Technology is evolving every day and so are the trends of the digitalized world. With the innovations in technological tools, our lives are becoming a lot easier.
The traditional methods of either a household work or running a business, are being replaced by the new and modified ones that have helped in increasing our efficiency rate and the process is facilitated by the technological advancements.
Having said that, the innovations and modifications in the technological landscape have eased the process of running large organizations or business ventures to a greater extent and server virtualization is one amazing product of this technological growth.
Server virtualization is the term that refers to the process of diving one physical server into multiple virtual servers by using a software application. Each one of these virtual servers can run its own operating server and can work independently while other virtual servers working parallel to it.
This process is often recommended by software development services to large organizations due to the number of benefits that this process offers. This technology is not novel, but it might be new to many organizations. Before heading to the tips, let’s get a basic idea about the types of server virtualization:
Kinds of Server Virtualization:
Server virtualization is basically of three types:
Full Virtualization:
Full virtualization uses software named hypervisor; which can directly communicate to the CPU and physical server’s disk space. This software monitors the resources of the physical server and keep the virtual servers unaware of the other virtual servers and make them work independently.
It takes the resources from the physical server and passes it on to the respective virtual server that is running applications.
One of the major limitations is that hypervisor has its own processing needs that can put a lot of strain on the physical server, considering the fact that virtual servers are also working simultaneously and can slow down the server performance.
Para Virtualization:
On the contrary to the full virtualization, para virtualization makes all the virtual servers work a cohesive unit. All the operating systems of virtual servers are aware of the other ones, the hypervisor does not need as much processing power as it consumes in full virtualization.
OS- Level Virtualization:
This is different than the full and para virtualization. It does not need a hypervisor, rather it uses the virtual capacity of the physical server and performs all the tasks that are performed by hypervisor. Moreover, all the operating systems of virtual servers have to be the same in OS-level virtualization.
3 Tips for Making the Most of Server Virtualization:
Here is how to make the most of server virtualization technology and get benefited from it aptly:
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Choosing the Right Capacity of Physical Server:
Choosing the large capacity physical servers to accommodate the processing of virtual serves might sound logical but that is not the case. Over-provisioning CPUs can slow down the performance of servers.
The capacity of the CPU must match with the workload. The processing power of the CPU should neither be more or less than that required for utilization. If the server won’t consume full resources, its functionality can be badly affected. If in the future you feel a need to enhance the working capacity of your server, you can buy new servers that can meet the needs of increased workload.
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Choosing the Right Server for Virtualization:
The server virtualization market is rapidly expanding as per the demands. Unlike olden times, there are a lot of options available and you must choose the right ones for making the most of this technology.
Microsoft virtual server, ESX servers, VMware servers, Xens products, etc. are popular in the market these days and they vary in price and features.
The IT consultant should make the right decision before entering into a long-term commitment based on the needs of the organization, ease of management, devices in the company’s infrastructure, etc. Choosing the right kind of server is crucial for making the most of server virtualization technology.
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Being Prepared for Disaster Recovery:
People often believe that virtual servers cannot malfunction like physical ones. However, the truth is that every kind of machinery either virtual of physical can fell prey to technical faults.
The main concern is if you are prepared for disaster recovery or not? Just as the smoke alarm can make us aware of the fire, you must use some software tools that can send you alerts about system malfunctions.
Use a combination of external and internal monitoring devices that can timely intimidate you about systemic errors. Be prepared for technical errors so that the downtime can be minimized in case of any incident. To have a successful migration from physical servers to virtual machines, you must have a sound knowledge of what to look for in case of system malfunctioning.
Why opt for Server Virtualization?
This is a very genuine question that is often asked when people are suggested to invest in migrating from physical servers to virtual servers. Server virtualization technology can benefit your business ventures in so many ways. Here is why you should consider it as an option to enhance your company’s working efficiency:
Reduction in Hardware Costs:
Physical servers are highly under-utilized. They are not put to work in their full capacity as companies usually have multiple servers for different purposes. However, one physical server can work in all its capacity to help run multiple virtual servers.
Therefore, having one or two physical servers to run multiple virtual ones will save you the money that you otherwise would have invested in buying more servers.
Reduction in Energy Consumption:
Having one physical server to run multiple virtual servers will help in reducing the cost of energy consumption to a greater extent. You will need to invest less in keeping the servers cool which technically makes your company ‘go green’ by using fewer air conditioners.
Better Data Recovery:
Server virtualization can keep your data safe by moving it quickly to the other virtual machine and backing up the important data. Even in case of technical errors, you won’t have to worry about losing your data at all.
Enhancing Productivity:
Since there will be few physical servers running other virtual servers, which means less time will be required for their management, therefore, your IT team can invest their time in something else which in turn improves your company’s productivity.
To Conclude:
Server virtualization is an effective way of utilizing the resources that you have in your IT infrastructure. It saves you from excessive power consumption and overcrowded data centers. Server virtualization is the best way to enhance the productivity of your teams, company, and resources.