what is virtualization
Virtualization is the buzzword in the hosting industry, and although we’ve heard a lot of terms like ‘virtual servers’ or ‘virtual machines’, the idea behind virtual has always been blurred. Well, virtual is the absence of physical but it doesn’t mean it is not real. The aim of this blog post is to help you understand virtualization and specifically server virtualization in-depth, as well as, why virtualization is important.
Let us start by understanding what virtualization is. Virtualization essentially is the act of dividing or creating virtual/digital versions of a real-time physical object. In terms of technology, this object could be a computer software or hardware, network resources or even storage devices.
You must have heard this frequently, ‘partitioning your hard drive.’ Well, what does this mean? Do you break your hard drive into two or does it mean you divide the memory? I am sure you must have guessed it correctly, it is the latter. So basically, anything that you divide into two or more parts though not physically can be said to be virtualization.
Now, coming to the technological aspect or rather the server aspect we’re trying to understand here. Virtualization can be said to be dividing your operating system or server into two parts but at the same time, the hardware remains the same. If you divide your Operating System it is called as ‘Soft Partitioning’ whereas, if you’re dividing your server it is called as ‘Hard Partitioning’, Either way, this is virtualization. As a user, you can partition your own hardware if it is for independent use. However, if it is on a large scale and you want to host multiple website then the hosting company provides you with pre-partitioned servers most commonly known as VPS Hosting.
Now, that we’ve covered partitioning, in general, let us move ahead understanding, what server virtualization is.
What is Server Virtualization?
In server virtualization, a physical server is partitioned into multiple virtual servers of different sizes with the help of the Hypervisor software. The main aim of server virtualization isolation from other virtual servers thereby making sure the server utilises its maximum resources. These isolated virtual environments are known as Virtual Machines or Virtual Private Servers. Each of these isolated servers acts as a whole machine with its own dedicated resources and complete control with no interference from the other.
What are the benefits of Server Virtualization?
Implementing server virtualization is the perfect solution for SMBs that receive mid to heavy traffic. Apart from this, here are 4 benefits of server virtualization:
- There is more data protection and it is easier to backup your data in a virtual server in case of server failure
- Virtualization helps in better resource management as the virtual servers, in essence, share the same physical server and its resources
- Virtual servers give you the feel of a dedicated server with complete isolation and dedicated features. However, it is more cost-effective as the servers are a part of a single physical server so you need not invest in your own dedicated server
- Server virtualization makes sure that your server is provisioning and installed within minutes. As virtualization clones an existing virtual machine, it helps in saving tons of time required to install a new physical server.
If you’re wondering which hosting type usually follows the server virtualization principle, it is VPS Hosting, also known as Virtual Private Server Hosting. With VPS Hosting you get to experience all the features of virtualization like full-root access, instant server provisioning, along with an integrated cPanel for easy website management.
If you’re considering VPS Hosting for your website and are still unsure, here are 5 reasons why VPS Hosting is ideal for growing businesses. We hope you found this article helpful, should you have any queries, feel free to get in touch with us.