Virtualization is the process of creating a virtual (rather than physical) version of computing
resources, such as servers, storage devices, or networks. This technology enables the abstraction of
underlying physical hardware, allowing multiple virtual instances or environments to run on a single
physical system. The goal of virtualization is to optimize resource utilization, enhance flexibility, and
improve the efficiency of IT infrastructure.
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Cloud computing is a technology that lets you access and use computing resources (like
servers, storage, and software) over the internet, rather than on your local computer or servers.
Cloud computing services are typically categorized into three main models:
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, such as
virtual machines, storage, and networks.
Platform as a Service (PaaS): Offers a platform that allows developers to build, deploy, and manage
applications without dealing with the underlying infrastructure.
Software as a Service (SaaS): Delivers software applications over the internet, eliminating the need
for users to install, manage, and maintain the software locally.
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NEED OF VIRTUALIZATION:
1. **Resource Optimization:** Efficiently use physical resources by running multiple virtual machines
on a single server, optimizing CPU, memory, and storage.
2. **Cost Reduction:** Consolidate virtual machines on a single server to save on hardware,
procurement, maintenance, and power costs.
3. **Flexibility and Scalability:** Quickly adjust resources based on demand, adapting to changing
workloads without significant hardware changes.
4. **Improved Disaster Recovery:** Facilitate robust disaster recovery with easily created snapshots
and backups, enabling quick restoration on alternative hardware.
5. **Isolation and Security:** Enhance security by isolating applications and operating systems in
separate virtual environments, preventing the spread of vulnerabilities.
6. **Testing and Development:** Provide a flexible sandbox for testing applications without affecting
the production environment.
7. **Legacy System Support:** Run older applications on virtual machines, ensuring compatibility
with modern infrastructure.
8. **Server Consolidation:** Consolidate multiple physical servers into fewer virtual servers,
reducing the physical footprint and simplifying management.
9. **Energy Efficiency:** Contribute to energy efficiency by reducing the number of physical servers,
lowering power consumption and cooling requirements.
10. **Centralized Management:** Use centralized tools for monitoring, configuring, and maintaining
virtual machines, enhancing efficiency and reducing administrative overhead.
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LIMITATIONS OF VIRTUALIZATION:
1. **Performance Impact:**
- Virtualization can slightly reduce overall system performance due to the additional layer of
abstraction.
2. **Complex Management:**
- Setting up and managing virtualized environments can be complex and may require specialized
knowledge.
3. **Compatibility Challenges:**
- Some older or specialized applications may not work seamlessly in virtualized environments.
4. **Security Risks:**
- Security concerns may arise, and malicious software on one virtual machine could potentially
impact others.
5. **Dependency on Host:**
- Virtual machines depend on the health and performance of the underlying physical host.
6. **Licensing Costs:**
- Some virtualization solutions may have associated licensing costs, impacting overall savings.
7. **I/O Bottlenecks:**
- High I/O demands can create bottlenecks, affecting the performance of virtual machines.
8. **Hardware Compatibility:**
- Certain hardware peripherals or drivers may not be fully compatible with virtualization platforms.
9. **Software License Complexity:**
- Managing software licenses in virtualized environments can be complex.
10. **Learning Curve:**
- Training staff to manage virtualized environments may require time and resources.
11. Data Transfer Costs:
In cloud-based virtualization environments, data transfer costs between virtual machines and
external networks may contribute to overall expenses.
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HARDWARE VIRTUALIZATION:
Hardware virtualization is a technology that allows multiple virtual environments, known as virtual
machines (VMs), to run on a single physical hardware platform. This is achieved through the use of a
hypervisor or virtual machine monitor (VMM), which is a layer of software or firmware that sits
between the hardware and the operating systems running on the virtual machines. The primary goal
of hardware virtualization is to efficiently share and utilize the physical computing resources while
maintaining isolation and independence for each virtualized instance.
TYPES OF HARDWARE VIRTUALIZATION :
1. **Type 1 Hypervisor (Bare-Metal Hypervisor):**
- **Description:** Think of it like a magician performing directly on the stage without any
assistants. The Type 1 hypervisor is the star of the show, running directly on the hardware without
needing an extra operating system. It's efficient, secure, and often used in big settings like data
centers.
