As efficiency and flexibility are important in this era, server virtualization software has emerged as a transformative technology to reshape how organizations and businesses manage their IT infrastructure. Tracing back to traditional server environments, physical servers had always operated in isolation and were often deemed underutilized and costly solutions. The innovation of virtualization technology has allowed companies to transcend these limitations, transitioning from single, bulky servers to a multitude of virtual servers, each designed for specific tasks.
This guide aims to explore the definition of server virtualization software, its numerous benefits, key considerations for selection, and a review of the top 10 best software options available today.
What Is Server Virtualization Software?
Server virtualization software enables the creation of multiple virtual servers on a single physical machine. These virtual servers, often referred to as virtual machines (VMs), operate independently, each with its own operating system and applications while receiving instructions from a central host operating system. This ensures that server resources remain secure and compartmentalized. This process is facilitated by specialized software known as a hypervisor, which acts as a mediator between the virtual servers and the physical hardware, managing processors, CPU, and RAM.
Once installed on the primary machine, the hypervisor enables the emulation of physical resources, resulting in the creation of virtual servers that can replace a single physical server or encompass multiple units. Furthermore, the hypervisor is responsible for generating and managing various Virtual Machines (VMs). The virtualization approach is customizable to meet specific client requirements, allowing for effective grouping and tailored solutions.
What Are the Benefits of Server Virtualization Software?
Regardless of the complexity of the existing IT infrastructure, server virtualization software brings numerous benefits to organizations, which include the following:
- Better Resource Utilization: The processing power required for server virtualization software is significantly lower than that needed for running a physical data center. Additionally, the phenomenon known as server sprawl occurs when new infrastructure is added while older hardware remains unused but incurs ongoing costs. A virtual server environment mitigates this issue, ensuring that resources are utilized efficiently and avoiding wastage.
- Enhanced Performance: Server virtualization enhances performance by segmenting servers into distinct systems that can function independently. This division improves application processing speeds. Furthermore, virtualization allows for the execution of different operating systems on the same hardware, enabling the hosting of applications tailored to specific environments without compatibility concerns.
- Reduced Server Complexity: By providing a unified interface, administrators can oversee and monitor all virtual servers from a single platform. This comprehensive server virtualization software makes it easier for organizations to maintain and operate their server environments efficiently through centralized control while minimizing the necessity for extensive IT training and expert intervention.
- Cost Efficiency: Maintaining and operating IT infrastructure and server hardware can be particularly expensive. Transitioning to a virtual environment reduces the need for demanding operating systems and significantly lowers hardware costs. The streamlined nature of virtualization also means fewer servers are required to meet operational needs, leading to substantial savings during expansion.
- Flexibility and Scalability: Virtual servers provide a flexible and easily scalable digital environment that is particularly compatible with cloud solutions and services. Organizations can manage their infrastructure without the burden of excess hardware, ensuring business continuity and operational stability through remote access.
- Swift Deployment: Virtual servers can be deployed quickly and automatically as needed, accelerating workflow processes and increasing the productivity of the IT team. Additionally, once a server surpasses its utility, it can be swiftly decommissioned. This level of automation and control makes virtualized environments ideal for application development.
What to Consider Before Choosing a Server Virtualization Software?
There are a variety of factors when it comes to the proper selection of server virtualization software. Organizations should make the following key considerations before deciding on a particular solution:
Types of Virtualization
Different types of server virtualization software possess various levels of flexibility, processing speed, and performance. Therefore, it’s vital to learn about their unique characteristics and purposes:
- Full Virtualization: This is the most autonomous form of server virtualization, where the hypervisor ensures complete isolation among virtual servers. Each virtual server operates independently, although this can lead to decreased performance due to the resource-intensive nature of monitoring.
- Paravirtualization: As a more flexible option, paravirtualization allows operating systems to communicate directly with the hypervisor through specialized calls. This integration enhances efficiency and resource management compared to full virtualization, as it requires fewer computing resources while delivering strong performance.
- OS-Level Virtualization: This type of virtualization enables the creation of multiple virtual environments without a hypervisor. Known as containerization, this method leverages the host operating system's capabilities to manage resources within designated virtual spaces, requiring all containers to operate under the same OS.
Hypervisor Type
The type of hypervisor you choose significantly impacts performance and management capabilities. Type 1 hypervisors, which run directly on hardware, are often preferred in production environments for their efficiency in resource allocation. On the other hand, Type 2 hypervisors operate atop an existing operating system and are generally utilized for desktop or testing scenarios, offering less optimal resource management.
