Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
(illustrated in Figure 3.4). Windows, Linux, and other operating sys-
tems can be installed as virtual machines with independent operational
characteristics and resources. Even the priority of resource access can be
assigned, restricting less critical services to allow key services access to the
lion's share of available host resources when necessary.
Virtualization is an excellent way to test consolidation procedures
and to begin the data center consolidation process, because each host can
remain linked to the authentication services of an organizational unit
without affecting other systems on the same host. Virtualization provides
an easy mechanism for creating test networks and technology demon-
strations, because multiple systems can be run side by side with provably
equal resource allocations. Before diving into procurement procedures,
demonstration versions of many software products can be installed on
virtual servers running on existing hardware. Even a single laptop can
be used to host an entire network, provided it has sufficient resources
available for all operating hosts, while alternative hosts can be turned on
or off at will where resource constraints apply.
Figure 3.4
A simplifi ed example
of virtualization with a single host
supporting multiple heterogeneous
virtual servers.
