience in disaster management recovery, increasing efficiency and productivity, and allowing faster provisioning of resources. Now let’s take a walk in the future and find out where virtualization in cloud computing stands.
Future Scope of Virtualization
Virtualization, when moved to the cloud, led to a lot of businesses moving their services to the cloud. A wonderful way to provision, scale, and modify IT infrastructure as needs change is through virtualization.
This innovation is moving beyond servers. In the future, we will see that application and network virtualization will be doubled from what it is today.
The network’s speed, which governs how quickly data is acquired and processed, would be the only constraint. Everything else about using cloud computing will work out if the network is quick. Yet, virtualization will emerge as the future of the digital world.
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Conclusion
The advantages of virtualization in cloud computing can truly advance one’s business. You may spend more time creating cloud infrastructure and less time resolving associated problems owing to virtualization’s revolutionary efficiency, unparalleled data protection, enhanced IT operations, and other significant benefits.
If you want to take advantage of virtualization in a cloud computing environment, you must be aware of the specifics of how to successfully virtualize a traditional computer network.
If you’re interested in learning more about cloud computing, consider enrolling in our cloud computing course.