Experiment 2

Aim : Installation of Operating System on Virtual machine

Theory :

1. Define Virtualization

Virtualization is a technique to separate a service from the underlying physical delivery of that
service. It is the process of creating a virtual version of something like computer hardware.It
involves using specialized software to create a virtual or software-created version of a computing
resource rather than the actual version of the same resource. With the help of Virtualization,
multiple operating systems and applications can run on the same machine and its same hardware
at the same time, increasing the utilization and flexibility of hardware.

Virtualization allows sharing of a single physical instance of a resource or an application among

multiple customers and organizations at one time. It does this by assigning a logical name to
physical storage and providing a pointer to that physical resource on demand. The term
virtualization is often synonymous with hardware virtualization, which plays a fundamental role
in efficiently delivering Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solutions for cloud computing.
2. What are the benefits of virtualization

Resource Optimization:Virtualization allows for the creation of virtual machines (VMs) on a

single physical server, optimizing resource utilization. Multiple VMs can run different
applications and operating systems on the same hardware.

Cost Efficiency:By consolidating multiple virtual servers onto a single physical server,
organizations can reduce hardware costs, data center space, and energy consumption. This results
in overall cost savings.

Improved Scalability:Virtualization enables quick and flexible allocation of resources. It allows

for easy scaling up or down of virtual machines based on demand, ensuring efficient use of
computing resources.

Isolation and Security: Virtualization provides isolation between different virtual machines,
enhancing security. If one VM is compromised, it does not affect others on the same physical
server. This isolation contributes to improved overall system security.

Faster Deployment:Virtual machines can be created and provisioned rapidly compared to

deploying physical servers. This accelerates the process of setting up new applications and
services.

Enhanced Disaster Recovery:Virtualization simplifies the process of backup and recovery.

Virtual machine snapshots and cloning features make it easier to restore systems in case of a
failure, contributing to more robust disaster recovery strategies.

Dynamic Workload Management:Virtualization enables dynamic allocation of resources based

on workload demands. This flexibility ensures optimal performance for applications during peak
times and efficient resource usage during off-peak hours.

Testing and Development: Virtualization provides a cost-effective environment for testing and
development. Virtual machines can be easily cloned, allowing developers to create and test
applications in isolated environments without impacting production systems.

Legacy System Support:Virtualization allows organizations to run legacy applications on virtual

machines, extending the life of older systems. This flexibility is particularly beneficial during
transitional periods or for applications that require older operating systems.
Green Computing:By consolidating servers and optimizing resource usage, virtualization
contributes to green computing initiatives, reducing overall energy consumption and the
environmental impact of data centers.

3. How does virtualization work

Virtualization in cloud computing significantly impacts resource utilization, cost dynamics, and
service agility. By deploying multiple virtual machines on a single server, users enhance
hardware efficiency and promote collaborative sharing of infrastructure resources. This approach
not only optimizes costs but also enables organizations to scale resources dynamically based on
demand. The outsourcing of physical infrastructure management to cloud providers introduces a
flexible cost model, reducing capital expenses and allowing users to pay for the resources they
consume. Moreover, virtualization simplifies service customization, empowering users to tailor
their virtual environments without the complexities of managing underlying hardware. This
streamlined approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also contributes to a more
responsive and adaptable cloud infrastructure.

4. Role of virtualization in cloud computing

Resource Optimization: Virtualization allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single
physical server, optimizing hardware resources. This efficient use of resources increases overall
system capacity and reduces the need for additional physical hardware.

Cost Reduction: By consolidating multiple VMs onto a single physical server, organizations can
achieve cost savings. Virtualization minimizes the expenses associated with purchasing,
maintaining, and powering multiple physical servers.

Flexibility and Scalability: Virtualization provides flexibility by decoupling the operating system
and applications from the underlying hardware. This enables easy migration of VMs between
servers and facilitates dynamic scaling, allowing organizations to respond to changing workloads
and demands.

Enhanced Security: Virtualization contributes to improved security by isolating VMs from each
other. If one VM is compromised, it does not necessarily impact others on the same server. This
isolation helps contain security breaches and enhances overall system security.

Efficient Disaster Recovery: Virtualization simplified disaster recovery processes. Virtual

machine snapshots and backups enable quick recovery in case of system failures, reducing
downtime and data loss. This contributes to robust business continuity planning.
Streamlined Development and Testing: Virtualization provides a conducive environment for
software development and testing. Developers can create virtual environments that mirror
production settings, facilitating efficient testing without the need for dedicated physical
hardware.

Server Consolidation: Virtualization allows for the consolidation of multiple servers onto a
single physical machine. This consolidation optimizes server usage, reduces the physical
footprint in data centers, and lowers operational costs.

Desktop Virtualization (VDI): Virtualization extends beyond servers to desktop environments.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) allows users to access virtual desktops hosted on
centralized servers. This centralization enhances management, security, and flexibility in
delivering desktop services.

Green Computing: Virtualization contributes to green computing initiatives by reducing the

number of physical servers required. Server consolidation and optimized resource usage lead to
lower energy consumption, supporting environmentally friendly practices.

