Virtualization and Cloud Computing
What is virtualization? In a nutshell, virtualization is software that separates physical infrastructures to create various dedicated resources. It is the fundamental technology that powers cloud computing. "Virtualization software makes it possible to run multiple operating systems and multiple applications on the same server at the same time," said Mike Adams , director of product marketing at VMware, a pioneer in virtualization and cloud software and services. "It enables businesses to reduce IT costs while increasing the efficiency, utilization and flexibility of their existing computer hardware." The technology behind virtualization is known as a virtual machine monitor (VMM) or virtual manager, which separates compute environments from the actual physical infrastructure. Virtualization makes servers, workstations, storage and other systems independent of the physical hardware layer , said John Livesay, vice president of InfraNet , a network infrast