Server Virtualization

Server Virtualization

Server virtualization refers to logical partitioning of a server into multiple servers in which each logical server has its copy of the operating system, applications and other resources to mimic the functionality of a physical server. This can be achieved with the help of a software called as Virtual software that enables the creation of logical systems called as virtual machines each virtual machine is an autonomous, isolated virtual system that behaves precisely similar to that of a physical system with the same configuration.

The need of server virtualization: Most of the organizations have several servers and systems in their IT infrastructure but never use their processing resources up to an optimal level thereby resulting in wastage of resources in terms of maintenance costs and establishment costs. In such a case, the available processing capabilities could be virtualized such that it reduces the requirement of additional hardware resources to meet the increase in processing and computing demands in future. So, virtualization benefits in reducing the expenses involved in the establishment and maintenance of IT infrastructure in the small and medium scale organizations. Also, they can host the surplus of their computing capabilities for other organizations with the help of cloud virtualization.

Working principle of server virtualization: In server virtualization, each virtual server is created on an existing server so that each virtual server can be considered as a different physical server such that it performs and behaves as a physical system does. Upon each virtual server, an operating system and other applications will be installed with the help of virtualization software like VM ware which controls and manages the virtual server and its configuration. In most of the servers, only a small part of their overall processing capabilities are utilized to provide its designated services. Hence, in such cases, virtualization helps to provide additional servers without the need for physical hardware. Still, it is also needed to be aware that the increase in the number of applications will increase in the complexity and inconsistency of the systems, thereby increasing downtime and making them unreliable. In a real-time environment, each virtual server will be dedicated only for a single task to avoid inconsistency and complexity.

Case study on preparedness for virtualization in a company: Virtualization technologies have emerging day by day and are being encouraged by most of the companies across the world to support migrating into a virtual server environment. Most of the leading organizations have found it effective to employ server virtualization to eliminate recurring problems with physical server management.

Blitz and China-based e-wallet company operating across different countries in Asia, delivering its services are planning to migrate into a virtualized environment. The company has its existing servers to maintain the services related to the customers, services related to banking and finance, services of the company partners and affiliates. All the data is being maintained by a third party company to host the company services online with the help of a website and a web app. The data is being hosted on the company-owned data centre as well as the third-party company due to the recent increase in demand for organizing the company’s data and increase in the number of visitors of the website. Also, the company is spending 20% of its annual turnover towards maintenance and disaster preparedness to ensure the reliability of customer data and compliance of the data policies in the country.

Now, Blitz has decided to migrate to a virtualized server environment to have an optimal usage of the available computational resources owned by the company thereby cutting down the computational costs involved for hosting its data on third-party servers. Also, the company is proposed to release crypto wallet besides e-wallet services that require security and availability’s the company has redesigned its services to be provided in a cloud-based environment.

The following are the enhancements supposed to be present on the proposed cloud-based server environment: Improved efficiency: The available computational resources can be optimally utilized thereby increasing the capability of the existing systems without any additional maintenance costs. Faster Deployment: As the nature of the system is supposed to be a cloud-based, deployment of the services can be done instantly without affecting the existing services thereby allowing quick evolution of the company in the market. High availability: Cloud- Virtualization ensures the availability of the server by increasing the fault tolerance and reducing the overall downtime. Economical: Virtualization reduces the increase in demand for physical systems. So it is chosen economical in terms of maintenance and establishment costs. Scalability: Implementation of virtualization and cloud computing in an IT environment increases the ability to scale up whenever required without much effort

Overview of Microsoft server’s licensing models for use in virtual environments

Per Core/CAL licensing model:

Each Windows Server license pack applies to two cores (considering minimum two cores for a multi core-based processor architecture). Every physical system must have enough licenses for at least 16 cores, even if it has fewer cores, for example, the system with eight cores and system with a CPU of 16 cores must have a license purchased for 16 cores. Every Central Processing Unit in a system should contain enough permits for at least eight cores, even if it has a smaller amount cores. For example, if we have 2 CPUs each of 4 cores in a server and another server with 2 CPUs of 8 cores each, then both of them must have 16 licenses each

Per install model

Each Windows Server ordinary license allows for two Windows Server Standard virtual instances on the covered cores. Which means you can run two VMs on each core running two examples if Windows Server. Each ordinary license is “stackable” so that you can avail the number of permits for the same core in a CPU as per the requirement. For example, you can purchase six licenses for the single-core on the CPU of a server. Every core in the system should have enough permissions to run every Windows Server instance independently accommodated by the physical appliance. Shared storage for high availability in virtual environments.

The working principle of storage virtualization is to pool up and share storage assets across different systems over a network and uses it as a single instance commonly owned by them. Storage virtualization allows separating the data present on a storage device from its logical representation. With this approach, the client doesn’t have to be concerned about the setting of their data, which will be recognized using a rational path by the storage system itself. Storage virtualization provides a wide array of storage space facilities and represents them in a single coherent file system.

Besides, representation of data on shared storage as a single unit of hard drive space, this also allows for information migration between drives without any downtime that is a desirable feature in any surroundings. There are diverse techniques for storage virtualization, which is one of the most popular and famous network-based virtualizations by means of storing area networks (SANs). They use a network connection to provide storage facilities over a network. Storage virtualization aids in reducing the high administrative overhead of running SANs by giving an easy to use environment to perform storage and retrieval, backup and recovery of data in a short time which enables crucial storage services such as data imitation (redundancy), and data relocation which is very important for organizations that handle sensitive information and require high factor of availability

Microsoft Azure

Azure is a cloud computing-based virtual platform and a virtual Infrastructure designed to build, deploy and manage a variety of cross-platform applications and services by Microsoft. Azure is an example of an Infrastructure as a service (IaaS).

Virtualization

Microsoft Azure offers numerous services for different type’s.Creation and running of virtual machines in cloud are one of the most common uses for Microsoft Azure which enables cloud virtualization feature.

Resource Management

Besides virtualization, Azure can host infrastructure components like DNS servers or Windows Server services such as Internet Information Services (IIS) or any other user applications. The feature enables web-based services to be deployed on the cloud platform.

Database Hosting

Azure can also be used to contain a database in the cloud. Microsoft presents built-in serverless relational databases such as Azure SQL which facilitate easy database management. This is significant in maintaining the application data on the same environment in which the application services are hosted without the need for additional database servers.

Backup and Recovery

Microsoft Azure also provides disaster and backup revival. Organizations may also implement Azure as an option to their information centre for reliable backup. This is essential in terms of data reliability and for the success of the corporation in the competitive world.

References

Chao, T., Pandey, V., & Yao, W. (2017). U.S. Patent No. 9,661,112. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Huh, J. H., & Seo, K. (2016). Design and testbed experiments of server operation system using virtualization technology. Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences, 6(1), 1.

Kedem, Z., Burshan, C. Y., Kuszpet, Y., & Levonai, G. (2019). U.S. Patent No. 10,430,224. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.