Hardware Requirements
High-performance multi-core CPUs with substantial clock speeds are essential for handling multiple VMs efficiently in server virtualization software. Additionally, adequate RAM must be allocated for each virtual machine, and network interfaces should be optimized to enhance performance.
Resource Management
Efficient resource management can maximize the benefits of server virtualization. Your software should support dynamic resource allocation—such as CPU, memory, and storage—to VMs based on their specific needs. This capability maintains optimal performance and prevents resource overload.
Security
The software should offer strong isolation between VMs to deter breaches and uphold security protocols such as hypervisor-level security, antivirus integration, and guest OS lockdowns. Regular updates and patches are crucial for sustaining the integrity of security measures.
Top 10 Server Virtualization Software
Below is a list of the top 10 server virtualization software complied for your consideration.
Sangfor HCI - Hyper Converged Infrastructure
Designed to be a comprehensive hyper-converged infrastructure and a one-stop data center solution, Sangfor HCI - Hyper Converged Infrastructure, as a server virtualization software, combines cloud computing, storage, and networking into a unified platform to enhance operational efficiency. Its scalability and streamlined management make it adaptable to evolving business needs.
Key Features
- Unified Platform: Combines cloud, storage, and networking for seamless integration and simplified operations.
- Intelligent Resource Management: Allocates resources efficiently to meet performance requirements.
- Disaster Recovery: Ensures business continuity with comprehensive backup and recovery solutions.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Lowers total cost of ownership by 70%.
- Requires reduced hardware needs.
- Improves operational efficiency with streamlined management and scalability, allowing businesses to adapt to evolving demands easily.
Cons:
- Limited presence outside of APAC & EMEA.
Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization
Seamlessly merging server virtualization with container orchestration, Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization enables users to manage both virtual machines and containers from a single platform, providing a versatile solution for hybrid cloud environments.
Key Features
- Kubernetes Integration: Simplifies management across virtual machines and containers.
- Hybrid Cloud Support: Facilitates easy migration and deployment in cloud environments.
- Advanced Networking: Features such as load balancing distribute the incoming traffic among multiple VMs for flexibility and performance.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Improves resource utilization and simplifies management through a unified interface.
- Enhances flexibility, allowing developers to deploy applications in both VM and container formats, ideal for hybrid cloud strategies with strong scalability.
Cons:
- May require technical expertise for optimal setup.
Oracle VM Server
Oracle VM Server is a powerful virtualization software that utilizes the open-source Xen hypervisor, this open-source server virtualization solution stands out for its compatibility with both x86 and SPARC architectures. It supports high availability, rapid VM provisioning, and centralized management through Oracle VM Manager.
Key Features
- High Availability: Ensures reliability for critical workloads.
- Centralized Management: simplifies operations such as creating, deploying, cloning and migrating virtual machines with Oracle VM Manager.
- Rapid VM Provisioning: Allows for quick deployment and cloning of virtual machines using sparse file technology.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Extensive support for various guest operating systems for greater flexibility.
- Zero licensing fees make it cost-effective.
- Scalable and capable of handling demanding workloads while keeping operational costs low.
Cons:
- Advanced features may require technical expertise for full utilization.
IBM PowerVM
With its enterprise-grade capabilities reflected in its consumption-based pricing options, IBM PowerVM is an advanced server virtualization software tailored for IBM Power Systems. It provides efficient management of physical resources through logical partitions (LPARs) and offers dynamic resource allocation and live partition mobility features.
Key Features
- Dynamic Resource Allocation: Optimizes resource utilization across workloads through real-time adjustment.
- Logical Partitions (LPARs): Enables multiple virtual environments on a single physical server.
- Live Partition Mobility: Allows seamless migration of active LPARs between physical servers without downtime.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Supports mixed workloads seamlessly, optimizing performance across AIX, IBM i, and Linux applications.
- Reliable virtualization with enterprise-grade capabilities.
Cons:
- Limited to IBM Power Systems, reducing versatility for non-IBM environments.
VMware vSphere and VMware ESXi by Broadcom
Along with VMware ESXi, VMware vSphere is a leading server virtualization platform that efficiently manages virtual machines. This software simplifies workload consolidation and enhances operational efficiency with advanced resource management features.
Key Features
- Advanced Resource Management: Allocates resources dynamically to meet workload demands, with metrics available to track CPU usage, memory consumption and disk I/O rates.
