Virtualization being embraced by major OS vendors

• Microsoft Server (200x)
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Suse Enterprise Linux
• “Hypervisor” systems IBM mainframes
• …

Virtualization Cloud Service Considerations

VMware / Citrix

• VMware Server
• Virtual appliances
  • Xen
    • Public domain hypervisor
    • Adaptive support in operating systems
    • Emerging support in processor chips
• Intel and AMD support
  • Macintosh Parallels

Security

• Reduces potential number of users logging into a service
• Reduces undesirable sharing
• Narrows scope of attacks

Development and Testing

• Viable platform for developers in quasi-real environment
• Reduces number of test machines
• Automated scripts for intensive testing, crash records, etc.
• …
• Live Migration – move services from one host to another while still running
  • No interruption in service visible to clients
  • Preparation for taking down hardware for maintenance
  • Preparation for heavy batch run, etc.
• Failure Isolation
  • Crash of one service does not affect other services
  • Particularly on SMP systems
  • Hot backups of services can be maintained
• Freedom from upgrades
  • If new OS version causes problems with a service, keep old OS version for that service
• Increased server hardware utilization
  • Consolidate disparate services on hardware
  • Lower capital, maintenance, and energy costs
• Rebalancing loads to meet peak demands
  • Adjust for time-of-day differences
• Application portability across platforms
• …

Free Visio Document download

Citrix Virtual Configuration Sample