Virtualization and cloud computing: the foundations of digital transformation

Virtualization and cloud computing play an important role in reshaping the digital
transformation in modern information technology. These technologies, which
typically encompass various programmes, give users a competitive advantage by
enabling them to be more efficient, develop innovative applications and give
users more flexibility. Virtualization involves the creation of systems such as
hardware and operating systems. Cloud computing, on the other hand, goes one
step further and provides services via the internet. Although virtualization and
cloud computing are often used interchangeably, they are fundamentally different
in terms of focus, scope and access. Of course, there are also common features
such as cost reduction and resource sharing.
Virtualization :
Virtualization is a platform that enables the creation of multiple virtual
environments on a physical hardware platform and makes these environments
separately operable. It makes it possible to operate several machines with their
own operating system and applications on a single physical server, improve
resource utilisation, simplify maintenance and administration, increase security
and reduce costs. Virtualization focuses on the creation of virtualized components
such as virtual machines, virtual storage and virtual networks. VMware was first
developed by VMware and has attracted many people to virtualization solutions.
There are different types of virtualization such as hardware virtualization,
memory virtualization, storage virtualization, network virtualization, application
virtualization, desktop virtualization and database virtualization. Some of the
programmes used for virtualization are VMware vSphere / ESXi, Microsoft
Hyper-V, KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine), Citrix Hypervisor (XenServer),
Oracle VM VirtualBox, Proxmox Virtual Environment, Red Hat Virtualization-
Virtuozzo, VMware Workstation, Parallels Desktop.
Virtualization models:
- Hardware virtualization: allows multiple virtual computers to run within one
computer, with each virtual computer running its own operating system and
applications. It is generally used for the consolidation of presentations and for test
and development environments. Hardware virtualization technology can be found
in programmes such as Microsoft Hyper-V , Oracle VM VirtualBox , Proxmox
Virtual Environment (Proxmox VE) and VMware vSphere.
- Memory virtualization: Memory virtualization is a technology with which the
storage resources of a computer can be used more efficiently and flexibly.
Memory virtualization is virtual memory that behaves as if there is more memory
in a computer's RAM, allowing computers to run more applications, better
allocate resources and improve performance. This can be seen in the use of
programs such as Microsoft Hyper-V Dynamic Memory , Xen Memory Sharing
(Xen) , Kernel Same-page Merging (KSM - Linux) , Transparent Page Sharing
(TPS - VMware) and VMware Tools Balloon Driver.
- Storage virtualization: Storage virtualization is a technology that allows
different storage resources to be controlled from a single location. It is used to
make storage resources more transparent and available to applications and users.
It is used for database management and data backup. Microsoft Storage Areas,
IBM Spectrum Virtualise, Dell EMC ViPR, NetApp ONTAP, Hitachi Virtual
Storage Platform (VSP), HPE StoreVirtual, DataCore Symphony, Red Hat
Gluster Storage, StarWind Virtual SAN and VMware vSAN program are
examples of the use of storage virtualization.
- Network virtualization: Network virtualization is used to split physical network
hardware and network virtualization technology into virtual networks so that each
virtual network has an isolated environment. Network virtualization implements
the resources of the network on a virtual level and makes this network more
flexible and manageable. Many programs are used in the hardware. Examples of
network virtualization programs are programs such as VMware NSX, Cisco ACI
(Application-Centric Infrastructure), Juniper Contrail Network, Microsoft Hyper-
V Network Virtualization, OpenStack Neutron, Nuage Networks Virtualized
Services Platform (VSP), PLUMgrid ONS (Open Network Package), Arista
Networks, Big Switch Networks.
- Application virtualization: A technology that combines and configures all the
components and resources required to run an application in a working
environment. Application virtualization helps to run applications independently of
physical hardware. It is often used for application migrations and application
updates. ... Docker, Kubernetes, Apache Mesos, OpenShift, Microsoft App-V,
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, VMware ThinApp, Parallels Remote
Application Server, XenApp (Citrix) and Turbo.net are mentioned as examples of
application virtualization.
- Desktop virtualization: Desktop virtualization is a process that helps to move a
computer's operating system, applications and data control center to a server. It is
used to provide users with secure and centralized access from any device and
