Overview
Data centre virtualisation is the process of abstracting physical data centre resources, including servers, storage, networking, and security, into software-based versions that can be managed centrally. Instead of tying workloads to specific hardware, virtualisation allows multiple virtual machines or services to run on the same physical infrastructure, improving efficiency and flexibility.
What Problem Does It Solve?
Traditional data centres often suffer from low hardware utilisation, high operating costs, and complex management. Each application may require its own dedicated server, leading to sprawl and inefficiency. Data centre virtualisation solves this by pooling resources, allowing enterprises to run more workloads on fewer physical devices while simplifying management.
How It Works
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Server virtualisation: A hypervisor runs multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical server.
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Storage virtualisation: Combines multiple storage systems into a single, logical pool.
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Network virtualisation: Creates software-defined networks and virtual switches to manage traffic more flexibly.
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Security virtualisation: Deploys firewalls, intrusion prevention, and segmentation as virtual services.
Everyday Benefits
- Higher hardware utilisation, reducing capital costs.
- Faster provisioning and scaling of applications.
- Simplified disaster recovery through VM snapshots and replication.
- Easier migration of workloads between on-premise and cloud environments.
Deployment Considerations
Enterprises adopting data centre virtualisation need robust hypervisors, management tools, and staff training. Network and storage performance must also be designed to handle higher virtual workloads. For many, virtualisation is the foundation for private clouds and Software-Defined Data Centres (SDDCs), making it a key step in digital transformation.