- **Example:** Imagine a hypervisor like VMware ESXi as the lead actor, controlling the hardware
directly.
2. **Type 2 Hypervisor (Hosted Hypervisor):**
- **Description:** This is like a magic show where the magician performs on a stage that already
has some props set up. The Type 2 hypervisor is the magician, but it needs an existing operating
system (the stage) to perform its tricks. It's user-friendly and great for smaller setups, like your
personal computer.
- **Example:** Picture a hypervisor like VMware Workstation doing its magic tricks on a computer
that already has Windows (or another operating system) as the stage.
3. **Nested Virtualization:**
- **Description:** Nested virtualization is like a set of Russian dolls, where you have one doll inside
another. In this case, it's a hypervisor running inside a virtual machine. It's useful for playing around
with virtualization setups within virtual environments.
- **Use Cases:** Imagine you have a little virtual world inside your computer, and within that,
there's another mini-world with its own rules – that's nested virtualization.
4. **GPU Virtualization:**
- **Description:** GPU virtualization is like having a powerful graphics card that multiple people
can share. It's helpful for things like making graphics-heavy games or apps work smoothly in virtual
environments.
- **Use Cases:** Think of it as having a really fast and powerful paintbrush that different artists can
use one at a time without fighting over it.
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PARAVIRTUALIZATION:
Paravirtualization is a virtualization technique where the guest operating system is modified to be
aware of the virtualized environment. Unlike traditional virtualization methods where the guest OS
remains unaware of the hypervisor, paravirtualization involves making specific changes to the
operating system kernel to enhance performance and efficiency in a virtualized environment.
The working of paravirtualization involves modifying the guest operating system to be aware of the
virtualization layer, allowing for more efficient communication with the hypervisor. Here's a step-by-
step explanation of how paravirtualization works:
1. **Hypervisor Installation:**
- The process begins with the installation of a hypervisor or virtual machine monitor (VMM) on the
physical hardware. The hypervisor is responsible for managing and allocating resources among
multiple virtual machines.
2. **Guest Operating System Modification:**
- In paravirtualization, the guest operating system (OS) is modified to be aware of the virtualization
layer. This modification typically involves adjusting the OS kernel to replace certain privileged
instructions with hypercalls.
3. **Hypercalls:**
- Hypercalls are specialized API calls that the modified guest OS uses to communicate directly with
the hypervisor. These hypercalls serve as a mechanism for the guest OS to request virtualization-
related operations or services from the hypervisor.
4. **Communication with Hypervisor:**
- When the guest OS needs to perform a privileged operation that would traditionally cause a trap
or exception, it now uses a hypercall to communicate with the hypervisor. The hypervisor, in turn,
carries out the requested operation on behalf of the guest OS.
5. **Efficient Resource Management:**
- Because the guest OS is actively participating in the virtualization process through hypercalls,
resource management becomes more efficient. The hypervisor can allocate resources directly based
on the guest OS's specific requests, reducing the need for certain virtualization overhead.
6. **Increased Performance:**
- The direct communication between the guest OS and the hypervisor, facilitated by hypercalls,
leads to improved performance compared to traditional full virtualization. This is because
paravirtualization reduces the need for binary translation or emulation of certain privileged
instructions.
7. **Selective Modification of Drivers (Optional):**
- In some paravirtualization scenarios, only specific device drivers within the guest OS are modified.
This selective modification allows for direct communication between the guest OS and the
hypervisor for certain device-related operations, enhancing device performance.
8. **Compatibility and Use Cases:**
- Paravirtualization may require specific adaptations for different operating systems. Operating
systems that have been paravirtualized are often referred to as "paravirtualized guests." This
approach is particularly beneficial in scenarios where performance optimization is a priority, such as
in high-performance computing environments or cloud computing platforms.
Certainly! Let's explore how paravirtualization works using a different analogy:
**Analogy: Building a Collaborative City**
1. **City Construction (Hypervisor Installation):**
- Imagine constructing a city (virtualized environment) with multiple buildings (virtual machines).
