VIRTUALIZATION OF IT RESOURCES

Abstract Virtualization is a concept, which describes the separation of a resource or request for a service from the underlying architecture of delivery of the service. Virtualization within the IT environment helps in efficient utilization of existing software and hardware resources. Using virtualization, it is possible to create virtual machines that share hardware resources while functioning as completely independent entities on a network. Here in this article I describe some concepts related to Virtualization and its probable opportunities to utilize the existing IT hardware in a creative way without imposing additional budget on IT for better utilization of resources. Keywords Virtual Machine, Virtual Computer, Logical Machine, Hypervisor Introduction A virtual computer is a logical representation of a computer in software. By separating the physical hardware from the operating system, virtualization provides more operational flexibility and increases the utilization rate of the underlying physical hardware. As specified in IBM Global Education White Paper, Virtualization in Education, although virtualization is implemented primarily in software, many modern microprocessors now include hardware features explicitly designed to improve the efficiency of the virtualization process. In a traditional physical computer, multiple application programs are supported by one instance of the operating system. In a virtualization environment, a single physical computer runs software such that the physical computers resources can be shared between multiple virtual computers. Each virtual computer is capable of running a different operating system from all of the other virtual machines on the physical machine. A crash or other program error on any of the virtual machines leaves all of the other virtual machines unaffected.

Over the years, computers have become sufficiently powerful to use virtualization to create the illusion of many smaller virtual machines, each running a separate operating system instance. Doug Hyde, in his project report on A survey on the security of virtual machines describes a virtual machine, or VM, as a layer of software that runs on top of a virtualization management layer and encapsulates entire independent software stack of an operating system and various applications. Since multiple VMs can be loaded on a computer, multiple operating systems and applications can run simultaneously on a single hardware unit.

Improved security downtime.

and

reduced

Concept of Virtualization Virtualization software (VS) is a way of running multiple operating systems on the same computer, all at the same time. It is like having many computers inside one computer.
"Virtualization Software: A Computer Inside Your Computer," by Joseph D. Foran.

Virtualization software is a software application, which is capable of installing guest operating system on existing host operating system. When operating systems are installed in an emulated hardware environment, they are called guest operating systems, while the main operating system is called the host OS. The software, which provides virtualization, is called VMM (virtual machine monitor) or hypervisor. A hypervisor can run on the hardware directly or on the host operating system. Benefits of Virtualization Virtualization is gaining widespread adoption due to the benefits it offers to the clients. From Intel Technology Journal, Virtualization in the Enterprise, it is realized that the main benefits of virtualization are as follows: 1) Partitioning Partitioning is the splitting of a single, usually large, resource into a number of smaller, more easily utilized resources of the same type. Multiple applications and operating systems can be supported within a

Objectives The main objectives of this article are as follows: To describe the concept and implications of virtualization. To show possible benefits of virtualization in IT. Identify how virtualization can improve operations and minimize business units concerns.

single physical system. The two approaches typically used with software-based partitioning are hosted and hypervisor architectures. A hosted approach (Fig3) provides partitioning services on top of a standard operating system and supports the broadest range of hardware configurations.

Since it has direct access to the hardware resources, a hypervisor is more efficient than hosted architectures, enabling greater scalability, robustness and performance. 2) Isolation Virtual machines are completely isolated from the host machine and other virtual machines. If a virtual machine crashes, all the other virtual machines remain unaffected. Data does not leak across virtual machines and applications can only communicate over configured network connections. 3) Encapsulation Complete virtual machine environment is saved as a single file; easy to back up, move, and copy. Standardized virtualized hardware is presented to the application - guaranteeing compatibility.

In contrast, a hypervisor architecture is the first layer of software installed on a clean x86-based system.

Business transformation virtualization

using

Virtualization helps in improving the efficiency and availability of IT resources and application. This can be done by eliminating one server, one application model and substituting the same by running multiple virtual machines on the same physical machine. The IT administrators can be freed from spending time maintaining the servers, innovating instead. A data center built on virtualization platform responds to market dynamics faster and more efficiently. Reduced Costs Management and Resource

extra physical space and no need to wait around. Virtual machine management software also makes it easier for administrators to set up virtual machines and control access to particular resources. Improved Downtime Security and Reduced

Due to the sheer number of physical servers in use today, organizations have to deal with issues such as storage space, power and cooling. Not only is this excess power usage bad for the environment, but is also very costly for businesses. Equally expensive is hiring, buying or building more space for servers. Using a virtualized infrastructure, businesses can save large amounts of money because they require far fewer physical machines. Improved Business Flexibility When a business needs to expand its number of workstations or servers, it is often a lengthy and costly process. An organization first has to make room for the physical location of the machines. The new machines then have to be ordered, set up, etc. This is a time consuming process and wastes a businesss resources both directly and indirectly. Virtual machines can be easily set up. There are no additional hardware costs, no need for

When a physical machine fails, usually all of its software content becomes inaccessible. All the content of that machine becomes unavailable and there is often some downtime to go along with this, until the problem is fixed. Virtual machines are separate entities from one another. Therefore if one fails, they are completely isolated from all the other software on that physical machine, including other virtual machines. This greatly increases security, because problems can be contained. Case Study Server virtualization helped Financial Technologies save Rs. 2 Crores. Anup Varier, A case study on in BFSI Organization Case Financial Technologies India Ltd. (FTIL) work forms the backbone for a number of international exchanges including Dubais Gold and Commodities Exchange and Singapores Mercantile Exchange. In India, it runs the Multi Commodity Exchange (which trades oil seeds, cereal, pulses, etc.) and online trader Sharekhan, among a number of others. FTIL wanted to maintain its position as the fastest-growing company in its space. And it could do that by helping exchanges expand by adding new asset classes (like interest rate derivatives) or by creating networks of exchanges. But to do

so, it needed to boost its own capacities and it had exhausted all the available space in its datacenter. Virtualization Solution Keshav Samant, VP and head-IT of Mumbai-based Financial Technologies started a virtualization project in 2009 and brought down the number of physical servers from 78 to 2. Currently FTIL runs 40 virtual machines on 2 physical servers each. Apart from popular virtualization benefits like the ability to provision new virtual servers in 15 minutes, and reducing recovery time by 90 percent, the project also trimmed operational expenditure. By cutting down electricity consumption, lowering server AMC costs, trimming manpower needs, FTIL brought down the operational cost considerably. Summary Virtualization is a powerful technology trend that is happening now. The trend is already underway and the outlook is that it

will grow very rapidly. Implementers owe it to themselves and their organization to examine the opportunity very closely and see when and how they can start taking advantage of this exciting capability. Virtualization lets the IT staff deliver better service at lower cost and with greater security and reliability. Companies are likely to be using one solution or another already, either through server virtualization or hosted architecture.
Initial approaches to virtualization should not be a technology platform choice, but rather as a service delivery issue.

As IT Managers are asked to do more with less and deliver services to increasingly more sophisticated and demanding users, efficiency will probably be the biggest driver from the IT side. IT Managers will need to work with their business owners to determine if the potential benefits are worth the risk, cost and work involved with moving to a virtualization model.

References

http://www.bell.ca/web/enterprise/newsRoom/en/pdf/virtualizedDataCentre_EN.pdf http://artofservice.com.au/what-are-the-objectives-of-virtualization/ http://www.cio.in/case-study/how-virtualization-helped-financial-technologies-save-rs-25-lakhs

Case Study