Virtualization

Virtualization is one of the most frequently used words in today’s IT language. Virtualization can be implemented almost every layer or level in the traditional IT infrastructure including server layer, storage layer, application layer or even in the desktop layer. Virtualization can address a lot of challenging problems in today’s IT infrastructure like keeping the cost low, increasing the manageability, using fewer resources with increased productivity.

Server virtualization



Today’s data centers including their server infrastructure are underutilized. Server virtualization is one of the key platforms to achieve a well optimized datacenter infrastructure. It adds a software layer to the existing architecture which is capable to create and run virtual machines (VMs). These virtual machines are individual operating system environments which are separated from each other and from the physical server they run on. Using server virtualization allows the companies to consolidate their existing server infrastructure onto a fewer amount of servers achieving a greater utilization which means:

  • Increased CPU utilization from 20-25% up to 80-85%
  • Lower maintenance costs (lower number of servers)
  • Faster operating system installation
  • Separated virtual servers (applications does not have an impact on each other)
  • Increased server space utilization, lower power consumption, lower energy for cooling
  • In the fail of a physical server the virtualized ones can be restarted on another physical one (it even can be automated with the use of HA)
  • Distributed resources on demand




Application virtualization



In the traditional approach, every installed application in an environment depends on its OS and a range of its services, like device drivers, and memory allocation. Application virtualization isolates applications from the underlying operating system and from other applications to increase compatibility and manageability.

Benefits of using application virtualization:

  • May protect the operating system from badly written code
  • Improved security
  • Uses fewer resources than a fully virtualized machine (desktop)
  • Application deployment is much easier and quicker
  • Application provisioning with the users profile
  • Isolates the application from the client device (can be a regular PC, thin client or even a PDA/smartphone)
  • Easier managing of the application licenses
  • Lower management costs




Desktop virtualization



Installing and managing separate desktop PCs for each user in an enterprise environment is a challenging task. Keeping the user PCs secure, up-to-date is a time and human resource consuming daily work. Desktop Virtualization can help to cut the costs down while increasing the productivity of the company. Desktop virtualization (sometimes referred as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) is a server client architecture which uses a client device for communication with the centrally stored image file which holds the user’s operating system and application files. The client device can be a regular PC or a thin client.

Benefits of using a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure:

  • Easier and cheaper desktop image management
  • Centralized management
  • Easier and much quicker on-demand provisioning of new desktops
  • Improved security
  • Much less power requirement in the branch offices
  • Hardware failures does not have an impact on the data stored on the desktop
  • Work from everywhere in the same environment
  • Increased flexibility




With board knowledge in the virtualization area, S&T Unitis Hungary employs highly skilled and certified experts who have in-depth knowledge in analyzing the current infrastructure, designing a virtualized one and implementing the whole environment.