Virtualization Essentials, 3rd Edition

Virtualization is essential for the Cloud, and millions of companies are leveraging it. Virtualization Essentials, the updated new edition, teaches core concepts and skills to work with virtualization environments. It simplifies complex concepts and offers an applied, real-world approach to developing the necessary skill set for Cloud computing, DevOps, and the virtual world. The book covers building virtual machines, configuring and managing CPU, memory, storage, and networking, distinguishing between Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisors, comparing hypervisor products, configuring additional devices, and making considerations for availability. It is an invaluable resource for new and aspiring IT professionals and experienced IT admins.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 24 April 2023
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Virtualization is a crucial technology that plays a pivotal role in the modern computing landscape. It enables the creation of virtual machines (VMs), which can simulate the behavior of physical computers. This virtualization technology is widely used in various fields, including cloud computing, where it allows for the efficient and scalable deployment of applications and services.

In this article, we will explore the fundamental concepts and skills required to work with virtualization environments. We will start by discussing the benefits of virtualization and its applications in different industries. Then, we will delve into the different types of virtualization technologies, such as hypervisor-based virtualization and container-based virtualization.

Next, we will cover the steps involved in building a virtual machine, including selecting the right virtualization software, creating a virtual disk, and configuring the virtual machine's hardware settings. We will also discuss the different types of virtual machines, such as desktop virtual machines, server virtual machines, and virtual appliances.

Once we have a solid understanding of virtualization, we will explore its management and administration. We will cover topics such as virtual machine cloning, virtual machine snapshots, and virtual machine migration. We will also discuss the different tools and techniques used for monitoring and managing virtual machines, such as hypervisor consoles, virtual machine management software, and cloud management platforms.

Finally, we will discuss the future of virtualization and its potential applications in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things. We will also explore the challenges and risks associated with virtualization and how to mitigate them.

In conclusion, virtualization is a powerful technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way we compute and deploy applications and services. By understanding the fundamental concepts and skills required to work with virtualization environments, you can gain a competitive advantage in the job market and contribute to the growth of the digital economy.

Benefits of Virtualization:
Virtualization offers several benefits that make it an attractive technology for modern computing. Here are some of the key benefits:

Scalability: Virtualization allows for the efficient and scalable deployment of applications and services. It enables organizations to easily create and manage multiple virtual machines, each running a different application or service. This scalability allows organizations to meet the growing demands of their users and customers without the need for physical infrastructure expansion.

Cost Savings: Virtualization can help organizations save on hardware costs by reducing the need for physical servers and storage devices. Virtual machines can be easily created and managed, and they can be migrated between different physical servers or even to different cloud providers. This flexibility allows organizations to optimize their resources and reduce their costs.

Flexibility: Virtualization provides organizations with a high degree of flexibility in terms of their infrastructure. Virtual machines can be easily configured and customized to meet the specific needs of different applications and services. This flexibility allows organizations to quickly adapt to changing business requirements and environments.

High Availability: Virtualization enables high availability of applications and services by allowing multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server. If one virtual machine fails, the other virtual machines can continue to run without interruption. This high availability ensures that organizations can provide uninterrupted service to their users and customers.

Security: Virtualization provides enhanced security for applications and services by isolating them from the underlying physical infrastructure. Virtual machines can be created with specific security configurations and policies, and they can be isolated from other virtual machines on the same physical server. This isolation helps to prevent unauthorized access and attacks.

Applications of Virtualization:
Virtualization has a wide range of applications in different industries. Here are some of the key applications of virtualization:

Cloud Computing: Virtualization is a key component of cloud computing, where virtual machines are used to create and manage cloud infrastructure. Cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform rely heavily on virtualization to provide scalable and reliable cloud services.

DevOps: Virtualization is used in DevOps practices to streamline the development and deployment of applications and services. Virtual machines can be easily created and configured, and they can be used to simulate different environments and test applications before they are deployed to production.

Data Center Consolidation: Virtualization is used in data center consolidation to reduce the physical footprint of data centers. Virtual machines can be easily migrated between different physical servers or even to different cloud providers, allowing organizations to optimize their resources and reduce their costs.

Enterprise Applications: Virtualization is used in enterprise applications to improve the performance, scalability, and availability of applications. Virtual machines can be created with specific hardware configurations and software packages, allowing organizations to optimize their applications for specific environments.

Embedded Systems: Virtualization is used in embedded systems to reduce the size and complexity of embedded systems. Virtual machines can be created with specific hardware configurations and software packages, allowing organizations to optimize their embedded systems for specific applications.

Challenges and Risks of Virtualization:
While virtualization offers many benefits, it also presents some challenges and risks. Here are some of the key challenges and risks associated with virtualization:

Complexity: Virtualization can be complex and requires a high level of expertise to manage and maintain. It requires organizations to invest in training and resources to ensure that their virtualization infrastructure is properly configured and managed.

Performance: Virtualization can impact the performance of applications and services, particularly if the virtual machines are overloaded or if the underlying physical infrastructure is not optimized. Organizations need to carefully manage their virtualization infrastructure to ensure that it is optimized for performance.

Security: Virtualization provides enhanced security, but it also introduces new security risks. Virtual machines can be vulnerable to attacks, and organizations need to implement robust security measures to protect their virtual machines and data.

Resource Management: Virtualization requires organizations to manage their resources efficiently to ensure that they are not overused or underused. Organizations need to carefully monitor their virtualization infrastructure and optimize it to ensure that it is using resources effectively.

In conclusion, virtualization is a powerful technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way we compute and deploy applications and services. It offers several benefits, such as scalability, cost savings, flexibility, high availability, and security. Virtualization has a wide range of applications in different industries, including cloud computing, DevOps, data center consolidation, enterprise applications, and embedded systems. However, it also presents some challenges and risks, such as complexity, performance, security, and resource management. By understanding the fundamental concepts and skills required to work with virtualization environments, organizations can gain a competitive advantage and contribute to the growth of the digital economy.

Weight: 620g
Dimension: 188 x 235 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781394181568