- High Availability: Reduces downtime with integrated backup and recovery solutions.
- Broad Compatibility: Works with various hardware configurations.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Optimizes hardware use and minimizes downtime.
- Scalable and suitable for organizations across industries.
Cons:
- Biannual billing may not align with all budgeting strategies.
- The solution lacks centralized management when using multiple ESXi hosts.
Pricing
Subscription-based pricing with flexible biannual billing options.
Proxmox VE
Proxmox VE is an open-source virtualization platform that combines KVM-based virtual machines and LXC containers, providing a unified interface for managing diverse workloads.
Key Features
- High Availability Clustering: Ensures system reliability even during hardware failures and data integrity.
- Built-In Backup Solutions: Facilitates regular backups of virtual machines and containers.
- Web-Based Management: Allows users to create, configure, and monitor virtual machines and containers via modern browsers.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Cost-effective with strong community support.
- User-friendly and highly flexible for diverse workloads.
Cons:
- Lacks advanced enterprise-level support options unless subscribed.
Cloudpaging by Numecent
For organizations looking to modernize their application delivery strategies effectively, Cloudpaging by Numecent presents an attractive option. Its real-time application streaming technology allows on-demand access without local installations.
Key Features
- Real-Time Streaming: Runs applications instantly to any device without local installation.
- Automated Application Provisioning and Management: Ensures software management without user disruption.
- Granular Application Isolation: Enables the coexistence of applications.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Streamlines application delivery while reducing resource demands and IT overhead.
- Flexible deployment options suitable for modern workplaces.
Cons:
- Requires strong network infrastructure for optimal performance.
Red Hat Virtualization by RedHat
As an enterprise-grade solution built upon open-source technology, Red Hat Virtualization stands out for its capability to simplify the management of virtualized environments with tools for automation, orchestration, and integration with hybrid cloud ecosystems.
Key Features
- KVM-Based Hypervisor: Supports both Linux and Windows workloads to deliver reliable performance and efficient resource utilization.
- Centralized Management: Streamlines oversight via Red Hat Virtualization Manager.
- Robust Security: Uses Secure Virtualization (sVirt) and Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) to protect virtual environments from potential threats.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Enables automation and orchestration within hybrid cloud environments.
- Seamless integration with other Red Hat products.
- Comprehensive community and enterprise-level support options.
Cons:
- Requires a learning curve for full utilization of advanced features.
- A limited ecosystem of third-party tools and services for integration.
Azure Virtual Machines by Microsoft
Delivering scalable cloud-based server virtualization solutions within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem, Azure Virtual Machines offers flexible sizing options, integrated security measures and extensive support for both Windows and Linux operating systems.
Key Features
- Autoscaling: Dynamically adjusts the number of VMs based on demand.
- Integrated Security: Provides built-in protection against cyber threats, such as antimalware, disk encryption, and identity management.
- Seamless Azure Integration: Connects effortlessly with other Azure services.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- The pricing model optimizes cost management.
- Enhances business agility by enabling rapid application deployment in the cloud while ensuring high availability through redundant infrastructure.
Cons:
- Relies heavily on Microsoft’s ecosystem, which may limit versatility.
oVirt by oVirt
Similar to other server virtualization software on the market, oVirt is an open-source platform. It is designed to oversee large-scale virtualized environments based on KVM technology with a web-based user interface for centralized management.
Key Features
- Live Migration: Relocates VMs between hosts without service interruptions.
- Comprehensive Monitoring: Provides detailed insights into resource utilization and system performance.
- Web-Based Management Interface: Offers an intuitive dashboard to simplify control across virtual environments.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Open-source nature eliminates licensing costs.
- Efficient resource allocation and strong community support.
Cons:
- Enterprise-level support requires additional subscriptions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Server Virtualization Software
Server virtualization software introduces unique security challenges due to the concentration of multiple virtual machines on a single physical server. This setup can increase vulnerability to attacks targeting the hypervisor, as a breach could potentially impact all VMs on that server. Effective security measures, such as hypervisor-level protections, isolation of VMs, regular updates, and comprehensive network monitoring, can prevent unauthorized access and maintain data integrity.
Server virtualization can significantly reduce IT infrastructure costs in the long run. It consolidates servers, reducing the need for physical hardware, data center space, and energy consumption. Virtual environments simplify resource allocation, allowing for scalable, flexible solutions without excess investment in new servers. Thus, they optimize IT budgets and achieve greater cost efficiency over time.