Cloud Computing Foundation: Virtualization is foundational to cloud computing. Cloud services

often leverage virtualization to create and manage virtualized infrastructure, providing users with
scalable and flexible computing resources on-demand.

5. What are the different types of virtualization

Server Virtualization:
Definition: Involves dividing a physical server into multiple virtual servers using virtualization
software.
Use Case: Running multiple operating systems and applications on a single physical server.

Desktop Virtualization (VDI):

Definition: Hosts virtual desktop environments on a centralized server, allowing users to access
virtual desktops remotely.
Use Case: Streamlining desktop management, improving security, and facilitating remote access.

Application Virtualization:
Definition: Separates applications from the underlying operating system, allowing them to run in
isolated environments.
Use Case: Simplifying application deployment, enhancing compatibility, and reducing conflicts
between applications.
Network Virtualization:
Definition: Abstracts network resources, such as switches and routers, to create a virtual
network.
Use Case: Facilitating the creation of isolated and customizable virtual networks within a
physical network infrastructure.

Storage Virtualization:
Definition: Combines physical storage resources into a single virtualized storage pool that can be
centrally managed.
Use Case: Improving storage efficiency, simplifying management, and enabling dynamic
allocation of storage resources.

Memory Virtualization:
Definition: Enables efficient management and allocation of system memory across multiple
virtual machines.
Use Case: Optimizing memory usage in virtualized environments, preventing resource
contention.

GPU Virtualization:
Definition: Shares the processing power of a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) among multiple
virtual machines.
Use Case: Accelerating graphics-intensive applications in virtualized environments, such as VDI.

Operating System-Level Virtualization (Containerization):

Definition: Virtualizes the operating system, allowing multiple containers to share the same OS
kernel.
Use Case: Efficiently deploying and running applications in lightweight, isolated containers.

Data Virtualization:
Definition: Abstracts data from its physical location, providing a unified view of data from
various sources.
Use Case: Facilitating data integration, improving accessibility, and supporting analytics.

Hardware Virtualization (Full Virtualization):

Definition: Virtualizes an entire physical server, allowing multiple operating systems to run
simultaneously.
Use Case: Running different operating systems on the same hardware for improved resource
utilization.

6. Explain Hypervisor and its types

A hypervisor, also known as a Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM), is a software or hardware
component that enables the creation and management of virtual machines (VMs) on a physical
host machine. The primary role of a hypervisor is to allocate and control resources, allowing
multiple operating systems (OS) to run on a single physical machine concurrently.

There are two main types of hypervisors: Type 1 (bare-metal) and Type 2 (hosted).

1. Type 1 Hypervisor (Bare-Metal Hypervisor):

Definition: A Type 1 hypervisor runs directly on the hardware of the host machine without the
need for an underlying operating system. It acts as the operating system itself and manages
multiple VMs independently.
Use Case: Commonly employed in enterprise environments and data centers to optimize resource
utilization and improve performance.
Examples: VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V (when installed on bare metal), KVM (Kernel-
based Virtual Machine).

2. Type 2 Hypervisor (Hosted Hypervisor):

Definition: A Type 2 hypervisor runs on top of an existing operating system and utilizes the host
OS for resource management. It is essentially an application that runs on a host OS and creates
VMs within that environment.
Use Case: Typically used for development, testing, and scenarios where performance is not a
critical factor.
Examples: VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox, Microsoft Hyper-V (when installed on top
of Windows).
Key Characteristics of Hypervisors:
Isolation: Hypervisors ensure isolation between different virtual machines, preventing
interference and conflicts.

Resource Allocation: They allocate physical resources such as CPU, memory, and storage to
virtual machines based on their configuration and requirements.

Hardware Emulation: Hypervisors emulate virtual hardware components for each VM, allowing
the VMs to run as if they have their dedicated physical resources.

Performance Optimization: Hypervisors aim to optimize the performance of VMs, balancing

resource allocation to ensure efficient utilization.

Live Migration: Many hypervisors support live migration, allowing VMs to be moved from one
physical host to another without downtime.

Snapshot and Cloning: Hypervisors enable the creation of snapshots for VMs, allowing users to
revert to a previous state. They also support cloning, making it easy to duplicate VMs for testing
or deployment purposes.

Security Features:Hypervisors incorporate security measures to protect VMs from potential

vulnerabilities and attacks, enhancing the overall security of virtualized environments.

7. Advantages and limitations of virtualization

Advantages of Virtualization:

Resource Optimization:
Advantage: Virtualization allows for the efficient utilization of physical resources by running
multiple virtual machines on a single physical server, reducing hardware costs and improving
overall resource efficiency.

Cost Savings:
Advantage: By consolidating servers and reducing the need for physical infrastructure,
virtualization leads to cost savings in terms of hardware, maintenance, and energy consumption.

Flexibility and Scalability:

Advantage: Virtualization enables dynamic scaling of resources, allowing organizations to easily
adapt to changing workloads and demands. It enhances flexibility in resource allocation.
Improved Disaster Recovery:
Advantage: Virtualization facilitates efficient backup and recovery processes. Virtual machine
snapshots and clones enable quick restoration, minimizing downtime in the event of system
failures.

