Closer look at virtual server, the benefits and challenges

As companies look to becoming efficient through the use of reliable and cost-effective ICT infrastructure, the ultimate solution might lie in virtualisation.

Like any other technologies, it portends both benefits and challenges.

The technology allows configuration of a single physical server into multiple virtual machines (VMs) or guest virtual servers with each being able to act like an independent physical entity.

It uses a special platform called hypervisor onto which VMs work on their own, irrespective of the various operating systems and client needs.

Essentially, server virtualisation helps companies to save on both hardware purchases and associated running expenditure.

It maximises on existing hardware and enables applications for various services to coexist on a single host server hardware set-up.

A typical ICT scenario consists of a set-up of individual physical servers dedicated to each process. With such set-ups, server rooms have several racks of hardware.

This has a limitation. As the computer networks for the company expand to meet growing needs, the end result can be an overcrowded data centre, heavy electricity bills, and overheating in case of inadequate cooling.

Besides, such an arrangement has poor resource use in terms of server processing power. As part of the solution, the idea of sever virtualisation is a modernisation of the entire set-up in addition to addressing the complexities in future computing demands.

With it, the network administrator or ICT personnel will use appropriate tools to convert a few servers into multiple virtual units which will still perform their computing functions like separate individual physical machines.

The host machine can have several guest virtual server units for various functions. In essence, the merits of server virtualisation are quite clear from the economic aspect, network scalability, and conservation.

It is worth noting that it is used in firms and data centres because of accruing cost savings and associated reduction in the carbon emissions. It enables a company to consolidate server applications and do more computing with less hardware.

A virtualised IT infrastructure improves resilience through redundancy, which comes along with the simplified virtual back-ups.

There is also room for flexibility because a diverse range of computing resources can be virtually added, changed and, streamlined according to enterprise demands with the ease of software programmes rather than physical hardware installations.

In the world of computing, availability of services and survivability of data networks is always considered during adoption of any new technology.

For the case of server virtualisation, programmers can allow virtual machines to be replicated and backed-up on different host servers to improve data recovery and availability in case of a disaster.

For a company that plans to adopt virtualisation, a wrong approach would be to place all the eggs in one basket.

In case the hypervisor or the only host server develops problems, the effects would trickle down to all the applications of the virtual guests, leading to widespread chaos in the entire organisation.

The basic approach to virtualisation requires necessary ICT skills and understanding of what it can and cannot do.

Given that the technology touches on the most sensitive digital part of the company, security and best practices are paramount.

In some firms, myths about virtualisation take centre stage against reality. Besides, some hiccups in virtualisation are human-related while others are linked to challenges in migration from existing physical set-ups.

Among the essential practices is a clear consideration of the processing power of the host server against the applications needed by the company.

A host server usually has specified processor capacity and any overloading will slow down the application or even crash the server due to its nature as a shared resource.

Adverse effects can spread throughout the company. Consolidating servers on a few machines may sound economical, but it also introduces complexities in administrative and grid management.

The author is an ICT analyst and a telecommunication engineer.