6.4.

2 Virtualization Facts
This lesson covers the following topics:

Purpose of virtualization
Virtualization components

Purpose of Virtualization
Virtualization is a technology that creates a software-based representation of component, such as an
application, network interface card (NIC), or even an entire computer. On a computer system,
virtualization is the ability to install and run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single
physical machine. These types of systems are commonly referred to as VMs (virtual machines).

Some of the benefits of virtualization include:

Benefit Description

Sandbox The process of creating an isolated testing environment. Virtualization lets you
virtualization easily create a sandbox by isolating components from the production network.

Using a virtualized sandbox (sometimes known as a playground) gives network

administrators and developers a safe place to create new software, test software
development, install new software, or upgrade existing software without risking
the production network.

Application The process of installing and accessing applications virtually. This can help
virtualization reduce licensing costs; increase accessibility for local and remote employees;
and make it easier to install and maintain applications.

Legacy software Outdated software use. Some organizations require the use of proprietary or
access legacy (outdated) software. Virtualization can provide access to this software
even if a user’s local PC is running an updated operating system.

Cross-platform The process allowing an operating system to access an application designed to

virtualization run on a different operating system.

Hardware The process of making the most efficient use of physical hardware. For example,
optimization instead of being idle, the processor is optimized to process several tasks at a
time.
Virtualization Components
Virtualization can consist of many components. The following table includes some of the more common
components.

Component Description

Host machine Most commonly a physical server that has the hardware necessary to create a
viable, virtualized environment. The following hardware is shared by the VM and
managed by the hypervisor.

Hard disk drive(s)

Optical drive(s)
RAM
CPU(s)
NIC(s)

The number of VMs a host can handle depends on the physical build of the host
server.

Hypervisor A thin layer of software (think of it as a type of OS for the host machine) that
resides between the virtual operating system and the hardware. A hypervisor
allows virtual machines to interact with the hardware without going through the
host operating system.

Virtual machine A software implementation of a computer that executes programs like a

physical machine. The virtual machine appears to be a self-contained and
autonomous system. It can be on a host server (enterprise-level) or a PC (small
scale).

Virtual hard disk A file created within the host operating system that simulates a hard disk for the
(VHD) virtual machine.

vSwitch Software that facilitates the communication between virtual machines by

checking data packets before moving them to a destination. A vSwitch may be
software installed on the virtual machine or it may be part of the server
firmware.

vRouter Software that performs the tasks of a physical router. Because virtual routing
frees the IP routing function from specific hardware, you can move routing
functions around a network.
 Component Description

Virtual firewall Software that functions as a network firewall device that provides packet
application (VFA) filtering and monitoring. The VFA can run as a traditional software firewall on a
virtual machine.

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