from any location. Common uses include security and privacy, hardware
independence, centralized management and updating. Examples of desktop
virtualization are Citrix Virtual Applications and Desktops, Microsoft Remote
Desktop Services (RDS), VMware Horizon applications.
-Database virtualization: Database virtualization is a program that combines one
or more databases, resources and processes in a virtual environment. This
database method enables a more efficient use of resources and improves the
overall performance of the database. It is often used for performance
optimization, database consolidation, backup and recovery. You can see that
database virtualization is used in programmes such as Oracle VM VirtulaBox,
Microsoft SQL Server in Hyper-V.
Cloud Computing :
Cloud computing is a service model that allows organisations to access
computing resources such as servers, storage and applications over the Internet.
Cloud computing provides on-demand access to shared computing resources over
the Internet. These access services are divided into Infrastructure as a Service
(IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS). The term
cloud computing became widespread in 2006 with the introduction of Amazon
Web Services, a service that mainly provides infrastructure services. Programmes
such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform
(GCP), IBM Cloud, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), Alibaba Cloud, VMware
Cloud, Cisco CloudCenter, Red Hat OpenShift, Docker (Docker Hub) are
examples of the use of cloud computing.
Cloud computing service models :
laaS - infrastructure as a service: Provides a basic computing infrastructure such
as storage and network resources. Infrastructure elements such as servers, storage,
network components are managed by cloud providers. Users can rent, expand or
reduce these resources as required. Programmes such as Amazon EC2, Microsoft
Azure Virtual Machines, Google Compute Engine, IBM Cloud Virtual Servers,
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute, DigitalOcean Droplets, Linode Instances,
Vultr Compute Instances and Alibaba Cloud Elastic Compute Service (ECS) are
examples of the use of LaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).
PaaS - Platform as a Service: The aim is to facilitate application development and
provision. Developers can concentrate on creating software and do not have to
worry about the infrastructure or configuration details. Platforms such as Heroku,
Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure App Service, IBM Cloud Foundry, Red Hat
OpenShift, Oracle Cloud Application Container Service, Salesforce App Cloud,
Mendix, Engine Yard and SAP Cloud Platform are examples of platforms with
PaaS (Platform as a Service).
SaaS Software as a Service: Users are provided with a software application that is
uploaded to the cloud. Users usually access and use this software via a web
browser. Programs such as Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Google Workspace,
Dropbox, Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, Spotify, Netflix, and Salesforce
Marketing Cloud are examples of SaaS (Software as a Service). It looks like the
infrastructure of the most beautiful applications.
The most important differences Decoupling between virtualization and cloud
computing :
Technology and service model: Virtualization creates virtual versions of
components such as server storage, while cloud computing is a service model that
provides computing resources over the internet.
Physical and Internet deployment: Virtualization is usually implemented on
physical hardware in a company's private network, while cloud computing is
deployed over the Internet.
Objective: Virtualization focuses on the communication of virtual instances of
those that are decoupled in order to improve resource utilization. Cloud
computing, on the other hand, aims to create a comprehensive computing
environment.
Cost model: Virtualization usually aims to reduce the cost of hardware, but cloud
computing offers flexible costs in allocating for the resources they use.
Scope of application: While virtualization is usually used for more specific tasks,
cloud computing can be used in a wide range of user and application areas.

Key similarities between virtualization and cloud computing:

Shared use of resources: both virtualization and cloud computing enable the
shared use of resources for information processing.
Cost reduction potential: Both virtualization and cloud computing focus on cost
reduction, only virtualization does this by combining hardware, while cloud
computing uses the Ode model.
Flexibility in resource management: With both applications, users have the option
of flexibly expanding their resources according to their needs.
In summary, although virtualization and cloud computing are similar in terms of
resource sharing, cost reduction potential and flexibility in resource management,
they are quite different systems in terms of physical and Internet deployment,
purpose, cost model, technology and service models and scope of application.

ULKU KILIC