What is Virtualization?

Virtualization is a general and ambiguous term that typically means to run

multiple instances of something inside something that was intended to only
run a single instance.
How do we get virtualization?
Well there is no. of options available for this, but VMware, Citrix and
Microsoft are front runners in domain. Here are the products from above for
the same.
. VMware !"# and VMware server
$. Citrix #en
%. Microsoft Hyper&V
VMware Server:
VMware "erver is a free virtualization product for Microsoft Windows
and 'inux servers. (t enables you to )uic*ly provision new server capacity or
server consolidation by partitioning a +hysical server into multiple virtual
machines. (t is meant for those businesses who want to optimize use of their
technology assets using virtualization.
Technology behind VMware Server:
Hypervisor , $ -Hosted .rchitecture/
What is Hosted Architecture?
Hosted architecture is where your virtualization software is installed as an
application onto the pre&existing host operating system. 0his means that
your virtualization layer relies on your host operating system for device
support and physical resource management. VMware "erver is a good
example of a hosted architecture.
1
Hardware and Software support:
. .ny standard !" compatible or #!"#"$compatible personal
computer
$. . wide variety of Windows, 'inux, "olaris, and other guest operating
systems,
(ncluding 12&bit operating systems
%. 0wo&way Virtual SM%
2. (ntel Virtualization 0echnology &'ntel VT(
3. .M4&Virtualization &AMT#V(
Where VMware Server does fits for your environ)ent?
VMware server suits the re)uirements and demands of small and medium
scale business with non&mission critical processes. (t can provide following
options to the business resources.
1. Virtual Machines for software develop)ent5
. . common environment matching in both configuration and
tools for your entire team
$. 6uic* rollout of new environments and tools
%. .rchive of entire development environments for ma7or pro7ects
2. Virtual Machines for software testing5
. +latform 0esting with "napshots
$. +latform 0esting with +ersistent and 8on&persistent 4is*s
3. Virtual Machines for %ost#release and Application#Maintenance.
. (t can create base image for you development environment
$. .rchive of the development team9s virtual machines used
during the development phase
%. :apid platform availability for )uic* support tas*s and bug
investigation
4. :un Windows, 'inux, and other operating systems and applications
without
"oftware conflicts.
5. Move virtual machines from one physical host to another without
having to
:econfigure them.
*eatures of VMware Server:
+, Web#-ased 'nterface
;se VMware (nfrastructure Web .ccess -V( Web .ccess/ to perform
host and virtual machine configuration for VMware "erver $.<.
. Create, configure, and delete virtual machines
$. .dd and remove virtual machines from the inventory
2
%. +erform power operations -start, stop, reset, suspend, and resume/ on
virtual Machines
2. Monitor the operation of virtual machines
3. =enerate a Web shortcut to customize the V( Web .ccess user
interface for users, with the option to limit their view to the console or
a single virtual machine
1. =enerate a VMware :emote Console des*top shortcut that allows
virtual machine users to interact directly with the guest operating
system outside of a Web browser
>. Configure host&wide VMware "erver settings
., VMware /e)ote 0onsole
VMware :emote Console enables you to interact with the guest
operating system
running in a virtual machine. ?ou can run VMware :emote Console on
the host or a remote client system. .fter you install it as a Web
browser add&on from V(Web .ccess, VMware :emote Console can run
independently from V(Web .ccess.
VMware :emote Console also allows you to connect and disconnect
client C4@4V4
and floppy devices.
1, Me)ory Support
0he maximum amount of memory that can be allocated per virtual
machine is
A=B. 0he amount of memory that can be used by all virtual machines
combined is limited only by the amount of memory on the host
computer.
$, 2u)ber of 2etwor3 Adapters Supported
(t can support total of < networ* adapters for a virtual machine.
4, 5uiesced -ac3ups of Virtual Machines on Windows
Cn Windows hosts, you can enable the VMware V"" Writer, which uses
snapshots to
maintain the data integrity of applications running inside the virtual
machine when
you ta*e bac*ups.
3
", Support for High#Speed 6S- .,7 8evices
(f the guest operating system has the appropriate ;"B $.< device
drivers, you can use peripherals that re)uire high&speed performance,
such as spea*ers, webcams,
next&generation printers and scanners, fast storage devices, M+%
players, 4V4&:W
drives, and high&capacity C4&:CM 7u*eboxes.
