What is virtualization?

In terms of computers, Virtualization means, creating a software-based or virtual representation of something such as Virtual Application, Server, Storage and Networks.

It is one of the most effective ways to reduce the IT Expenses. Also, it boosts the efficiency of small size business.

When we talk about Hardware Virtualization, the term used is “Hypervisor”. Hypervisors help in running multiple guest operating systems on the single host machine at the same time.

This virtualization is so powerful that despite all the Guest OS share the common hardware but each OS seems to be independent i.e. Guest OS appears to have its own processor, memory and other hardware resources.

Types of Hypervisors

1. Bare-metal Hypervisors: They are also known as native or Type-1 Hypervisors. Such hypervisors run directly on the host’s hardware to control the hardware and to manage guest operating systems.

2. Hosted Hypervisors: They are also known as Type-2 Hypervisors. Such hypervisors run within a conventional operating-system environment.

Below are some Best Hypervisor Technologies:

Bare-metal Virtualization Hypervisors

1. VMware ESX/ ESXi: It has the most mature hypervisor technology so far and it offers advanced features and scalability. But it needs high investment for its implementation because its licensing cost is very high. There is a free version of ESXi but it is very limited and it does not contain any advanced features.

2. Microsoft Hyper-V: It lacks many advanced features that are offered by VMware ESX/ ESXi. But still it is the rival of VMware ESX/ ESXi. This is because it offers tight windows integration.

3. Citrix XenServer: This technology was started as an open source project. It does not provide any advanced features. It offers several paid editions of XenServer which provide Advance Management, Automation and availability features.

4. Oracle VM: Basically, it is free of cost but if you want it hypervisors and support product updates, then only it will cost you. It lacks many of the features offered by many of the bared-metal virtualization hypervisors. It’s development time is longer and limited.

Hosted Virtualization Hypervisors

1. VMware Workstation: It allows you to run only a single Virtual machine at a time. No doubt it is paid but it is a robust hypervisor technology with some advanced features such as record-and-replay and VM snapshot support.

2. Oracle VM VirtualBox: It provides reasonable performance and features and you want virtualization in budget. It is free software that shares many features with VMware Workstation. It is good alternative to expensive hypervisors for both server and desktop virtualization.

3. Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization: It is a Kernel-based virtual machine that has qualities for both hosted and bare-metal virtualization. It turns the linux kernel itself into a hypervisor so that the virtual machines have direct access to the physical hardware. This technology is not free.

4. Parallels Desktop: It is very similar to VMware Workstation. It also has desktop version of his hypervisor technology that runs on both Linux and Windows. This technology offers very low-cost but feature-rich hosted hypervisor that can be used for a variety of purposes.