The city planner (hypervisor) oversees the entire construction process.
2. **Building Architects (Guest OS Modification):**
- Each building has its own architect (guest operating system) who is initially unaware of the city
planner. In traditional virtualization, architects design their buildings without considering the overall
city plan.
3. **City Blueprint (Hypercalls):**
- In paravirtualization, the city planner provides a master blueprint (hypervisor interface) that
architects study. Architects modify their building designs to include special communication points
(hypercalls) that allow direct interaction with the city planner.
4. **Architect-Hypervisor Collaboration:**
- When an architect needs a specific resource or service, instead of relying on a traditional process
(traps or exceptions), they use a direct hotline (hypercall) to communicate with the city planner
(hypervisor). This direct interaction streamlines resource allocation and city management.
5. **Resource Allocation (Efficient Resource Management):**
- The city planner can efficiently allocate resources based on the architects' specific requests,
ensuring that each building gets what it needs without unnecessary delays or bureaucracy.
6. **Performance Improvement (Increased Efficiency):**
- Because architects actively collaborate with the city planner, the construction process becomes
more efficient. This collaboration leads to faster construction times and optimized resource
utilization.
7. **Selective Building Modifications (Optional):**
- In some neighborhoods, architects decide to modify only certain aspects of their buildings
(selective modification of drivers) to further enhance performance. This selective adaptation ensures
that specific building features communicate directly with the city planner for improved efficiency.
8. **City's Unique Identity (Compatibility and Use Cases):**
- Each city (virtualized environment) has its own unique identity based on how well the architects
collaborate. Some architects may need more guidance (paravirtualization adaptation), while others
operate more independently (traditional virtualization).
Examples of paravirtualization:
1. **Xen Hypervisor:**
- Xen is like a virtualization expert that makes teamwork better. Imagine your computer has a
special helper (Xen) that trains certain programs (operating systems) to work together more
efficiently. Examples include Linux systems like CentOS and Ubuntu.
2. **Amazon EC2 Instances:**
- Amazon EC2 is like a big cloud computer playground. It uses Xen to help different programs
(virtual machines) talk to each other faster. If your computer were a superhero, Amazon EC2 would
be its powerful sidekick.
3. **KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine):**
- KVM is like a magic wand for Linux computers. It helps programs (virtual machines) either pretend
to be completely on their own or work together more closely, depending on what's needed.
4. **VMware vSphere with PVSCSI:**
- VMware vSphere is like a virtual city, and PVSCSI is a special road that helps programs (virtual
machines) move things around faster. It's like giving the programs a super-fast express lane.
5. **Microsoft Hyper-V with Enlightened VMs:**
- Hyper-V is like a helpful friend for Windows computers. It shows Windows programs (virtual
machines) some cool tricks to work better together. It's like giving them a secret code to
communicate faster.
6. **Oracle VM VirtualBox:**
- VirtualBox is like a friendly playground manager for your computer. It helps programs (virtual
machines) play nice with each other by sharing toys (resources) and playing games more efficiently.
7. **QEMU with VirtIO:**
- QEMU is like a versatile game console for computers. It uses VirtIO to make games (virtual
machines) run smoother by making sure they can talk to each other faster. It's like a magic controller
for virtual fun.
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FULL VIRTUALIZATION:
Full virtualization is a virtualization technique where an entire software-based simulation of a
computer, known as a virtual machine (VM), is created to run an operating system and applications.
In full virtualization, the guest operating system is unaware that it is running in a virtualized
environment and operates as if it were running directly on physical hardware. This approach allows
for running multiple virtual machines on a single physical server, each with its own independent
operating system.
WORKING:
1. **Hypervisor Installation:**
- Install a hypervisor (Virtual Machine Monitor) on the physical hardware to manage the virtualized
environment.
2. **Virtual Machine Creation:**
- Create VMs with virtualized hardware resources like CPU, memory, storage, and network
interfaces.
3. **Guest OS Installation:**
- Install an operating system on each VM as if it were on physical hardware; the guest OS is
unaware of the virtualization.
