Introduction
Dittner & Rule (2011) describe virtualization as a methodology or framework of dividing the computer hardware’s resources into several execution environments, by utilizing the concepts or technologies, for example, complete or partial machine simulation, software and hardware partitioning, and time-sharing, among others. Virtualization is, thus, an abstraction of the resources of a computer hardware. As a software technology, virtualization facilitates the running of several operating systems on the similar server simultaneously (Cartwright, Mills, Langone, & Leibovici, 2014). In the contemporary information technology, there exist different forms of virtualization. The present paper delves into two of these forms, namely, server virtualization and desktop virtualization. Specifically, the paper describes the infrastructure, infrastructure implementation, benefits, and drawbacks for each form of virtualization.
Server virtualization is the act of converting one physical server into numerous virtual spaces, which several users can take up according to their particular requirements. In other words, a single server source is divided into various virtual servers. Yamamoto and Yoshihiko (2008) suggest that this form of virtualization facilitates the flexible creation of virtual servers with nearly no limitations of the hardware, thus, allowing the utilization of virtual servers in the contemporary changing business environment. There are different types of server virtualization. These include the operating system virtualization, full virtualization, para-virtualization, and native virtualization.
The server virtualization infrastructure includes the virtual machine monitors (VMMs), hypervisor, and virtual machine (VM). The effective implementation of server virtualization infrastructure requires one first to install the servers with centralized management platform and virtualization hypervisor. The next steps involve configuring the servers with correct network settings and IP addresses as well as securing and managing the virtual environment. The other step involves backing up the servers.
One of the advantages of server virtualization is that it eradicates the need for various dedicated servers. Isolation and partitioning facilitate the safe and simple consolidation of the server. As a result, the number of physical servers is significantly reduced. It is worth noting that the reduced number of servers further reduces power consumption, floor space as well as the air conditioning costs. Server virtualization is cost effective due to the availability of the server software installation provisioning in most times. The server virtualization also provides a flexible information technology infrastructure. It also enhances the organization’s disaster recovery solution (Barnier, Brown, Dittmann, Koziel, Welle, & Westermeier, 2008). Furthermore, the virtual servers provide the ability for various IP addresses, file directories, and domain names.
However, server virtualization has some disadvantages. First of all, server virtualization limits the storage space. As a matter of fact, one physical computer in server virtualization is divided into numerous servers, thus, affecting the disk space. Besides, server virtualization limits the speed of the processing power. As a result, this increases the time taken to complete a particular task. The other disadvantage of server virtualization is that it is not compatible with all the machines. Furthermore, a person cannot handle server virtualization without the necessary skills and knowledge. It necessitates the training of the users.
The desktop virtualization involves decoupling one desktop component from the device and other components. Dittner & Rule (2011) claim that this form of virtualization helps the companies minimize the costs while offering added layers of security as well as keeping control of their customer environment at no extra cost. The virtual desktop infrastructure is essentially the act of hosting the operating system of a desktop in a virtual machine, which runs on a centralized server (Dittner & Rule, 2011). The virtual desktop infrastructure allows fully personalized desktops for every user with all the centralized management’s simplicity and security.
The successful implementation of a virtual desktop infrastructure requires one first to develop the business case then assess the remote, storage and virtual environments. After doing this, one is required to determine the desktop user environment and then evaluate the physical desktop environmental metrics such as memory statistics, storage, CPU, and network. The next step involves examining the available major architectural choices. The other step involves generating a pilot implementation framework and lastly, implementing and managing the virtual desktop infrastructure.
One of the benefits of desktop virtualization is that it enables one to access desktop environment from any place and at any time through WAN and LAN. Besides, desktop virtualization improves security due to centralized administration. In the data center, the data is secure (Barnier et al., 2008). In essence, one can apply as well as monitor the firewall/antivirus policies from the data center. Additionally, the centralized administration and hosting in desktop virtualization facilitate the recovery/backup of all the user data. Moreover, desktop virtualization solutions usually support the local graphics acceleration, local printing, and local USB drivers. The use of virtual desktop infrastructure also helps in saving money and time as well as enhancing the update speeds. What is more, the settings of desktop virtualization software let the administrators limit or allocate server resources, thus, eliminating over-consumption by the users.
Nevertheless, there are some disadvantages associated with desktop virtualization. One of these disadvantages is that it is hard to handle the high-definition video using this form of virtualization. Besides, desktop virtualization products only support a few operating systems. Moreover, the deployment of desktop virtualization technology calls for more-skilled support employees. The bandwidth latency in desktop virtualization also affects the performance. Furthermore, a number of vendor desktop virtualization solutions limit the customers’ choices because they must work with server virtualization. What is more, the network infrastructure must handle all the additional bandwidth introduced by the desktop virtualization.
Conclusively, both desktop and server virtualization are essentially transforming the information technology landscape as well as how individuals use technology. As a matter of fact, they improve the scalability, flexibility, and agility of the information technology. It also creates substantial cost savings by facilitating the reduction in both the operating and capital costs. However, while desktop virtualization works completely on the network, server virtualization does not essentially add any extra load to the network.
References
Barnier, R. C., Brown, C. L., Dittmann, C. P. F., Koziel, P., Welle, M., & Westermeier, J. T. (2008). Virtualization and Its Benefits. Retrieved from http://www.barniergroup.com/docs/wp/Virtualization%20and%20Its%20Benefits.pdf
Cartwright, R., Mills, C., Langone, J., & Leibovici, A. (2014). VMware Horizon 6 Desktop Virtualization Solutions. Packt Publishing Ltd.
Dittner, R., & Rule Jr, D. (2011). The Best Damn Server Virtualization Book Period: Including Vmware, Xen, and Microsoft Virtual Server. Syngress.
Yamamoto, T. and Yoshihiko, O. (2008). Server Virtualization Technology and Its Latest Trends. Fujitsu Sci. Tech. J, 44(1), 46-52. Retrieved from https://www.fujitsu.com/us/Images/paper06.pdf
