There are three main ways of virtualization of computer systems: workstation virtualization, server virtualization and system virtualization. One of the essential objectives of practically all types of virtualization is making the most effective utilization of accessible framework assets. Virtualization highlights the thought of Green Computing by solidifying servers and boosting CPU transforming control on different servers. Capacity virtualization makes it workable for frameworks to get to an imparted stockpiling subsystem.
Workstation virtualization enables running two or more computer systems on one set of physical equipment. With virtualization, a system could consolidate a few physical systems into virtual computers on one single framework, accordingly unplugging the first equipment and lessening power and cooling utilization.
Server virtualization offers a way to consolidate servers by allowing you to run multiple different workloads on one physical host server. A virtual server is a software implementation that executes programs like a real server. Multiple virtual servers can work simultaneously on one physical host server. Therefore, instead of operating many servers at low utilization, virtualization combines the processing power onto fewer servers that operate at higher total utilization.
System virtualization enables workloads to be easily consolidated onto, and migrated between, physical servers. This can enable, for example, the consolidation of scale-out applications onto multi-core servers, as well as the redeployment of workloads as a function of load. Based on these management capabilities, virtualization has quickly become a fundamental underlying technology for data centers. Indeed, a system virtualization layer is often a component of the stack in modern enterprise deployments.
Virtualization improves scalability, reduces downtime, and enables faster deployments. In addition, it speeds up disaster recovery efforts because virtual servers can restart applications much more rapidly than physical servers. With virtualization, you can move entire systems from one physical server to another in just a few seconds to optimize workloads or to perform maintenance without causing downtime. Some virtualization solutions also have built-in resiliency features, such as high availability, load balancing and fail-over capabilities.
Wu-chun Feng (Editor): THE GREEN COMPUTING BOOK: Tackling Energy Efficiency at Large Scale
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, USA.