Virtualization in Cloud Computing and Types

Virtualization is a way to use one computer as if it were many. Before virtualization, most computers were only doing one job at a time, and a lot of their power was wasted. Virtualization lets you run several virtual computers on one real computer, so you can use its full power and do more tasks at once.

In cloud computing, this idea is taken further. Cloud providers use virtualization to split one big server into many smaller virtual ones, so businesses can use just what they need, no extra hardware, no extra cost.

Let us understand virtualization by taking a real-world example:

Suppose there is a company that requires servers for four different purposes:

• Store customer data securely
• Host an online shopping website
• Process employee payroll systems
• Run Social media campaign software for marketing

All these tasks require different things:

• The customer data server requires a lot of space and a Windows operating system.
• The online shopping website requires a high-traffic server and needs a Linux operating system.
• The payroll system requires greater internal memory (RAM) and must use a certain version of the operating system.

In order to fulfill these requirements, the company initially configures four individual physical servers, each for a different purpose. This implies that the company needs to purchase four servers, keep them running, and upgrade them individually, which is very expensive.

Now, by utilizing virtualization, the company can run these four applications on a few physical servers through multiple virtual machines (VMs). Each VM will behave as an independent server, possessing its own operating system and resources. Through this means, the company can cut down on expenses, conserve resources, and manage everything from a single location with ease.

Working of Virtualization

Virtualizations uses special software known as hypervisor, to create many virtual computers (cloud instances) on one physical computer. The Virtual Machines behave like actual computers but use the same physical machine.

Virtual Machines (Cloud Instances)

• After installing virtualization software, you can create one or more virtual machines on your computer.
• Virtual machines (VMs) behave like regular applications on your system.
• The real physical computer is called the Host, while the virtual machines are called Guests.
• A single host can run multiple guest virtual machines.
• Each guest can have its own operating system, which may be the same or different from the host OS.
• Every virtual machine functions like a standalone computer, with its own settings, programs, and configuration.
• VMs access system resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage, but they work as if they are using their own hardware.

Hypervisors

A hypervisor is the software that gets virtualization to work. It serves as an intermediary between the physical computer and the virtual machines. The hypervisor controls the virtual machines' use of the physical resources (such as the CPU and memory) of the host computer.

For instance, if one virtual machine wants additional computing capability, it requests it from the hypervisor. The hypervisor ensures the request is forwarded to the physical hardware, and it's accomplished.

There exist two categories of hypervisors:

Type 1 Hypervisor (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 a direct access to the resources of the computer.

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 one operating system on one machine.

Types of Virtualization

1. Application Virtualization
2. Network Virtualization
3. Desktop Virtualization
4. Storage Virtualization
5. Server Virtualization
6. Data virtualization

1. 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 applications 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.

Example: Microsoft Azure lets people use their applications without putting them on their own computers. Once this application is setup in the cloud then employees can use it from any device, like a laptop or tablet. It feels like the application is on their computer, but it’s really running on Azure’s servers. This makes things easier, faster, and safer for the company.

2. 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, firewalls, and VPNs, making network management more flexible and efficient.

Example: Google Cloud is an example of Network Virtualization. Companies create their own networks using software instead of physical devices with the help of Google Cloud. They can set up things like IP addresses, firewalls, and private connections all in the cloud. This makes it easy to manage, change, and grow their network without buying any hardware. It saves time, money, and gives more flexibility.

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

Example: GeeksforGeeks is a Edtech company which uses services like Amazon WorkSpaces or Google Cloud (GCP) Virtual Desktops to give its team members access to the same coding setup with all the tools they required for the easy access of this team work. Now their team members can easily log in from any device like a laptop, tablet, or even a phone and use a virtual desktop that will run perfectly in the cloud. This makes it easy for GeeksforGeeks company to manage, update, and keep everything secure without requirement of physical computers for everyone.

4. Storage Virtualization: This combines storage from different servers into a single system, making it easier to manage. It ensures smooth performance and efficient operations even when the underlying hardware changes or fails.

Example: Amazon S3 is an example of storage virtualization because in S3 we can easily store any amount of data from anywhere. Suppose a MNC have lots of files and data of company to store. By Amazon S3 company can store all their files and data in one place and access these from anywhere without any kind of issue in secure way.

5. 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.

Example: A startup company has a powerful physical server. This company can use server virtualization software like VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V or KVM to create more virtual machines(VMs) on that one server.

Each VM here is an isolated server, that runs on their own operating system( like Windows and Linux) and run it's own applications. For example, a company might run A web server on one VM, A database server on another VM, A file server on a third VM all on the same physical machine. This reduces costs, makes it easier to manage and back up servers, and allows quick recovery if one VM fails.

6. 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.

Example: Companies like Oracle and IBM offer solutions for this.

Virtualization V/s Cloud Computing

Below is the table that shows the comparison between virtualization and Cloud Computing: