Virtualization
● Definition: Virtualization is a technology that allows multiple virtual environments to run on
a single physical machine, maximizing resource utilization and improving flexibility.
Characteristics of Virtualized Environments
● Hardware independence:
○ Virtual machines are decoupled from the underlying hardware.
○ Allows for easy migration between physical hosts.
● Resource pooling:
○ Resources are pooled together to provide multi-tenancy and scalability.
○ Resources can be dynamically allocated and reallocated as needed.
● Rapid provisioning:
○ Virtual machines can be quickly created and deployed.
○ Reduces the time and effort required to provision new servers.
● High availability:
○ Virtual machines can be easily replicated and failed over.
○ Reduces downtime and improves overall system reliability.
● Isolation:
○ Virtual machines are isolated from each other and the underlying hardware.
○ Improves security and reduces the risk of conflicts between virtual machines.
Pros of Virtualization
● Increased resource utilization:
○ Multiple virtual machines can run on a single physical machine.
○ Improves resource utilization and reduces waste.
● Improved flexibility and scalability:
○ Virtual machines can be easily created, cloned, and scaled.
○ Quickly adapt to changing business needs.
● Enhanced security and isolation:
○ Virtual machines are isolated from each other and the underlying hardware.
○ Improves security and reduces the risk of conflicts between virtual machines.
● Reduced costs:
○ Virtualization reduces the need for physical hardware and improves resource utilization.
○ Reduces power consumption, cooling, and maintenance costs.
● Improved disaster recovery:
○ Virtual machines can be easily replicated and failed over.
○ Reduces downtime and improves overall system reliability.
Cons of Virtualization
● Increased complexity:
○ Virtualization introduces additional layers of complexity.
○ Requires specialized skills and knowledge to manage.
● Resource overhead:
○ Virtualization requires additional resources, such as CPU and memory.
○ Can impact performance if not properly configured.
● Licensing costs:
○ Virtualization software and licenses can add significant costs.
○ Requires ongoing maintenance and support costs.
● Performance overhead:
○ Virtualization can introduce performance overhead due to the additional layer of
abstraction.
○ Can impact application performance if not properly optimized.
Virtualization using KVM
● KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine):
○ A hypervisor that runs on Linux, providing a virtualization layer for x86 hardware.
○ Supports a wide range of guest operating systems.
● Creating virtual machines
○ Using KVM commands or management tools like oVirt.
○ Define the virtual machine's resources (CPU, memory, storage, etc.).
○ Create a virtual disk image (VDI) for the virtual machine.
○ Install the operating system and applications on the virtual machine.
○ Configure the virtual machine's network settings.
● oVirt
○ An open-source management tool for virtualization environments.
○ Provides centralized management, monitoring, and automation of virtual machines and
resources.
○ Supports multiple hypervisors, including KVM.
○ Open-source and community-driven.
Creating Virtual Machines
● Define the virtual machine's resources
○ CPU: Allocate processing power to the virtual machine.
○ Memory: Allocate RAM to the virtual machine.
○ Storage: Allocate storage space for the virtual machine's virtual disk.
● Create a virtual disk image (VDI)
○ A file that contains the virtual machine's operating system and data.
○ Can be stored on a local disk or on a storage network.
● Install the operating system and applications
○ Install the guest operating system and applications on the virtual machine.
○ Configure the virtual machine's network settings.
● Configure the virtual machine's network settings
○ Define the virtual machine's IP address and subnet mask.
○ Configure the virtual machine's DNS and DHCP settings.
oVirt - Management Tool for Virtualization Environment
● Provides centralized management
○ Monitor and manage virtual machines and resources from a single console.
○ Supports multiple hypervisors, including KVM.
● Offers monitoring and automation capabilities
○ Monitor virtual machine performance and resource utilization.
○ Automate tasks and workflows using oVirt's API and SDK
