Virtualization Technologies For ACL

Role of Virtualization

Discuss about the Virtualization Technologies for ACL.

Virtualization is a procedure or process of creating and developing software based solutions that represent a physical resource. For instance, in ACL Realty case, they aim to apply the concept in data centres, where servers are implemented (virtually) to lower expenses and also boost the overall system efficiency as well as agility of systems regardless of the applications (Windows or Linux) (VMware, 2017).

Virtualization plays an integral role in today’s IT systems more so, because of the current economic crisis and budget cuts that contradict the explosive growth in data systems. In many ways, the IT industry must evaluate and develop technologies that provide economic and technical advantages, this facilitates the role of virtualization (Banica, Jurian & Stefan, 2014). On one hand, virtualization enables IT departments and organisations as a whole to lower their data centre footprint. Similar to ACL Realty requirements, virtualization consolidates server systems, which results in fewer networks, racks and storage facilities. Moreover, it enables faster system provision through its elastic capacity to provision resources.

Furthermore, virtualization is key to disaster management and recovery because it offers dynamic solutions based on trending events. Consider its solution to hardware abstraction where physical and vendor dependency is eliminated. Through it, systems can be matched and duplicated to provide backup options. Finally, virtualization plays an integral role in environmental sustainability by offering an efficient system with minimal resource requirements (Marshall, 2011).

In the past few years, the application of virtualization technologies has grown drastically because of the benefits they offer. Moreover, these benefits now offer a competitive edge in businesses which elevates their applications from supplementary options to compulsory technologies for business survival. These benefits highlight the need as well as the importance of virtualization technologies in data systems (Vanover, 2017).

To improve its on-premise data systems, ACL Realty aims to employ virtualization, options that will not only lower its expenditure cost through reduced resource requirements but also will facilitate multi-level efficiencies through agile capacities that raise productivity and sustainability. For one, consider infrastructure management, where through virtual storage, data centres are decoupled from physical systems that can easily fail. Moreover, online data centres (a key attribute of virtualization), create an overall native architecture that offers a variety of management tools which lowers the system’s workload. This outcome lowers heat dissipation which in effect lowers the deployment cost (Wallen, 2013).

Key Attributes of VM

The need for instant and adequate capacity is fulfilled by virtual systems that offer instant resources on request. Consider a server in an ACL Realty data centre, taking the server to Ping options would take weeks, however, with virtualization these events are substantially lowered. Furthermore, operation aspects such as cabling, building labs and deployment take time, however, virtual data centre provides an agile approach to resource provision. In addition to this, the current system requires isolated systems such as servers or operating systems. Now, traditional data centres offer consolidated applications that tend to obscure maintenance procedures. However, with virtualization organisation can isolate systems based on their need, for instance, ACL Realty can isolate Windows applications from Linux applications, which in the end lowers compatibility issues (Jones, 2017).

International Business Machine better known as IBM has a diverse application of virtualization technologies. It also offers industrial solutions for virtualization system including AIX, Linux and even features such as PowerVM which is a virtualized server system (IBM, 2017). 

Virtualization is at an all-time high, in fact, according to Gartner, virtualization technologies have surpassed the 50 percent mark penetration which essentially is considered a saturation point. Now, virtual machines (VM) are an efficient way of isolating and duplicating physical machines such as servers in data centres. VM offer distinguishable services by having isolated systems that execute operations in an efficient manner. However, some key attributes are needed for an effective VM, they are:

Simplicity, especially during installation and configuration this because the users (administrators) have to manage many VM systems while at the same time incorporate backup options in their daily routines. Therefore, having a strenuous VM will only lower its efficiency. In most cases, this attribute is met using collaborative APIs that provide automated systems that discover and manage the VM environment.

Secondly, scalability and flexibility, where, the VM package must be able to evolve to fit any given role. In essence, the VM package which includes the backup applications must aggregate all operations including system management into a wholesome central console which the overall management personnel can access.

Thirdly, the VM system must be affordable otherwise its will fail to meet its basic resource requirements. However, this attribute will depend on vendor and licence prices which in most cases will fluctuate with the existing market conditions.

In addition to this, the VM must be certified in order to meet the industrial standards. Adaptability and versatility of the modern virtual environment place huge demands on VM resources which necessitate the outlined industrial standards (Wendt, 2012).

