Virtualization in Cloud Computing and Types

Virtualization is the process of creating a virtual instance of hardware such as a server, storage, network, or other physical machines. It supports multiple copies of virtual machines(VMs) to execute on one physical machine each with its own operating system. This optimizes hardware efficiency and flexibility & enables resources to be shared between multiple customers or organizations.

Virtualization uses special software known as Hypervisor, that can create many virtual computers in a single physical computer. The Virtual Machines behave like a real computer but use the same physical hardware.

Hypervisors

A hypervisor, also known as a virtual machine monitor (VMM), is software that allows multiple operating systems (OSs) or virtual machines (VMs) to run concurrently on a single physical computer or server. It acts as a layer between the physical hardware and the virtualized environments, managing and allocating resources like CPU, memory, and storage to the VMs.

Type 1 Hypervisor (Native or Bare-Metal Hypervisor):

• The hypervisor is installed directly onto the computer hardware, without an operating system sitting in between.

• It is highly efficient as it has direct access to hard resources.

Type 2 Hypervisor:

• It is run over an installed operating system (such as Windows or macOS).

• It's employed when you need to execute more than 1 operating system on a single machine.

Types of Virtualization

Server Virtualization: This splits a physical server into multiple virtual servers, each functioning independently. It helps improve performance, cut costs, and makes tasks like server migration and energy management easier.

Network Virtualization: This allows multiple virtual networks to run on the same physical network, each operating independently. You can quickly set up virtual switches, routers, and firewalls, making network management more flexible and efficient.

Desktop Virtualization: Desktop virtualization is a process in which you can create different virtual desktops that users can use from any device like a laptop, or tablet. It’s great for users who need flexibility, as it simplifies software updates and provides portability.

Application Virtualization: Application virtualization enables remote access by which users can directly interact with deployed applications without installing them on their local machine. Your personal data and the application settings are stored on the server, but you can still run it locally via the internet. It’s useful if you need to work with multiple versions of the same software. Common examples include hosted or packaged apps.

Data Virtualization: This brings data from different sources together in one place without needing to know where or how it’s stored. It creates a unified view of the data, which can be accessed remotely via cloud services.