Virtualization

The virtualization of systems has been gaining ground in the current business setup, business operations, and even in everyday household use. This is because the potential of systems has served to enhance our capabilities and boost our development in various areas. 

In this sense, virtualization has gone from being one of the options that systems offer to becoming a necessity. This is due to the high competitiveness in the use of systems. 

What is virtualization?

The virtualization process involves creating a virtual representation of a physical system. This is achieved using dedicated software that copies the characteristics of the hardware, generating a virtual computer system. Many types of systems can be virtualized, including data centers, applications, operating networks, desktops (such as Windows, Linux, etc.), data, VPS, and more.

The virtualization process can be compared to creating a server, where one must choose a processor, the amount of RAM, storage size and type, network components, and other necessary characteristics. Afterward, an operating system like Windows or Linux is installed as one would on a physical computer, which then functions as an active virtual machine.

How does virtualization work?

Taking server virtualization as an example, which is one of the most common forms, we can describe how this process works. A key element in virtualization is the hypervisor, which is responsible for creating, scaling, and managing virtual machines. 

The hypervisor is software that creates and runs virtual servers. It acts as a link between the physical server and the virtual servers, allowing the virtual machines to access the physical hardware's RAM, processor, hard drive, and other capabilities. 

It's important to note that, just as a physical machine can host several virtual servers, a virtual machine can also be mounted on more than one physical server. This is often done in data centers and large companies to leverage and enhance the characteristics of all physical servers through the virtual server. Additionally, if one physical server experiences a problem, the virtual server can continue operating without any issues. 

Furthermore, by generating backups of already created virtual machines, it is possible to replicate or recover them when necessary. This allows for the expansion of virtual machines with the same characteristics or for recovery in case of failures or cyberattacks. 

Thus, the significant benefits and potential of virtualization should be considered, which can be leveraged through managed or unmanaged VPS services.  

Despite the great potential of virtualization, it is important to mention some limitations that this valuable process faces. 

• Hardware components on which virtualization is built

For example, if the physical server only has 64 GB of RAM, the virtual machines will only have access to that capacity. If there are several virtual machines, the total sum must not exceed 64 GB.

• Type of hypervisor

Each software has limitations on the types of components it can emulate. For example, with network cards, software will often offer compatibility with generic cards since it focuses on simulating capacity rather than specific brand features. 

Currently, there are many virtualization software options, including VMware, Microsoft’s Hyper-V, Oracle, Parallels for Apple environments, Citrix, Redhat, IBM, and others. 

VPS

Virtual Private Servers (VPS) involve creating a virtual machine used as a server, typically hosted by internet providers as an IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) model. The VPS provider allows you to size the virtual machines according to your needs and the options they offer. 

The VPS service is based on numerous physical servers grouped into clusters in data centers, on which the virtual VPS servers are mounted. As mentioned earlier, a single physical server can host several virtual VPS servers or vice versa. 

Benefits of virtualization

Virtualization improves efficiency in infrastructure usage, enhances customer confidence, and reduces operational costs by streamlining system management processes.

Another key benefit is the ability to run several virtual machines on a single physical server, dedicating them to specific tasks. This division of resources increases productivity. 

Virtualization also allows for high system manipulation and reconfiguration, as it is possible to resize virtual servers in seconds with software. This contrasts with the longer process required to resize any physical server. 

Additionally, virtualization saves on electricity costs, as powering one physical server can supply multiple virtual servers simultaneously.

Furthermore, this system allows the rapid deployment of test servers that can be easily removed without major disruptions to a company’s operations. It is possible to set up VPS machines with Windows or Linux operating systems to test their capabilities for specific business tasks. There are both managed and unmanaged VPS servers compatible with Windows and various Linux distributions. 

Another advantage of virtualization is that it allows operations to be carried out anywhere in the world, as virtual machines don't pose logistical challenges. The recent rise in remote work has benefited from managed and unmanaged VPS servers, which support operations without issues. 

However, it's important to highlight that the increasing number of virtual machines also leads to more vulnerabilities and systems that need protection. Therefore, security in these environments should not be overlooked.