What is virtualisation?
What is virtualisation?
Today, many businesses are seeing their IT resource requirements evolve at breakneck speed. To continue to be successful, they need solutions to improve their agility and continue to meet the demands of their employees, customers and partners. One of the challenges they face is managing an increasingly large and complex IT infrastructure and guaranteeing its efficiency.
Virtualisation is a technology that enables the creation of a virtual version of physical equipment, such as a server or storage system, so that the capabilities of each machine can be better exploited. How does virtualisation work? By running several virtual resources on the same physical infrastructure, as if they were each running on a separate entity.
It's easy to see that this solution helps to optimise the hardware used and better manage the maintenance costs of a company's IT system . Does this principle of dematerialising physical machines still seem too abstract? Let's take a closer look at what virtualisation is, how it works, the benefits it offers and the tools you need to implement it in your organisation.
Definition: what is virtualisation?
The principle of virtualisation
Virtualisation is a technology that consists of recreating an object or resource (such as a server, an operating system or OS, an application, a network, etc.) in a virtual environment in a way that is identical to its physical version.
The role of virtualisation
The aim of this system? To run several systems on the same physical infrastructure, as if they were each running on their own machine. In this way, the use of a machine's physical resources is optimised: thanks to a layer of virtualisation, the capabilities of the hardware are fully exploited and we gain in space, power, flexibility, availability and security.
Taking server virtualisation as an example (although there are several types, as we shall see below), a single physical server will be able to run several virtualised or digitised servers. For example, instead of using 15% of the capacity of a physical machine, virtualised servers use almost 85%.
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The different types of virtualisation
Although server virtualisation is the one we often talk about, there are others:
- operating system virtualisation,
- desktop virtualisation,
- application virtualisation,
- storage virtualisation
- and even data centre virtualisation.
How does virtualisation work?
Prerequisites
As we have already seen, virtualisation enables several virtualised entities to share the resources of a physical machine. Several conditions are required for this to work:
- each OS must operate independently and without interference from the other instances ;
- Each OS and its applications must operate transparently , maintaining the same behaviour as if they were running on a physical infrastructure;
- the applications must all be compatible with each other in the virtualised instance.
With this in mind, let's look at how virtualised environments are created from a single machine.
Virtual machine and virtualisation layer
At the heart of how virtualisation works is the hypervisor. This is a software layer installed on the physical hardware that enables separate environments to be created and/or several applications to be run independently on the same machine. The task of this programme is to manage all the virtualised environments set up on each machine. Like a monitor, it allocates to each virtual environment or virtual machine (VM) the necessary resources of the physical machine, such as memory or processor, for example.
Each virtual machine has its own operating system. Virtualisation means that several VMs, and therefore several operating systems, can run simultaneously on the same physical infrastructure, making IT infrastructures more efficient.
Virtualisation and cloud computing: what are the differences?
Virtualisation should not be confused with cloud computing. While the two technologies can be complementary, they are not interchangeable.
Virtualisation relies on software solutions to set up one or more virtual environments from the same physical infrastructure, making them independent of the physical machine.
Cloud computing is a system for sharing IT resources over a network, usually the Internet. It makes services (software, applications, data, etc.) or storage, network or computing devices available to users online, without the need to install hardware or software.
In this way, the cloud refers to a set of virtual resources that can be accessed on demand by the user, regardless of location and often for a limited period of time, for example via subscription-based invoicing. SaaS (Software as a Service) is an example of a service that uses the cloud.
Combined, these two technologies enable businesses to increase their agility and the availability of resources.
But virtualisation offers so much more! Let's take a look at the many benefits.
What are the benefits of virtualisation?
Why use virtualisation? We mentioned better cost management earlier. But that's not all: virtualisation offers real benefits for your business:
Saving space
As your business grows, you need an ever-increasing number of applications, workstations and servers. Thanks to virtualisation technology, several virtual servers can be used from a reduced number of physical servers: everything is more compact and you save space.