Besides above there are few more such as
.dditional host operating system support
.dditional guest operating system support
improved 12 bit guest support
12 bit sound driver
8ative 12 bit support on linux
(mproved V(#&.+(
VMC( soc*et interface
-ottlenec3s:
+, (t puts more of your clientDs eggs in one bas*et. (f the host machine
brea*s or needs to be ta*en offline, several virtual servers will go
down.
., .pplications li*e databases that re)uire a lot of dis* activity. 0he
prevailing wisdom is that databases should still run on dedicated
physical servers.
1, 0ime&sensitive applications li*e Voice over (+ -Vo(+/ may also be poor
candidates for virtualization.
$, Virtual Machine overload5 .pplication that are low (@C intensive and
low utilization are best candidates for virtualization but need to put
restriction on no. of virtual machines that can be handled with ease on
physical server.
VMware Server at a glance:
Architecture Hosted
9S /e:uire)ents Windows or 'inux
Typical 6se 0ases 0est E 4ev, +roduction
8edicated Server
/e:uired
8o
0entralized
Manage)ent 9ption
8o
;ase of 6se High
%erfor)ance =ood
4
;S< Server
!"# "erver is VMware9s flagship enterprise server virtualization
platform. (t comes in two versions , !"# "erver and !"#i "erver
where the latter has no service console and is the thinnest version
available. !"# "erver has many optional features li*e VMotion and
VMH. and some built&in features li*e the VMF" file system. Most end
users purchase VMware !"# "erver with some set of optional features
in a pac*age called VMware (nfrastructure. !"# "erver is managed by
the VMware (nfrastructure Client. (ts centralized management platform
is called Virtual Center.
*igure +: !"# server in !nterprise -Virtual infrastructure/
5
What is the need of ;S< Server?
(f you are an idealist then !"# is 7ust for you. (t possesses best
approaches to adopt the hardware abstraction and most effective
usage of your resources through vast available tools and services so
that you can maximize your infrastructure efficiency, reducing
operational cost by providing cost effective business continuity.
Technology behind ;S<:
Hypervisor , -Bare Metal/
Bare Metal means no C" is re)uired because it has its own *ernel
derived from linux withit provides greater resources for the virtual
machines, decreased cost of licensing and increased utilization of
servers.
Where ;S< server does fit for your environ)ent?
.s !"# is enterprise wide solution for virtualization to adopt effective
hardware abstraction, it best suits for large enterprises with enormous
resources.
6
Hardware and Software support with *eatures for ;S<:
Architecture:
. -are#)etal architecture5 VMware !"# inserts a robust virtualization
layer directly on the server hardware for near&native virtual machine
performance, reliability and scalability.


Fig5 Hypervisor -Baremetal/
$. S)all *ootprint5 VMware !"#i9s %$MB dis* footprint is a fraction of
the size of a general purpose operating system, reducing complexity
and providing unmatched security and reliability.
%. Server 'ntegration5 VMware !"#i is available built into server
hardware as an embedded component, simplifying and speeding
deployment of virtualization.
2. 0%6 virtualization5 (ncrease server utilization without the ris* of
critical services being starved for C+; resources. VMware !"# uses
intelligent process scheduling and load balancing across available
processors to manage the execution of virtual machine processing.
3. Storage in ;S< Server5 'everage high performance shared storage
to centralize virtual machine file storage for greater manageability,
flexibility and availability.
Virtual dis3 files5 .dd or delete a VMware !"# server from a
VMF" volume without pausing or halting the processing of other
instances of VMware !"#
VM*S cluster file syste)5 'everage high performance shared
storage to centralize virtual machine file storage for greater
manageability, flexibility and availability
=ogical volu)e )anager5 Manage the interaction between the
physical storage arrays and VMF" with flexibility and reliability
/aw device )apping5 Cptionally, map ".8 ';8s directly to a
virtual machine in order to enable application clustering and
7
array&based snapshot technology while profiting from the
manageability benefits of VMF"
*iber 0hannel H-A consolidation5 "hare expensive storage
networ* components across many virtual machines while
maintaining hardware fault tolerance
Write#through '>95 !nsure precise recovery of virtual
machines in the event of server failure. Write&through (@C
enables virtual machines to have the same recovery
characteristics as a physical system running the same operating
system.
-oot fro) SA2: :un VMware !"# installations on dis*less
configurations of blade and rac* mount servers by booting from
".8. "implify bac*ups and disaster recovery by eliminating the
need to separately bac*up local attached server dis*s
VM*S: &Virtual Machine *ile Syste)/ VMware Virtual Machine File "ystem
is a high performance cluster file system which provides storage
virtualization that is optimized for virtual machines. !ach virtual machine is
encapsulated in a small set of filesG and VMF" is the default storage
management interface for these files on physical "C"( dis*s and partitions.