Isolation and Security:

Advantage: Virtualization provides isolation between virtual machines, enhancing security.
Compromised VMs do not necessarily impact others on the same physical server, improving
overall system security.

Efficient Development and Testing:

Advantage: Virtual environments simplify software development and testing. Developers can
create and test applications in isolated virtual environments without the need for dedicated
physical hardware.

Server Consolidation:
Advantage: Virtualization allows for server consolidation, reducing the physical footprint in data
centers. This optimization enhances server usage and reduces operational costs.

Green Computing:
Advantage: Server consolidation and optimized resource usage contribute to green computing
initiatives by reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.

Limitations of Virtualization:

Performance Overhead:
Limitation: Virtualization introduces some performance overhead due to the additional layer
between the virtual machines and the physical hardware. This can impact certain high-
performance applications.

Complexity and Management Overhead:

Limitation: Implementing and managing a virtualized environment can be complex. It requires
specialized knowledge, and there may be additional management overhead in terms of
configuration and monitoring.

Resource Contention:
Limitation: In situations of high demand, multiple virtual machines on a single physical server
may contend for resources, leading to potential performance bottlenecks.

Dependency on Host System:

Limitation: Virtual machines are dependent on the stability and security of the host system. If the
host system experiences issues, it can impact all the virtual machines running on it.

Licensing Costs:
Limitation: Some virtualization solutions may involve licensing costs, particularly in enterprise
environments. These costs should be considered when evaluating the overall financial impact.

Limited Support for Graphic-Intensive Applications:

Limitation: Virtualization may face challenges in delivering optimal performance for graphic-
intensive applications or applications that require direct hardware access.

Potential for "VM Sprawl":

Limitation: Without proper management, organizations may experience "VM sprawl," where an
excessive number of virtual machines are created, leading to increased complexity and potential
inefficiencies.

Initial Setup Costs:

Limitation: While virtualization can lead to cost savings in the long run, there are initial setup
costs associated with hardware, software, and training that organizations need to consider.

8. How can AWS help with virtualization and cloud computing

Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides a comprehensive suite of services that greatly facilitates
virtualization and cloud computing. Here are several ways AWS can assist with these
technologies:

EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud):

Virtualization: AWS EC2 allows users to run virtual servers in the cloud. Users can choose from
a variety of pre-configured instances with different compute, memory, and storage capacities.
Cloud Computing: EC2 is a fundamental service for cloud computing, providing scalable
compute capacity on-demand. Users can launch instances with different operating systems,
applications, and configurations.

Amazon VPC (Virtual Private Cloud):

Virtualization: Amazon VPC allows users to create isolated virtual networks within the AWS
cloud. It enables the creation of private, isolated sections of the AWS Cloud where users can
launch AWS resources in a virtual network.
Cloud Computing: VPC provides network-level isolation and security, allowing users to define
their network topology, control inbound and outbound traffic, and connect their VPC to their on-
premises infrastructure.

AWS Lambda:
Virtualization: AWS Lambda is a serverless computing service that automatically scales and
executes code in response to events. Users don't need to provision or manage servers.
Cloud Computing: Lambda allows users to run code without thinking about servers, ensuring
efficient resource utilization and cost-effectiveness.

Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service):

Virtualization: RDS provides managed relational databases in the cloud. Users can deploy
multiple database instances without dealing with the underlying infrastructure.
Cloud Computing: RDS simplifies database administration tasks, such as backups, software
patching, and scaling, allowing users to focus on application development.

Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service):

Virtualization: Amazon S3 provides scalable and durable object storage in the cloud. Users can
create buckets to store and retrieve any amount of data.
Cloud Computing: S3 offers highly available and reliable storage for various data types,
including images, videos, and backups. It is widely used for data storage in cloud computing
applications.

Amazon ECS (Elastic Container Service):

Virtualization: ECS allows users to run Docker containers in the cloud without managing the
underlying infrastructure.
Cloud Computing: ECS simplifies the deployment, management, and scaling of containerized
applications, providing a scalable and efficient platform for microservices architecture.

Amazon EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service):

Virtualization: EKS is a managed Kubernetes service that abstracts the complexity of managing
Kubernetes clusters.
Cloud Computing: EKS simplifies the deployment and management of containerized
applications using Kubernetes, providing a scalable and highly available container orchestration
platform.

AWS Direct Connect:

Virtualization: AWS Direct Connect provides dedicated network connections from on-premises
data centers to AWS, bypassing the public internet.
Cloud Computing: Direct Connect enhances network performance, reliability, and security,
facilitating seamless integration of on-premises infrastructure with AWS resources.
Conclusion: In conclusion, selecting a hypervisor type involves crucial considerations tied to an
organization's goals and operational needs. Whether opting for a Type 1 or Type 2 hypervisor,
factors like performance and security are pivotal. To overcome virtualization limitations,
organizations can implement strategies such as adopting newer hypervisor versions, utilizing
advanced management tools, and integrating complementary technologies. By addressing these
considerations, organizations can optimize resource utilization and build a more efficient and
resilient IT infrastructure.