Virtual Appliance

When incorporating VM as your server system it’s important to cater for the following; one, compatibility of the VM with the existing resource requirement. In other terms, be aware of the applications used. Consider the frequent snapshot taken by VM to create backups for implemented systems. Some application will span multiple VM systems which will create a common backup for all VMs which would lower the operational cost. Secondly, use VMs that are certified with the appropriate licences. This will cover liability claims in case bugs (faults) are experienced during the system usage. Moreover, it will enhance compatibility with other renowned systems e.g. Windows and Linux operating systems (UNSW, 2008).

Furthermore, server consolidation is a key point that must be considered when employing VMs. Consolidation will enable an organisation to run multiple systems using the same virtual servers. Through this attribute, access control (security) can be easily managed. Moreover, it eliminates the issues seen with non-compatible systems such as those of Linux and Windows (Matteson, 2013).

A virtual appliance is a generic term used to define any pre-built unit that functions to offer a particular service or functionality in the virtual world. Essentially, these units are still considered to be virtual machines however, they have limited services because they are installed with only one application, unlike VM that have multiple applications and functionalities. Therefore, unlike VM they will have a simple OS (Just Enough OS, JEOS) to support the single application. In the end, the JEOS is only used to support the single virtual application (Double cloud, 2010).

In today’s world, virtual appliances are seen to have limited interactions, especially with the end users because they lack window systems which minimise the overall interaction. Moreover, upgrades and even patches are done in conjunction with the OS which differentiates them from normal applications that are adjusted independently. In conclusion, virtual appliances are like any other application but are managed in a similar fashion to virtual machines.

VApp, on the other hand, is a term used to define units or resource pools that hold several virtual machines. Basically, vApp are containers that hold virtual systems which allow them to share many functionalities with VMs. Moreover, vApp exists as independent systems that can power on and off at will based on the user requirements. Furthermore, just like any other virtual systems, they can be duplicated or cloned to produce several variations of the same unit (VMware, 2017).

Virtual appliances can be used as a subset of VMs which then runs in a virtual environment such as a VMware workstation. Generally, speaking deploying virtual applications eliminates many problems seen with other normal applications such as configuration and drivers issues. A user will just download an application and run it in a virtual world having minimal resource requirements. Therefore, virtual appliances can be used when deploying cloud services or solutions. For instance, when employing SaaS (Software as a Service), the efficiency enabled by virtual appliance simplicity can help lower the economic requirements needed to implement a solution. This simplicity can manage scalability issues that may arise due to the resource requirements of SaaS (Rouse, 2017).

In addition to this, virtual appliances are broadly categorised as closed and open systems. Now, closed system can be used by anybody since they are available as a complete package which can be maintained and managed as a unit. On the other hand, open virtual appliances are used by developers to offer end users (customers) customisable interfaces on webpages (Rouse, 2017).

References

Banica. L, Jurian. M & Stefan. C. (2014). Data centre virtualization and its economic implications for the companies. Scientific bulletin – economic science, 8(14). Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://economic.upit.ro/repec/pdf/I7_Banica_Logica.pdf

Double cloud. (2010). Virtual Appliance: Is It a Virtual Machine or an Application? Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://www.doublecloud.org/2010/04/virtual-appliance-is-it-a-virtual-machine-or-an-application/

IBM. (2017). IBM Power Systems. IBM. Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://www-03.ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/

Jones, R. (2017). The role of virtualization in data centre disaster recovery. Tech target. Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/tip/The-role-of-virtualization-in-data-center-disaster-recovery

Marshall. D. (2011). Top 10 benefits of server virtualization. Info world. Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://www.infoworld.com/article/2621446/server-virtualization/server-virtualization-top-10-benefits-of-server-virtualization.html

Matteson. S. (2013). 10 things you shouldn't virtualize. Tech republic. Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-things-you-shouldnt-virtualize/

Rouse. M. (2017). Virtual appliances. Tech target. Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/definition/virtual-appliance

UNSW. (2008). Virtual machines. COMP9242. Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~cs9242/08/lectures/11-virt.pdf

Vanover. R. (2017). Top 5 benefits of server virtualization technology. Tech target. Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/tip/Top-five-benefits-of-server-virtualization

VMware. (2017). Managing VMware vApp. Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-4-esx-vcenter/index.jsp?topic=/com.vmware.vsphere.bsa.doc_40/vc_admin_guide/managing_vmware_vapp/c_managing_vmware_vapp.html

VMware. (2017). Virtualization. Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://www.vmware.com/solutions/virtualization.html

Wallen. J. (2013). 10 benefits of virtualization in the data centre. Tech republic. Retrieved 18 April, 2017, from: https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-benefits-of-virtualization-in-the-data-center/