Fig5 VMF" allows sharing of storage for multiple !"# servers
*eatures of VM*S:
0he technical features of VMF" that ma*e it suitable for use in a virtual
environment include5
. .utomated file system with hierarchical directory structure
$. Cptimization for virtual machines in a clustered environment
%. 'oc* management and distributed logical volume management
2. 4ynamic datastore expansion by spanning multiple storage extents
3. Clustered file system with 7ournal logging for fast recovery
1. !ncapsulation of the entire virtual machine state in a single
directory
8
-enefits of VM*S:
. .utomated Cluster File "ystem Capability
$. Cptimizes VM .ccess
%. !ncapsulates the !ntire VM "tate in a "ingle 4irectory
2. "implifies +rovisioning and .dministration of VMs
3. +rovides 4istributed (nfrastructure "ervices for Multi&!"# "ervers
1. Facilitates 4ynamic =rowth
>. (ntelligent Cluster Volume Management
A. !nables H. with 'ower Management Cverhead
H. "implifies 4isaster :ecovery
VM*S V>S other file syste)s:
Conventional file systems allow only one server to have read&
write access to the same file at a given time. (n contrast, VMF" is a
cluster file system that leverages shared storage to allow multiple
instances of !"# "erver concurrent read and write access to the same
storage resources. VMF" also has distributed 7ournaling to allow fast
and resilient recovery across these multi&server resource pools.
Cn&dis* loc*ing in VMF" ensures that a virtual machine is not
powered on by multiple installations of !"# "erver at the same time.
With VMware H. enabled, if a server fails the on&dis* loc* for each
virtual machine is released, allowing the virtual machine to be
restarted on other physical servers. Moreover, VMF" provides the VM
snapshot capabilities so necessary for disaster recovery, and is the
interface which VMware Consolidated Bac*up -VCB/ leverages to
provide proxy bac*up of virtual environments.
VMF" does not have every feature found today in other CF" and
CVM systems. However there is no other CF"@CVM that provides the
capabilities of VMF". (ts distributed loc*ing methods forge the lin*
between the VM and the underlying storage resources in a manner
that no other CF" or CVM can e)ual. 0he uni)ue capabilities of VMF"
allow VMs to 7oin a cluster seamlessly, with no management overhead.
1. 2etwor3ing in ;S< Server5 8etwor* virtual machines li*e physical
machines. Build complex networ*s within a single VMware !"# server
or across multiple installations of VMware !"# for production
deployments or development and testing purposes.
Virtual 2'0s: Configure each virtual machine with one or more
virtual 8(Cs. !ach of those networ* interfaces can have its own
(+ address and even its own M.C address. .s a result, virtual
machines are indistinguishable from physical machines from a
networ*ing standpoint
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Virtual switches5 Create a simulated networ* within a
VMware !"# server with virtual switches that connect virtual
machines.
;panded port configuration policies5 "implify port
configuration by utilizing a single configuration ob7ect across
large groups of ports. 0he configuration ob7ect specifies all
information needed to enable a port5 8(C teaming policy -now
per port instead of per virtual switch/, V'.8 tagging, 'ayer $
security, and traffic shaping.
V=A2: Cverlay a logical '.8 on top of physical '.8s to isolate
networ* traffic for security and load segregation purposes.
VMware !"# V'.8s are compatible with standard V'.8
implementations from other vendors. Modify networ*
configurations without having to change actual cabling and
switch setups. V'.8s *eep broadcast traffic limited to the V'.8,
reducing the networ* load of broadcast pac*ets on other
switches and networ* segments.
%erfor)ance and Scalability:
VMware !"# delivers unparalleled performance and scalability. With VMware
!"#, even the most resource intensive production applications such as
databases, !:+ and C:M can be virtualized.