Lower power consumption
With fewer energy-hungry physical servers running at the same time, power consumption is inevitably reduced. Data processing, storage and distribution: the needs and demands placed on servers are increasing. Before this technology, each server hosted a single application. With virtualisation, server capacities and resources are better exploited, which also has a more positive environmental impact.
Lower costs
By consuming less energy, you also reduce your energy bill. What's more, you avoid having to acquire multiple new physical servers: that means less investment, but also lower installation, operating and maintenance costs.
Optimisation of resources
Workloads are better distributed: physical resources and bandwidth are required for users to access hosted applications. Their distribution is managed automatically between the physical servers, optimising the power allocated to each. Hardware capacities are better exploited, with up to 85% of physical server resources used, compared with 10 to 15% previously.
Better supervision
Centralising IT resources provides centralised, simplified management of the IT estate, which can comprise up to several thousand virtual machines, depending on the size of the organisation. The administrator has a precise overview of the servers or datacentres hosting the physical and virtual hardware, and can monitor them in real time. Any incidents can be detected and dealt with more quickly, improving the productivity of IT departments.
Service continuity
Virtualisation offers increased availability: migration or backup operations, for example, can be carried out while the system is in operation, without any interruption to service. Virtualisation also simplifies the Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP): because virtual machines operate independently of the physical infrastructure that hosts them, in the event of a failure or shutdown of the physical server, they can be quickly transferred and restarted on another server. Continuity is assured and end-user activities are not impacted.
Limiting risks
Virtualisation offers a higher level of security. Data is backed up in the event of an incident. What's more, the system itself is more reliable and less exposed to the risks of breakdown or service interruption. The service hosted on a virtual machine offers high availability.
Flexible access
For users, applications and workstations are accessible on the move, from any terminal, and there is no difference from one to the other.
Virtualisation tools
If this list of benefits has piqued your interest, you're no doubt wondering how to implement virtualisation. Which virtualisation software should you choose? Here's a selection to help you make the right choice.
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops
Formerly known as XenApp & XenDesktop, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops is a virtualisation solution that makes virtual applications and desktops available to users, regardless of the device used. The solution features a centralised management console for applications and desktops.
citrix.com
Its strengths include
- Virtual applications compatible with Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and iOS devices,
- reduced desktop costs
- a fluid user experience thanks to HDX technology.
TS2log
TS2log is a cost-effective and technological alternative to Citrix, and is particularly well-suited to small businesses, SMEs and software publishers looking to improve efficiency. The solution offers multi-session, multi-user access to your Windows applications. It allows you to web-enable your applications at a lower cost, because you don't have to rewrite them.
TS2log
Its strengths include
- low licensing costs,
- quick implementation,
- several editions available: PRINTER, Mobile, Gateway.
VMware vSphere
vSphere is a server virtualisation platform from VMware. Aimed at larger organisations, this solution simplifies the large-scale operation and management of data centres and reduces the number of physical servers. Thanks to virtualisation, you can reduce operating costs and capital expenditure.
© vmware.com
Its strengths include
- agile implementation of continuity,
- an infrastructure compatible with hybrid cloud, multicloud and modern applications,
- the market-leading solution.
Exploit the full potential of virtualisation!
Virtualisation is a technology that is becoming increasingly popular with businesses of all sizes as they strive for greater agility. This solution offers the possibility of simplifying IT operations and ensuring better business continuity, while minimising risks.
After reading this, you will no doubt be familiar with the concept of virtualisation, and have a better understanding of all the benefits this technology can bring to your organisation. The introduction of this technology brings with it many promises, such as a considerable reduction in costs, to name but one.
Are you convinced by the many benefits of virtualisation? Are you afraid to take the plunge? This project may turn out to be simpler to implement than it seems at first sight.
Virtualisation solutions come in a variety of formats and options, depending on your organisation's needs. Don't hesitate to contact the department that has caught your eye to find out more about its solution and the offers available to help you bring your project to fruition.
Ready to build a flexible, high-performance virtualised infrastructure?
Article translated from French