What is virtualization?
Simply put virtualization is the ability to run many operating systems on the same physical hardware at the same time. For example, your company has three physical servers each running one operating system (3 in 3). Virtualization allows your company to have all three servers running on the same physical box (3 in 1).
Why should I use virtualization?
Okay great…. So now I have less physical servers. Why does that help us?
• One server requires less power than three servers
• Longer battery life on battery backups
• Less physical hardware to patch and maintain
• Less physical hardware to purchase
• More efficient use of physical hardware
• Better backups (not hardware dependent)
• Lower cooling costs
• Create snapshots of your server at any given point in time
• Quicker boot and reboot times
• Add additional resources without rebooting the server (more RAM, or Harddrive space)