4. **Privileged Instruction Handling:**
- Intercept and handle privileged instructions executed by VMs to ensure compatibility with the
virtualized environment.
5. **Binary Translation or Hardware Assistance:**
- Use techniques like binary translation or hardware features to handle privileged instructions
efficiently.
6. **Resource Allocation:**
- Manage and allocate physical resources (CPU, memory, storage) among VMs for fair usage and
independence.
7. **Isolation Between VMs:**
- Ensure isolation between VMs so actions within one VM do not impact others, providing security
and stability.
8. **Execution on Physical Hardware:**
- Orchestrate the execution of multiple VMs on the physical hardware, controlling CPU scheduling,
memory usage, and communication.
9. **Versatile OS Support:**
- Support a variety of guest operating systems without modification, offering flexibility in OS
choices for each VM.
10. **Versatility and Scalability:**
- Enable simultaneous operation of multiple VMs with diverse OS and applications on the same
hardware, making it suitable for data centers and cloud environments.
Certainly! Let's use a different analogy to explain full virtualization:
**Analogy: The Virtual Hotel**
Imagine you're the owner of a virtual hotel, and you want to create a unique experience for different
guests (virtual machines) while efficiently managing your hotel space (physical hardware).
1. **Hotel Construction (Hypervisor Installation):**
- You start by building a hotel (virtualized environment) using a special manager (hypervisor) to
oversee everything. This manager is like your expert concierge who can create and manage hotel
rooms.
2. **Room Assignments (Virtual Machine Creation):**
- You decide to have multiple rooms (virtual machines) in your hotel, each with its own theme and
style. The concierge (hypervisor) creates these rooms, equipping them with virtualized amenities like
beds, TVs, and private bathrooms.
3. **Guest Check-In (Guest OS Installation):**
- Guests (operating systems) check into these rooms, not realizing they are in a virtual hotel. They
interact with the rooms just as if they were regular hotel rooms, without knowing they are in a
virtual space.
4. **Special Requests (Privileged Instruction Handling):**
- Sometimes, guests make special requests (privileged instructions) like asking for room service or
additional amenities. Your concierge (hypervisor) handles these requests to ensure everything runs
smoothly.
5. **Magic Translator (Binary Translation or Hardware Assistance):**
- Your concierge uses a magic language translator (binary translation or hardware assistance) to
make sure that both guests and hotel staff (physical hardware) can understand each other's requests,
ensuring compatibility.
6. **Resource Distribution (Resource Allocation):**
- To keep guests happy, your concierge manages the distribution of resources like towels, snacks,
and cleaning services (CPU time, memory, storage) among the rooms (virtual machines).
7. **Isolated Stay (Isolation Between VMs):**
- Each room (virtual machine) is completely isolated from others. If one guest decides to redecorate
their room, it won't affect the experience of guests in neighboring rooms. It's like having private,
soundproof accommodations.
8. **Hotel Operations (Execution on Physical Hardware):**
- Your concierge oversees the smooth operation of the entire hotel, managing check-ins, ensuring
rooms are cleaned, and handling communication with the outside world (external network).
9. **Room Compatibility (Versatile Operating System Support):**
- Your hotel can accommodate guests with different preferences, speaking various languages
(supporting diverse operating systems), making it a versatile and welcoming place.
10. **Hotel Expansion (Versatility and Scalability):**
- As more guests arrive, you can easily add new rooms or even entire floors (scalability) without
disrupting the experience of existing guests. Your hotel remains flexible and adapts to various needs.
In this analogy, the virtual hotel represents the virtualized environment, each room is a virtual
machine, and the concierge is the hypervisor managing the entire operation efficiently.
EXAMPLES:
**Analogy: The Virtual Kitchen**
Imagine you're a chef (virtualization enthusiast) looking to create a virtual kitchen (virtualized
environment) with different cooking stations (virtual machines). Each cooking station has its unique
recipes (operating systems and applications).
1. **Top Chef Kitchen (VMware ESXi):**
- The Top Chef Kitchen is a high-end kitchen with top-notch tools. Similarly, VMware ESXi is a
leading virtualization platform known for its enterprise-grade capabilities. It lets you create and
manage various cooking stations effortlessly.
