virtual - adjective, temporarily simulated or extended by computer software When the technical team started talking about going virtual, I thought brilliant the future is here, when does my cool visor and headset arrive? I had visions of a second life / Sims style working environment - I would sit at home in my slippers and via a stylishly designed image of myself visit customers and the office in some online virtual world. I was halfway through designing my alter egos outfit when I was brought back to the real world with a bump. It seems that the technology employed by Tom Cruise in the movie Minority Reports is not quite with us yet, unfortunately! So what is virtualization then?When IT companies talk about virtualization, they are usually referring to server virtualization – this means the partitioning of one physical server into several virtual servers. Each virtual machine can interact independently with other hardware, applications, data and users as though it were a separate physical server. You may already know a bit about virtualisation if you've ever divided your computer's hard drive into different partitions, where a hard drive is divided to create two separate hard drives - this is virtualization just on a smaller scale. Why have virtual servers instead of a real one?Save money - By needing less hardware - the average server will run at approximately 10% to 15% of total capacity, with virtualisation you can run several functions on one server cutting down on wasted server space. In the reduction of hardware you are also saving on powering and cooling the servers (which is also good for the environment) Increased Capacity - Many businesses are turning to virtualization when they want to boost the capacity of there IT network without purchasing new hardware. Flexibility - Virtual servers can be moved around easily without rearranging your server room or office. Virtualisation also frees up valuable office space by cutting down on your server footprint. Efficient - Functions such as backing up, archiving, desktop management and disaster recovery are easier and quicker with virtual servers. Less time will be spent maintaining the physical hardware as there is less of it – which means less down time for your business. Is virtualisation for you?If you are a small business with one server and a few desktops then this is probably not a great investment of your IT budget at the moment. If you have more than one server it is something to think about and consider next time you are looking to improve or upgrade your IT network. If you have 3 or more servers this is something that you should seriously consider implementing into your infrastructure. The momentum around virtualisation is likely to continue in the next few years with companies who are looking to cut their carbon footprint, save money and invest in a more efficient reliable network, taking the leap into a virtualized world. Watch this virtual space! |