Learn More About Server Virtualization Software
What is Server Virtualization Software?
Server virtualization products, commonly referred to as hypervisors, are used by organizations to partition dedicated servers into scalable virtual instances called virtual private servers (VPS). Virtual private servers created with server virtualization technology can each host a unique operating system and be managed independently through an integrated hosting control panel. Organizations use server virtualization products to allocate server resources among virtual machines for workload optimization. Virtual machines created with virtualization platforms are often more flexible and reliable to manage than unpartitioned servers. Organizations that house and manage servers internally implement server virtualization solutions to reduce resource strains. Additionally, virtualization technology is commonly used by hosting service providers to offer VPS hosting services to their customers.
What Types of Server Virtualization Software Exist?
All virtualization technologies will serve the purpose of dividing a server into unique, virtual servers. Still, there are general differences depending on the virtualized server the user intends to implement.
Full virtualization
Full virtualization typically requires a hypervisor that communicates with, monitors, and relays resources between applications and the physical server. This type of virtualization can limit performance since both the physical server and the hypervisor require processing power to operate. These virtualization platforms typically utilize a single operating system. For example, a Linux hypervisor would create a virtual Linux server to run applications.
Para-virtualization
Para-virtualization operates similarly to full virtualization, but it integrates the entire network and any other para-virtualized servers. This interoperability reduces the processing needs.
OS-level virtualization
OS-level virtualization is another type of server virtualization that preprograms an operating system, allowing different applications running different operating systems to utilize the same physical resources simultaneously. This adds additional flexibility and portability when developing in the cloud or migrating legacy systems.
What are the Common Features of Server Virtualization Software?
The following are some core features within server virtualization that can help users deploy, manage, and optimize virtualization server software:
Scaling: Scaling features help companies ramp up usage as growth occurs. This is done by allocating host resources to create additional instances quickly without requiring additional physical infrastructure.
Portability: Portability features provide an efficient server and storage migration functionality. This allows users to move applications from one server to another without having to reconfigure the entire server or application
Data recovery: Backup and recovery features provide backup functionality to store and protect redundant data sets and protect and restore a database. Recovery features will help revert systems in the case information is deleted or destroyed.
OS integration: Operating systems may determine how flexible or how portable a server is. Proper host integration will ensure an application runs smoothly with a variety of operating systems such as Windows, Linux, etc.
Resource management: Resource management features help people optimize physical and virtual resources across complex computing environments to ensure efficiency and availability at all times.
Performance management: Performance management features monitor virtual environments and physical hardware performance. Typically this is presented through a single-pane-of-glass dashboard.
Multi-server management: Multi-server management features allow users to manage, monitor, and configure resources across numerous virtualized servers. This can allow users to track and control resource spend and loads across entire networks.
Hosting: Hosting services of VPS allow customers to host an account on virtualized servers. The overall server resources are shared across all accounts, while some portions of those resources are reserved for each account.
Control panel: In a VPS, a control panel integrates hosting plans with either open-source or proprietary web hosting control panels. This helps to provide customers with a graphical user interface (GUI) that facilitates access to additional web hosting management features.
Supported operating systems: Various operating systems have their strengths and weaknesses concerning performance, security, and integration. Some VPS offerings allow customers to choose from multiple supported operating systems while others only support one.
What are the Benefits of Server Virtualization Software?
Cost savings: Physical servers are costly and present an expensive barrier to entry for some companies. Smaller businesses may not have the staff to manage on-premises servers at all times. Server virtualization technologies help to expand the functionality of servers without requiring more infrastructure. This saves money in a similar way to any “as a service” offering. Server virtualization can expand the reach and functionality of a single server to achieve numerous business goals.
Free time: Physical servers require substantial time and effort not only to implement but also to maintain throughout their usage lifecycle. These servers must remain secure at all times, monitored for anomalous activities, and optimized for peak performance. Without the need to manage numerous servers on premises, IT staff can be more focused on expanding functionality, ensuring availability, and everything else they do to keep the modern world connected.
Flexibility and portability: Server virtualization platforms make it easier for companies to change the way they utilize servers without inhibiting availability or increased costs. Most of the flexibility comes from the consolidation of servers onto a single server, as well as the ability to add additional virtual servers
What are the Alternatives to Server Virtualization Software?