. ;nhanced virtual )achine perfor)ance5 Benefit from better
virtual machine performance in VMware !"#. +erformance
improvements have been achieved through5
2etwor3ing perfor)ance opti)ization5 :educe the C+;
overhead associated with processing networ* i@
Support for hardware nested page tables5 Cptimize
memory translation time between guest operating systems and
physical memory
Support for large )e)ory pages5 (mprove memory access
efficiency for guest operating systems and the Hypervisor
Support for %ara virtualized =inu guest operating
syste)s -'inux *ernel $.1.$ onwards/. :un higher levels of
performance through virtualization&aware operating systems
., Advanced )e)ory )anage)ent:
/AM over#co))it)ent5 (ncrease memory utilization by
configuring virtual machine memory that safely exceeds the
physical server memory. For example, the sum of the memory
of all virtual machines running on a server with A=B physical
memory can be 1=B
Transparent page sharing5 ;tilize available memory more
efficiently by storing memory pages identical across multiple
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virtual machines only once. For example, if several virtual
machines are running Windows "erver $<<%, they will have
many identical memory pages. 0ransparent page sharing
consolidates those identical pages into a single memory
location.
Me)ory ballooning5 "hift memory dynamically from idle
virtual machines to active ones. Memory ballooning artificially
induces memory pressure within idle virtual machines, forcing
them to use their own paging areas and release memory for
active virtual machines.
%. ')proved power )anage)ent5 'ower the data center utility bill
with improved power management. VMware !"# enters a low power
IhaltJ state when a C+; is not scheduled.
2. $#Way Virtual SM%&Sy))etric )ultiple processor(5 !nable a
single virtual machine to use up to four physical processors
simultaneously. VMware !"# extends this uni)ue feature from two to
four processors. With 2&way Virtual "M+ even the most processor
intensive software applications li*e databases and messaging servers
can be virtualized.
3. "$?- /AM for virtual )achines5 :un the most memory&intensive
wor*loads in virtual machines with a memory limit extended to 12=B.
1. Support for powerful physical server syste)s5 0a*e advantage of
very large server systems with up to %$ logical C+;s and $31=B :.M
for large scale server consolidation and 4: pro7ects.
>. Support for up to +.! powered#on virtual )achines5 0a*e
advantage of very large server systems for enterprise&class server
consolidation and containment with support for up to $A powered on
virtual machines on a single server.
A. *leible virtual switches5 "cale up to handle more virtual
machines. Virtual switches can be created with any number of ports
from A to <1, and up to $2A virtual switches are supported per host.
H. Wa3e#on =A2: !nable higher consolidation ratios by allowing virtual
machines to go on stand&by mode when not used.
'nteroperability:
VMware !"# is the only virtualization platform optimized, rigorously tested
and certified across the complete (0 stac* of servers, storage, operating
11
systems, and software applications allowing for enterprise&wide
standardization.
. Hardware: VMware !"# has been certified with industry&leading
rac*, tower and blade servers from 4ell, Fu7itsu "iemens, H+, (BM,
8!C, "un Microsystems and ;nisys as well as servers that conform to
(ntel white&box standard specifications.
VMware !"#i is integrated into server hardware guaranteeing that
virtualization wor*s out of the box.
$. Storage: VMware !"# is certified with a wide range of storage
systems from, 4ell, !MC, !)ual'ogic, Fu7itsu, Fu7itsu "iemens, H+,
Hitachi 4ata "ystems, (BM, 8!C, 8etwor* .ppliance, "torage0e*, "un
Microsystems and %+.: and many other vendors.
Heterogeneous storage arrays5 ;tilize a wide variety of
heterogeneous storage devices in the same VMF" volume
2AS and iS0S' SA2 support5 By supporting lower&cost, more
easily managed shared storage, VMware !"# further reduces
total cost of ownership of (0 environments. .dvanced VMware
(nfrastructure features li*e VMotion and VMware H. are fully
supported with 8." and i"C"( environments
$?- *ibre 0hannel SA2 support5 Centralize management
and configuration of all VMware !"# servers in VirtualCenter.
=ocal SATA storage support5 ;se select servers with local
".0. storage to further lower total cost of ownership while
consolidating wor*loads
%. 2etwor3ing: ;se high performance networ*ing such as < =ig ! and
(nfiniband with VMware !"# %.3 and VMware !"#i %.3 for the most
networ* intensive wor*loads
2. 9perating syste)s5 :un any software application in VMware virtual
machines.
12&bit guest operating system suppor
"olaris < operating system suppor
Windows Vista operating system support
;buntu guest operating system support
3. Software applications with third party systems management
products through Web services .+(s provided by the VMware
(nfrastructure "4K.
1. Support for other virtual )achine for)ats5 VMware !"# can run
virtual machines created in non&VMware formats. ;sing the free
VMware Virtual Machine (mporter users can run MicrosoftL Virtual
"erver and Virtual +C, and "ymantecL 'ive"tate :ecovery virtual
machines in VMware !"#.