2. **Windows Culinary Corner (Microsoft Hyper-V):**
- Microsoft Hyper-V is like a Culinary Corner dedicated to Windows recipes. It provides a specialized
space for cooking up Windows-based dishes in your virtual kitchen.
3. **Linux Cookery (KVM - Kernel-based Virtual Machine):**
- In the Linux Cookery section, KVM acts as a versatile kitchen module for Linux recipes. It allows
you to cook up different Linux-based dishes, making it a key ingredient in your virtual kitchen.
4. **Citrix Banquet Hall (Citrix Hypervisor):**
- The Citrix Banquet Hall, powered by Citrix Hypervisor, is known for hosting large-scale events.
Similarly, Citrix Hypervisor is designed for virtualizing in data centers and cloud settings, making it
ideal for hosting your virtual kitchen banquets.
5. **VirtualBox Cafe (Oracle VM VirtualBox):**
- The VirtualBox Cafe is an open-source spot where everyone is welcome. Oracle VM VirtualBox,
like a cafe, is a versatile and open-source virtualization platform that serves a variety of operating
systems on different host platforms.
6. **Proxmox Fusion Grill (Proxmox VE):**
- The Proxmox Fusion Grill is a fusion kitchen combining different cooking styles. Similarly, Proxmox
VE integrates KVM for traditional dishes (virtual machines) and LXC for a lighter, container-based
approach.
7. **Xen Spice Bazaar (Xen Project):**
- The Xen Spice Bazaar is an open marketplace offering diverse flavors. Xen Project, like a spice
bazaar, supports both full virtualization and paravirtualization, providing a variety of options for your
virtual kitchen recipes.
8. **Red Hat Culinary Headquarters (Red Hat Virtualization):**
- The Red Hat Culinary Headquarters, powered by Red Hat Virtualization, is a hub for creating a
variety of dishes with the KVM hypervisor. It's known for its enterprise-grade features, making it a
reliable choice for your virtual kitchen.
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HYPERVISOR:
A hypervisor, also known as a Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM), is a software or hardware component
that creates and manages virtual machines (VMs) on a physical computer. The hypervisor allows
multiple operating systems to run independently on the same hardware by providing each virtual
machine with a virtualized set of resources, including CPU, memory, storage, and network interfaces.
It acts as an intermediary layer between the physical hardware and the virtualized operating systems.
1. **Type 1 Hypervisor (Bare-Metal Hypervisor):**
- *Definition:* A Type 1 hypervisor is a virtualization layer installed directly on the physical
hardware of a computer. It operates independently of any host operating system and creates and
manages virtual machines, allowing multiple operating systems to run on the same hardware.
2. **Type 2 Hypervisor (Hosted Hypervisor):**
- *Definition:* A Type 2 hypervisor is a virtualization layer that runs on top of a host operating
system. It allows users to create and manage virtual machines within the host OS, providing a
virtualized environment for running multiple operating systems on a single machine.
The working of a hypervisor involves creating and managing virtual machines (VMs) on a physical
computer. There are two main types of hypervisors: Type 1 (bare-metal) and Type 2 (hosted). Here's
an overview of how a Type 1 hypervisor typically works:
### Type 1 Hypervisor (Bare-Metal Hypervisor):
1. **Installation:**
- The hypervisor is installed directly on the physical hardware of the host machine. This installation
is done independently of any operating system.
2. **Hypervisor Layer:**
- The hypervisor creates a layer between the physical hardware and the operating systems. It has
direct control over the hardware resources.
3. **Virtual Machine Creation:**
- Virtual machines (VMs) are created on top of the hypervisor layer. Each VM is an isolated
environment with its own virtualized hardware, including CPU, memory, storage, and network
interfaces.
4. **Resource Allocation:**
- The hypervisor allocates physical resources to each VM based on its configuration and
requirements. This includes assigning CPU time, allocating memory, and providing access to storage
and network interfaces.
5. **Guest Operating System Execution:**
- Each VM runs its own guest operating system, thinking it has direct access to the physical
hardware. The guest OS interacts with the virtualized hardware provided by the hypervisor.