Alternatives to server virtualization products can replace this type of software, either partially or completely:
Virtual private servers (VPS): Virtual private servers (VPS) offerings are very similar to server virtualization tools. Many even deliver the same product, just as a managed service. Unlike server virtualization tools or a hypervisor, virtual private servers are housed and managed by an IT infrastructure provider of some kind. One thing to note is that VPS users may unknowingly share resources with other customers. It is likely easier to ensure peak performance while the user manages the virtual servers, but only if they have the staff and resources to do so.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): IaaS offerings are a simple and dynamic way to access the cloud services a user needs. These products are offered by large cloud computing service providers who house and manage enormous data centers capable of delivering virtually any amount of resources. While customers need to manage everything in the cloud, or deployed through IaaS cloud services, the provider will be responsible for ensuring consistent availability and scalability, while protecting the physical servers themselves.
Virtual private cloud (VPC): VPC solutions are offered by similar service providers as IaaS solutions and rely on third-party infrastructure to deliver computing resources. They also operate similar to VPS solutions in delivering resources through the cloud. But the main difference here is the scope of what’s delivered. While virtualization solutions or virtual private servers help allocate the resources of a single server, VPC provides customers with the ability to manage multiple virtual machines and virtual servers within an isolated, private cloud computing environment. Still, it’s good to remember that this increased functionality will come at an increased cost.
Challenges with Server Virtualization Software
Software solutions can come with their own set of challenges.
Performance issues: Without substantial experience managing virtual servers themselves, companies may struggle to optimize the performance of their servers and the individual virtual servers running atop them. Overworking a single server is also a possibility. Servers themselves, hypervisors, and additional virtualization will bog down a server and can slow performance.
Security: Companies running virtual servers on their infrastructure must be sure the resources are properly configured and protected at all times. Companies like this, as well as ones relying on managed virtual servers, must secure every piece of data, the networks, integrations, and anything else housed on the server.
Backup and disaster recovery: Virtual servers have no physical hard drive to rely on for storing or recovering data. The virtual machines running in a virtual environment must be backed up with a plan in place to prevent data loss and other negative side effects that may result from not implementing a backup and recovery plan.
Which Companies Should Buy Server Virtualization Software?
Generally, server virtualization solutions and hypervisors will be used by companies that require more computing resources than they can house on site, but aren’t interested in more all-encompassing cloud-infrastructure solutions.
Startups and software companies: Server virtualization products are good for companies that require numerous servers operating simultaneously, but don’t want to invest in additional physical infrastructure and want to manage and configure servers themselves.
Web hosting providers: Web and other hosting providers often use server virtualization technologies to host numerous websites or applications on a single server. This helps simplify the management of these servers and isolates each virtual environment from one another.
Modernizing businesses: Companies hoping to migrate workloads and legacy systems to more modern computing environments should consider virtualization platforms as they make it easier to transfer virtual machines across servers and improve reliability in the case of a disaster.
How to Buy Server Virtualization Software
Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Server Virtualization Software
The first step to purchasing a server virtualization solution is to outline the options. Companies should be sure whether they need a managed, shared, or dedicated solution. Additional and possibly obvious requirements should also include budgetary considerations, staffing limitations, and required integrations.
Compare Server Virtualization Software Products
Create a long list
Once the requirements are outlined, buyers should rank the tools by priority and identify the ones with as many of the features that fit the budget window. It is recommended to restrict the list to products with desired features, pricing, data center locations, and deployment methods to identify a dozen or so options. For example, if the business needs managed virtual servers for less than $10,000 a year, half of the options may be eliminated.
Create a short list
Once the long list is limited to affordable products with the desired features, it’s time to search for third-party validation. At this point, for each tool, the buyer must analyze end-user reviews and analyst reports. Combining these specified factors should help rank options and eliminate poorly performing products.
Conduct demos
With the list narrowed down to three to five possible products, businesses can reach out to vendors and schedule demos. This will help the buyer get first-hand experience with the product, ask targeted questions, and gauge the vendors’ quality of service.
Selection of server virtualization software
Choose a selection team
To choose a selection team, decision makers need to involve subject matter experts from all teams in the company that will use the system. When purchasing server virtualization platforms, this selection team primarily involves IT managers, developers, and security staff. Any manager or department-level leader should also include individuals managing any solution the product will be integrating with.
Negotiation
Depending on the maturity of the business, the seniority of the negotiation team when buying server virtualization solutions may vary. It is advisable to include relevant directors or managers in the security and IT departments as well as from any other cross-functional departments that may be impacted.
Final decision
If the company has a chief technology officer (CTO), that individual will likely make the decision. If not, companies must trust their security professionals’ ability to use and understand the product.
What Does Server Virtualization Software Cost?
The variance in cost is very high with virtualization software for servers. Many of them are open source and simply require individuals to configure and maintain them. Others may factor in the price of a physical server, managed services, and other variables that will increase costs substantially more than the server virtualization product itself.
