Virtualization software such as that from VMware or XenSource from Citrix lets a single desktop computer simultaneously run several copies of operating systems like Microsoft's XP as processes on the desktop machine. This turns a single physical machine into a number of different computers, increasing hardware utilization and system flexibility. Virtualization is changing the way corporations and home users use their computers.
Virtualization Is Flexible And Easy
Virtualization is a good idea because it helps manage computer complexity. Rather than try to juggle multiple installations of subtly different software, a computer user can now experiment with beta software within the safe confines of a virtual machine. When the user is finished with their test, the virtual machine can be stopped or even deleted.
There is no way for the beta software (which may be buggy) to interfere with the physical machine's operating system or its software. The effects of the beta software are kept within the virtual machine. Rather than install everyone onto a single machine, users can now take advantage of the completely separate environment offered by their own unique VM.
Home Users and Virtualization
Home users can take advantage of virtualization as both Citrix and VMware make available a number of their products for free. A home user can install a basic operating system. This would be just XP or Vista with no Office installation, no web browser, or any other applications. The home machine would then be run as a virtual machine which is where all the applications like Office are installed.
Advantages are that any problems with the home machine can be easily fixed by rolling back to a previous snapshot of the virtual machine (snapshots are support by the virtualization system and are an easy way to protect against errors). As there is only a minimal operating system installed on the physical machine the chance of it failing is significantly reduced and, if it does, it's easier to fix.
The user is then free to define different virtual machines for different tasks: one for trying out new software, another for guests and others for the user's children.
Virtualizing a Desktop into a Server
Modern computers are so powerful they are idle (doing nothing) at least 90% of the time. A home user can take advantage of virtualization to turn a desktop machine into a server. A VM can be created for everyone that wants to use the computer (or a single server VM can be created) and users can access these server-side facilities by connecting to the desktop machine, wirelessly from their laptop for added freedom.
A single VM can be created from scratch very quickly and given default settings. This VM can then be cloned when a new VM is required and its standard configuration changed to meet the new requirements. VMs can be brought up, tried out and shutdown very quickly, helping a user try out new ideas rapidly. A VM does not have to be running all the time. A VM for a guest user only needs to be running when the guest wants to use it. However, its configuration is already defined and the main user of the computer doesn't have to change their configuration to support their guest. The guest's VM just needs to be started.
Helping To Save Money and the Environment
Virtualization helps to save money. Rather than buy a new machine, a new VM can be started. Virtualization helps to save energy as well because all the computing requirements can be satisfied from a single machine.
Such an environment will require main memory to be increased and access to more hard disk will be useful as snapshots take some space. Virtualization makes the computing experience more flexible, safer and more capable of simultaneously satisfying all users.
James Huw Evans - Huw Evans has over 15 years of experience in the technology and start-up industries. He has implemented peer-to-peer and distributed ...