6. **Hypervisor Control:**
- The hypervisor controls the execution of VMs, managing their access to physical resources and
ensuring isolation between them. It schedules CPU time, handles memory management, and
enforces security boundaries.
7. **Communication Between VMs:**
- The hypervisor facilitates communication between VMs, allowing them to interact with each
other or with external networks. It manages the routing of data between VMs while maintaining
isolation.
8. **Monitoring and Management:**
- The hypervisor monitors the performance of each VM and can dynamically adjust resource
allocations based on demand. It also provides management interfaces for administrators to configure
and control virtual machines.
### Type 2 Hypervisor (Hosted Hypervisor):
In contrast, a Type 2 hypervisor runs on top of a host operating system. The steps are similar, but
there's an additional layer between the hypervisor and the physical hardware, which is the host OS.
1. **Host Operating System:**
- The host operating system runs on the physical hardware and provides services to the hypervisor.
It could be Windows, Linux, or another OS.
2. **Hypervisor Installation:**
- The hypervisor is installed as an application within the host operating system.
3. **Hypervisor Layer:**
- The hypervisor layer is created on top of the host OS, and VMs are then created within this layer.
4. **Virtual Machine Creation and Resource Allocation:**
- VMs are created and run within the hypervisor layer, and resource allocation is managed by the
hypervisor in coordination with the host OS.
5. **Guest Operating System Execution:**
- Each VM runs its own guest operating system, interacting with the virtualized hardware provided
by the hypervisor, which, in turn, communicates with the host OS.
6. **Host Operating System Control:**
- The hypervisor interacts with the host operating system to manage physical resources and ensure
the proper functioning of VMs.
Certainly! Let's use a different analogy to explain how a hypervisor works:
**Analogy: The Virtual City Builder**
Imagine you are a city planner, and you want to efficiently use the space in a city to accommodate
residents who have different needs and preferences. Each resident represents an operating system or
application that wants its own space to live and work.
### Type 1 Hypervisor (Bare-Metal Hypervisor):
1. **City Construction:**
- You start by designing a city from scratch (installing the hypervisor directly on the hardware). The
city has different districts (virtual machines) with their own resources.
2. **Zoning:**
- Each district (VM) has its own rules and regulations (resource allocation) that determine the type
of buildings it can have and how much space it gets. The hypervisor acts as the city planner enforcing
these rules.
3. **Building Construction:**
- Residents (guest operating systems) move in and construct their buildings (applications) within
their allocated districts. They believe they are in a standalone city with direct access to resources.
4. **City Management:**
- As the city planner (hypervisor), you manage the overall infrastructure, ensuring that districts
don't interfere with each other. You control the flow of resources, manage traffic (communication
between VMs), and maintain harmony.
5. **Expansion:**
- The city can expand with new districts (VMs) added without disrupting existing ones. The
hypervisor oversees this growth, ensuring the city remains efficient and residents are happy.
### Type 2 Hypervisor (Hosted Hypervisor):
In this scenario, imagine that the city planner (hypervisor) works within an existing city (host
operating system).
1. **Existing City:**
- There is already a city (host operating system) with buildings and residents. The city planner
wants to optimize the space by adding more structures (virtual machines).
2. **City Planner's Office:**
- The city planner sets up an office (installs the hypervisor as an application within the host OS) to
manage the city's expansion.
3. **New Districts within the City:**
- The city planner creates new districts (VMs) within the existing city, each with its own zoning rules
(resource allocation) managed by the hypervisor.
4. **Building Construction:**
- Residents (guest operating systems) move into the new districts and construct their buildings
(applications) within the virtual space. They interact with the hypervisor, thinking it's the city
planner's office.
5. **City Management:**
- The city planner (hypervisor) coordinates with the existing city management (host OS) to ensure
smooth operations. They work together to handle resource distribution and maintain a balance
between the original city and the new districts.
6. **Expansion without Disruption:**
- The city can still expand with new districts (VMs) added within the existing city framework. The
city planner (hypervisor) collaborates with the city management (host OS) to facilitate this expansion
seamlessly.
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