3 1 2 Virtualization and Virtual Machines explained

Summary

In this IBM cloud team video, Kaylee Bovie explains virtualization as creating a software-based virtual version of resources like compute, storage, and networking. She covers the role of hypervisors, distinguishing between Type 1 (bare-metal) and Type 2 (hosted), highlighting their significance in cloud computing. Bovie emphasizes virtual machines' independence, portability, and the benefits of virtualization, such as cost savings, agility, and reduced downtime.

Takeaways

• 🌐 **Virtualization Defined**: Virtualization is the process of creating a software-based virtual version of compute, storage, networking servers, or applications.
• 🛠️ **Role of Hypervisor**: A hypervisor is essential software that runs above the physical server to allocate resources to virtual environments.
• 💻 **Type 1 Hypervisor**: Type 1 hypervisors, also known as bare-metal, are installed directly on the physical server and are more secure and lower latency.
• 🌟 **Examples of Type 1**: VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM are examples of Type 1 hypervisors.
• 📚 **Type 2 Hypervisor**: Type 2 hypervisors, or hosted hypervisors, sit on top of a host OS and are less frequent with higher latency.
• 🔄 **Virtual Machines (VMs)**: VMs are software-based computers that run like physical computers with their own OS and applications.
• 🔄 **Independence of VMs**: VMs are independent and can run different operating systems, providing flexibility.
• 🔄 **Portability of VMs**: VMs can be moved from one hypervisor to another quickly, enhancing portability.
• 💰 **Cost Savings**: Virtualization allows for cost savings by reducing the need for physical infrastructure, thus lowering maintenance and electricity costs.
• ⚡ **Agility and Speed**: Virtualization enables quick provisioning of new environments, increasing agility.
• 🛡️ **Reduced Downtime**: Virtualization helps in reducing downtime by easily moving VMs to another hypervisor in case of host failure.

Q & A

What is virtualization?

Virtualization is the process of creating a software-based virtual version of something like compute, storage, networking servers, or applications.

What role does a hypervisor play in virtualization?

A hypervisor is a piece of software that runs above the physical server or host and manages the allocation of resources from the physical server to virtual environments.

What are the two main types of hypervisors?

The two main types of hypervisors are Type 1 (bare-metal) and Type 2 (hosted).

What is a Type 1 hypervisor and why is it considered more secure?

A Type 1 hypervisor is installed directly on the physical server and is also known as a bare-metal hypervisor. It is considered more secure because it has direct access to the hardware, which lowers latency and is more frequently used in the market.

What are some examples of Type 1 hypervisors?

Examples of Type 1 hypervisors include VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and the open-source KVM.

How does a Type 2 hypervisor differ from a Type 1 hypervisor?

A Type 2 hypervisor has a layer of host OS between the physical server and the hypervisor, making it a hosted hypervisor. It is less frequent, used mostly for end-user virtualization, and has higher latency compared to Type 1.

What are some examples of Type 2 hypervisors?

Examples of Type 2 hypervisors include Oracle VirtualBox and VMware Workstation.

What is a virtual machine (VM)?

A virtual machine is a software-based computer that runs like a physical computer, complete with an operating system and applications, and is independent from other VMs.

How does virtualization enable multiple operating systems to run on the same physical server?

Virtualization allows multiple VMs to run on a single physical server, each with its own operating system, because they are independent of one another.

What are the key benefits of virtualization?

Key benefits of virtualization include cost savings through reduced physical infrastructure, increased agility and speed in provisioning new environments, and reduced downtime due to the ability to quickly move VMs to another hypervisor in case of host failure.

How does virtualization contribute to cloud computing?

Virtualization and VMs are central to cloud computing as they provide flexibility, portability, and the ability to scale resources up or down as needed.

Outlines

00:00

🖥️ Virtualization and Hypervisors

Kaylee Bovie from the IBM cloud team introduces the concept of virtualization, explaining it as the creation of a software-based virtual version of resources like compute, storage, networking servers, or applications. She highlights the role of the hypervisor, a software layer that runs above the physical server and allocates resources to virtual environments. Two types of hypervisors are discussed: Type 1 (bare-metal) hypervisors, which are installed directly on the physical server and are more secure and lower latency, and Type 2 (hosted) hypervisors, which have a host OS layer between the physical server and the hypervisor. Examples of Type 1 hypervisors include VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM, while Type 2 hypervisors include Oracle VirtualBox and VMware Workstation. The benefits of virtualization, such as cost savings, agility, and reduced downtime, are also mentioned.