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Manage)ent:
. /e)ote 0o))and =ine 'nterface. Manage VMware !"#i through a
remote execution environment that can run VMware !"# command
scripts.
$. Advanced )anageability and usability features5 VMware
!"# enables management of entire virtualized (0 environment.
%. SM'#S#0o)pliant Manage)ent 'nterfaces5 Monitor virtual storage
using any standard "M(&"&aware storage management tool.
2. Virtual 'nfrastructure 0lient5 Manage VMware !"#, virtual
machines, and -optionally/ VMware vCenter "erver with a common
user interface.

3. Virtual 'nfrastructure Web Access5 Manage VMware !"# with
simple Web interface -formerly *nown as the Management ;ser
(nterface, or M;(/.
1. Virtual )achine shortcuts: !nable self&help for end users with direct
access to virtual machines through a Web browser.
>. /e)ote devices: (nstall software in a virtual machine running on a
server from the C4&:CM of a des*top without leaving your des*.
A. Agent#less Hardware Manage)ent with 0'M5 0he Common
(nformation Model -C(M/ provides a protocol for monitoring hardware
health and status through VirtualCenter or C(M&compatible %rd party
tools.
Fig5 !"#&Virtual Center
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/esource 9pti)ization:
(t defines advanced resource allocation policies for virtual machines to
improve service levels to software applications. !stablish minimum,
maximum, and proportional resource shares for C+;, memory, dis* and
networ* bandwidth. Modify allocations while virtual machines are running.
!nable applications to dynamically ac)uire more resources to
accommodate pea* performance.
. 0%6 capacity prioritization5 C+; capacity is assigned to virtual
machines on a Ifair shareJ basis and C+; resource controls also allow
an absolute minimum level of C+; capacity to be provided to critical
virtual machines
$. Storage '>9 traffic prioritization: !nsure that critical virtual
machines receive priority access to storage devices. (@C traffic from
virtual machines to dis* can be prioritized on a Ifair shareJ basis.
%. 2etwor3 Traffic Shaper5 !nsure that critical virtual machines
receive priority access to networ* bandwidth. 8etwor* traffic from
virtual machines can be prioritized on a Ifair shareJ basis. 8etwor*
0raffic "haper manages virtual machine networ* traffic to meet pea*
bandwidth, average bandwidth and burst size constraints.
2. /esource %ool: .ggregate collections of hardware resources
virtualized by VMware !"# into unified logical resources that can be
allocated to virtual machines on&demand. :esource pools increase
flexibility and hardware utilization.
Security:
. 0o)patibility with SA2 security practices5 !nforce security
policies with ';8 zoning and ';8 mas*ing.
$. V=A2 tagging5 !nhance networ* security by tagging and filtering
networ* traffic on V'.8s. 'imit the scope of broadcast domains.
%. =ayer . networ3 security policies5 !nforce security for virtual
machines at the !thernet layer. 4isallow promiscuous mode sniffing of
networ* traffic, M.C address changes, and forged source M.C
transmits.
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;S< V0-&VMware 0onsolidated bac3up(:
VCB is a group of Windows command line utilities, installed on a
Windows system, that has ".8 connectivity to the !"# "erver VMF"
file system. With VCB, you can perform file level or image level
bac*ups and restores of the VM guests, bac* to the VCB server. FFf
Fig5 !"#&VCB
;S<#V)otion:
VM guests are able to move from one !"# "erver to another with no
downtime for the users. What is re)uired is a shared ".8 storage
system between the !"# "ervers and a VMotion license.
15
Fig5 !"#&Vmotion
;S< at a glance:
Architecture Hypervisor
9S /e:uire)ents 8one
Typical 6se 0ases +roduction, 0est E 4ev
8edicated Server
/e:uired
?es
0entralized
Manage)ent 9ption
?es
;ase of 6se High
%erfor)ance
Best
0o)parison between VMware ;S< Server and VMware Server using
V#Mar3:
:unning VMmar* using !"# "erver on an H+ 4'3A3 with four $.$=Hz dual&
core processors and then ran VMmar* on VMware "erver using a similar H+
4'3A3 with four $.2 =Hz dual&core processors. 0he result is as below5
16
0hese results show that !"# "erver not only achieves higher throughput than
VMware "erver for a single VMmar* tile -1 wor*load VMs/ but also exhibits
better scalability when a second tile is added
17