virtualisaatioon

Virtualisaatioon, or virtualization in English, is a technology that allows for the creation of virtual versions of various computing resources. This includes operating systems, servers, storage devices, and networks. Instead of having dedicated physical hardware for each function, virtualization enables a single physical machine to host multiple virtual instances. This is achieved through a layer of software called a hypervisor, which manages and allocates the physical resources to these virtual environments.

The primary benefit of virtualization is increased efficiency and resource utilization. By consolidating multiple workloads onto fewer physical servers, organizations can reduce hardware costs, power consumption, and data center space. It also provides greater flexibility and agility. Virtual machines can be created, moved, and managed much more easily than physical servers, allowing for rapid deployment of new applications and services. Disaster recovery and business continuity are also improved, as virtual machines can be backed up and restored more efficiently.

There are several types of virtualization, including hardware virtualization (which creates virtual machines), operating system virtualization (which allows multiple isolated user-space instances on a single OS kernel), and application virtualization (which isolates applications from the underlying OS). Virtualization has become a cornerstone of modern IT infrastructure, underpinning cloud computing services and enabling scalable, cost-effective solutions for businesses of all sizes.