How Do You Explain Virtualization to Your Mom? Categories: Data Center, (1 Mansped Services ‘Ac VMWare's annual conference, VMworld, virtualization experts were asked “How do you explain virtualization to your mom?" Here's wnat some of them had to say." “Something that you can't really se but it exists?” “tes lke Santa Claus.” “its @ computer that’s in the other computer's imagination.” “ts lke a dream within a dream, but that other dream goes alittle slower than the dream before it.” “1s lke a microwave: i's magi.” “Like driving an invisible car. and you can copy it as many times as you want to.” “te curns the one oven at Thanksgiving into five.” Experts or not I dont think anyone's mam would be closer to understanding virualization with these explanations! “The facts, virtualization is complicated and therefore often remains a nebulous, unutized tool. In the 15+ ‘years that viralization has been widely used, about 70% of SMBs have stil not adopted the technology. A technical definition of vitualization would tll you itis the means of creating a vitual version ofa device or resource (Le, a server, storage device, network, or OS) with a framework hat divides resources, ut... what does ‘that mean? Because virtualization is confusing, business efficiency suffers through antiquated technology. Dorit let the confusion hold your resources hostage. I's time to unpack virtualization so you can fully utlize it as a powerful tool ‘The Pre-Virtualization World In a world before virtualization, servers would traditionally run one application on ene server with one ‘operating system. In the old system, the number of servers would continue to mount since every new app required its own server and operating system. ‘As a result, expensive hardware resources were being purchased, but not used. Each server would only use. about 128 ofits resources. Almost 88% of server resources wer ‘completely unutilized.The Virtualized World ‘Although virtualization technology has existed in various forms since the late 1960s, mainstream adoption didn't occur until the early 2000s. ‘Virtualization is possible because of a software layer called a hypervisor. The first step ofthe vitualization process isinstaling the hypervisor onto a server. [After the hypervisor is up and running, multiple “software containers’ known as virtual machines (VMs) are bull on top ofthe hypervisor. All ofthe VMs are isolated from each other. ‘Once the VMs have been built on top ofthe hypervisor, applications and operating systems can be added to ‘each VM. Every app and operating system placed on the server ives ina separate VM, wich means if an app lor operating system goes down on one VM, none of the other apps er operating systems on the other VMS. are affected So how do the VMs interact with the hardware resources? Ths is where the hypervisor comes in: the hypervisor is able to distribute the underlying resources based on what each VM needs, Resources (ike memory, storage, processors, and networking) are pooled together so that every VM can get exactly what it needs for its ideal performance, Ione VM needs more memory than other apps, the hypervisor can allocate more memory for that VM. If another needs more storage, the hypervisor can allocate more storage, And so on, Virtualization lets you run more applications on fewer physical servers. Rather than ene application running fon one server with one operating system, multiple VMs run multiple apps and operating systems on one physical server, Explore more of the benefits of a vitualized environment here. The Bus Metaphor Justin case this still muddled or confusing, here's how would explain vitualization to my mom. Virtualization fs like a schoel bus, Before the school bus was invented, every parent used their own ca rive their kid to school, using extra gas and resources—puttng all ofthe Kis into one vehicle wasrit an the school bus was introduced, exposing the ineicency of every parent driving their kid to schoo! separately. By using the school bus, parents could use less gas and fewer vehicles all while transporting more kids. | know this s an overly simplified breaksown of a complex topic (which may cause you to breakout singing “The Wheels on the Bus), but I think my morn would appreciate it Willyou use virtualization? My goal isnt just to help you answer your mother's question “wat is itualization?” by saying "Ils the logical livsion of system resources provided between clients and devices.. ofcourse” My goal isto make sure that your business and IT are running as efficiently as possible.@ Virtualization can help! vveow Explore your options with CCB, We can help you optimize your resour Have questions about vitualization? Want to tell us how you explain vitwalization to your mom? Let us know votes below: sere ‘wvworld quotes courtesy of Spatk Mesa Solutions} sure OO wm ‘Back Tol Posts contact cca My tore ‘Subscribe to our newslett Work email Submit 1.900.342.4222 2873 Carll Avenue, Racine, WIS3404 "7500 Green Pay Road #105, Kenosha, 153042 OOK ate CoB Return Policy Shipping & Oevery Legal Dsdaimer Privacy Policy sitemap