05:00

🌐 Virtual Machines in Cloud Computing

The script transitions to discuss the importance of virtual machines (VMs) in cloud computing, positioning them as central to the technology. It mentions that VMs offer many benefits and sets the stage for the next video, which will delve into the types of virtual machines. The paragraph suggests that the flexibility and portability of VMs are key advantages in cloud environments.

Keywords

💡Virtualization

Virtualization refers to the process of creating a virtual version of something, such as compute, storage, networking servers, or applications, using software. It is central to the video's theme as it is the foundational technology for modern cloud computing strategies. An example from the script is the explanation that virtualization allows for the creation of multiple virtual environments from a single physical server, which is crucial for cost savings and efficiency.

💡Hypervisor

A hypervisor is a piece of software that runs above the physical server or host and is essential for virtualization. It pulls resources from the physical server and allocates them to virtual environments. The script mentions two types of hypervisors, Type 1 and Type 2, which are differentiated by their relationship to the host operating system. The hypervisor is a key component that enables the flexibility and efficiency of virtualized environments.

💡Type 1 Hypervisor

A Type 1 hypervisor, also known as a bare-metal hypervisor, is installed directly on the physical server. It is described in the script as the most frequently used type and is noted for its security and lower latency. Examples given include VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM. Type 1 hypervisors are integral to the video's discussion of virtualization because they provide a direct and efficient way to manage virtual machines.

💡Type 2 Hypervisor

A Type 2 hypervisor, also known as a hosted hypervisor, operates with a layer of host OS between the physical server and the hypervisor. The script points out that these are less frequent and have higher latency than Type 1 hypervisors. Examples include Oracle VirtualBox and VMware Workstation. Type 2 hypervisors are relevant to the video's discussion as they represent an alternative approach to virtualization, often used for end-user virtualization.

💡Virtual Machine (VM)

A virtual machine is a software-based computer that operates like a physical computer, complete with an operating system and applications. The script explains that VMs are independent of one another and can run multiple operating systems on a single hypervisor. VMs are central to the video's message as they demonstrate the flexibility and portability offered by virtualization.

💡Portability

Portability, in the context of the video, refers to the ability to move virtual machines from one hypervisor to another almost instantaneously. This is highlighted as a significant advantage of virtualization, as it allows for flexibility in managing computing resources. The script uses portability to illustrate how VMs can be easily transferred between different physical servers or hypervisors.

💡Cost Savings

Cost savings is one of the key benefits of virtualization discussed in the video. It is achieved by running multiple virtual environments from a single piece of infrastructure, which reduces the physical infrastructure footprint. The script explains that this consolidation leads to savings on electricity and maintenance costs, ultimately benefiting the bottom line.

💡Agility

Agility, as mentioned in the script, refers to the ease and speed with which virtual machines can be spun up. This is contrasted with the more complex process of provisioning an entirely new physical environment. Agility is a key benefit of virtualization because it allows for quicker responses to changing business needs, such as developers requiring new environments for testing.

💡Downtime

Downtime, in the context of the video, is the period during which a system is not operational. Virtualization helps to lower downtime by allowing virtual machines to be quickly moved to another hypervisor in case the primary host fails. The script uses this concept to emphasize the reliability and resilience that virtualization provides to businesses.

💡Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is mentioned as being at the center of virtualization and VMs. It refers to the delivery of computing services, including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics, over the Internet. The script implies that virtualization technologies are crucial for the implementation and management of cloud services, providing the flexibility and scalability needed for modern computing.

💡Consolidation

Consolidation, in the video, refers to the process of combining multiple systems or applications into one. It is a key aspect of virtualization that allows for running multiple virtual environments on a single piece of physical infrastructure. The script uses consolidation as an example of how virtualization can lead to cost savings by reducing the need for multiple physical servers.

Highlights

Virtualization is a key component of modern cloud computing strategies.

Virtualization involves creating a software-based virtual version of compute, storage, networking servers, or applications.

