Server Virtualization and Cloud Computing

Virtualization entails creating a virtual representation of components such as operating systems, servers, networks, or storage devices to allow their usage on multiple machines simultaneously. Server virtualization is, therefore, the process involved in creating multiple virtual instances on the servers, enabling each instance to work independently. Server virtualization incorporates cloud computing to enable access to data stored in these virtualized servers using authentication through the internet.

Organizations’ Environment and Preparedness for Virtualization

Server Virtualization is applicable in SaleLine, an e-commerce business that sells electronics to a large customer base through online services. The company uses cloud computing for its website, and through this, they have experienced many benefits related to storage, security, and data management. The incorporation of server virtualization is necessary for SaleLine to help install more applications and operating systems in the company without affecting the hardware and electricity budget. It is also needed to increase storage virtualization and simplify backup activities.

Microsoft Licensing for Virtualized Environment

Microsoft offers many available tools to manage server virtualization together with its volume licensing. For example, the Windows® Server 2012 with Hyper- V® is a tool used in the optimization of server hardware through consolidating many server functions and partitioning then into a host machine. The Hyper-V® tool also runs various operating systems together on one server. Installing these tools improves data availability, scalability, and disaster recovery capabilities. The Hyper-V® tool can support around 64 nodes in one cluster and up to 8000 virtual machines that contain up to 1TB per virtual machine in every cluster. Through incremental back-ups and clustering enhancements of this tool, a company can increase its system availability and improve its disaster recovery capabilities.