Virtualization is the Key Samuel Warren IS308 – Internet Technologies Lawrence Masters City University June 10, 2012   Virtualization is the Key Executive Summary Virtualization is the key to several problems. The problems inherent in technology change are many, not the least of which is what to do with outdated systems. Said systems may still be needed but are no longer supported by their original manufacturer. With that said, virtualization gives IT teams the capability to maintain the legacy systems without much overhead cost. However, like everything, there are problems that could pose a serious threat to virtualization becoming a must-have in every organization. Introduction With innovation being the lifeblood of technology, it is no wonder new advancements in technology are made and discovered every day. With a pace like that, one can rest assured there will be a number of potential failures and conversely a number of winners. Typically, the number of winners and losers in technology are skewed more in the “loser” category. Virtualization is a newer concept requiring a little abstract thinking, because it deals with the idea that you do not need to have a physical device to use to be operationally effective. Some basic questions regarding virtualization shall be answered herein. What is Virtualization? Virtualization is the idea that instead of having all the hardware of a given system, web servers for example, and uses software versions of the systems as the driving force for them. There are some advantages to this, the biggest of which is one can store multiple different systems on one set of hardware. Each virtual machine can interact independently with other devices, applications, data and users as though it were a separate physical resource. Different virtual machines can run different operating systems and multiple applications while sharing the resources of a single physical computer. And, because each virtual machine is isolated from other virtualized machines, if one crashes, it doesn’t affect the others. (McCabe, 2009) Virtualization may have started with web servers (McCabe, 2009); it has expanded to other networked devices, server application tiers, and desktop software. Arguably, virtualization is one of the fastest growing areas in technology in this decade. Why Use Virtual Machines? There are many reasons why one should consider virtualization. However, anyone interested in using virtualization must look into what benefits one could have for using virtualized systems. Virtual machines can be used to consolidate the workloads of several under-utilized servers to fewer machines, perhaps a single machine (server consolidation). Related benefits (perceived or real, but often cited by vendors) are savings on hardware, environmental costs, management, and administration of the server infrastructure. (Singh, 2004) Along with that reason, Singh highlights the needs of outdated software often can be generously fulfilled without any sort of system conflict by having on separate partitions of the same core system. He also highlights the potential for testing with Virtual machines. “Virtual machines can isolate what they run, so they provide fault and error containment. You can inject faults proactively into software to study its subsequent behavior” (Singh, 2004). Whether this, or the many other reasons, virtualization is a boon to those in the IT realm, because it provides ease of use and quick deletion in the event of problems. Why Not Use Virtual Machines? However you slice it, there are always negatives to any IT concept. With virtualization, all of the positives may serve to illustrate the holes in the traditional one machine for one system architecture. With the need for so many different systems at once, it may be tempting for system administrators to let virtual machines become a catchall for their woes. Using virtual machines does have some major drawbacks. One of the most problematic issues is what Pietroforte (2008) calls “Magnified physical failures.” He uses the example of multiple servers working on one physical system (Pietroforte, 2008). He goes on to describe the hypothetical scenario that the hardware supporting those servers fails. If that happens, then all the servers on that one physical device are potentially ruined. However, the answer to that is to plan well. Thus, if your virtual infrastructure is well planned, physical failures may be less problematic. However, this means that you have to invest in redundant hardware, which more or less eliminates one of the alleged advantages of server virtualization. (Pietroforte, 2008) Add to the potential hardware failure the increased need for hardware, because the virtual systems use so much more of the system hardware and you have a recipe for disaster. Technology fails frequently, that alone is enough of a reason to very carefully consider the choices made in relation to whether or not to virtualize. What IT managers must do is avoid giving into the popularity of any given technology and make sure to do a full analysis of pros, cons, and gaps associated with a technology set prior to choosing to implement. References McCabe, L. (2009, May 7). What is Virtualization, and Why Should you Care? Retrieved from Small Business Computing.com: http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/testdrive/article.php/3819231/What-is-Virtualization-and-Why-Should-You-Care.htm Pietroforte, M. (2008, July 3). Seven Disadvantages of Server Virtualization. Retrieved from 4Sysops: http://4sysops.com/archives/seven-disadvantages-of-server-virtualization/ Singh, A. (2004, January). An Introduction to Virtualization. Retrieved from Kernelthread.com: http://www.kernelthread.com/publications/virtualization/