A hypervisor is essential for virtualization, running above the physical server to manage resources.

Type 1 hypervisors, or bare-metal hypervisors, are installed directly on the physical server and are more secure with lower latency.

Examples of Type 1 hypervisors include VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM.

Type 2 hypervisors, or hosted hypervisors, have a host OS layer between the physical server and the hypervisor.

Type 2 hypervisors are less common and have higher latency compared to Type 1.

Virtual machines (VMs) are software-based computers that run like physical computers with an OS and applications.

VMs are independent of one another and can run multiple different operating systems.

VMs are highly portable and can be moved between hypervisors almost instantaneously.

Virtualization offers cost savings by reducing the physical infrastructure footprint.

Agility and speed are enhanced as VMs can be spun up quickly compared to provisioning new environments.

Virtualization lowers downtime by allowing VMs to be moved to another hypervisor in case of host failure.

VMs are central to cloud computing, offering many benefits.

The next video will discuss the types of virtual machines in more detail.

Transcripts

Hi, my name is Kaylee Bovie with the IBM cloud team and today we're going to be

talking about virtualization. As you know, virtualization is a fairly old

technology but it's still super relevant to building our cloud computing strategy

today. So, first off, what is virtualization? Simply put, virtualization

is the process of creating a software based on a virtual version of something

whether that be compute storage, networking servers, or applications.

What makes virtualization feasible is something called the hypervisor. So we're

going to write that here. What a hypervisor is is simply a piece of

software that runs above the physical server or host and there are a couple

different types of hypervisors out there and what they do is essentially pull the

resources from the physical server and allocate them to your virtual

environments there are two main types of hypervisors out there one being type 1

very simple to remember and 2 you guessed it type 2 so let's start

with type 1 a type 1 hypervisor is a hypervisor that

is installed directly on top of the physical server they're also called

bare-metal hypervisor so we'll write that up here remember these are the most

frequently typed of use hypervisors and they're most secure they lower the

latency and these are the ones that you'll see in the market the most some

examples would be VMware ESXi or Microsoft hyper-v or even open-source

KVM the other type of hypervisor is a type 2 hypervisor over here and what

makes these different is that there is a layer of host OS that sits between the

physical server and the hypervisor so by that nature they are also killed hosted

these are a lot less frequent they're mostly used for end-user virtualization

and you might see some in the market that are called like Oracle VirtualBox

or VMware Workstation again there are a lot less frequent they're a bit more

they have a higher latency than a type 1 hypervisor so once you have your

hypervisor installed you can build virtual environments or virtual machines

or simply put VMs so let's spin up some environments

so what makes a VM a VM a VM is simply a software based computer they're run like

a physical computer they have an operating system and applications and

they're completely independent of one another but you can run multiple of them

on a hypervisor and the hypervisor manages the resources that are allocated

to these virtual environments from the physical server so because they're

independent you can run different operating systems on different virtual

machines so you could run Windows here or Linux here or UNIX here for example

because they're independent they're also extremely portable you can move a

virtual machine from one hypervisor to another hypervisor on a completely

different machine almost as instantaneously which gives you a lot of

flexibility and a lot of portability within your environment so looking at

all of this this is the core virtualization as a process so let's

talk about a couple key benefits that you want to take away from this one cost

savings

when you think about this and the fact that you can run multiple virtual

environments from one piece of infrastructure means that you can

drastically reduce your physical infrastructure footprint this is

consolidation at its core and the fact that you don't have to maintain nearly

as many servers run as much electricity save on maintenance costs means that you

save on your bottom line at the end of the day number two would

be agility and speed so like I said spinning up a virtual machine is

relatively easy and quick a lot more simple than provisioning an entire new

environment for your developers if you if they say they want to spin up a new

environment so that they can run a duck test scenario whatever it might be

virtualization makes that process a lot simpler and quicker and three lowers

your downtime

so let's say that this host goes out unexpectedly the fact that you can move

virtual machines from one hypervisor to another on a different physical server

means that you have a great backup plan in place right so if this host goes down

you can simply move your VMs very quickly to another hypervisor on a

machine that is working virtualization and VMs are at the center of cloud

computing and provide many benefits in the next video we will discuss the types

of virtual machines