Virtualisation for (total, utter, complete) beginners

Cloud technology is possible only because of virtualisation. Are you new to the term or need a refresher? Join us for a handy, jargon-free explanation.

There's a paradox at the heart of today's technological revolution. As online services become more user-friendly than ever, the tech behind them becomes ever more complex.

This creates a situation where the average, non-techy person reaps the rewards of technological solutions they just about understand. But if your Macbook goes down, chances are you'll be heading into the Apple store – not getting out the toolbox or firing up the terminal.

Well, at Ascend Cloud Solutions, we think this is a problem. Our mission is to migrate businesses to the cloud – and the last thing we want is for customers simply to throw themselves at our mercy like a driver paying £800 for a new catalyser and not knowing if they're being ripped off.

We want our customers to understand their options and to have some idea of what we're up to behind the scenes. That doesn't mean you need to take a degree in computer science. It just means having a grasp of the basics.

In this spirit, we present to you a total, utter, complete beginner's guide to virtualisation: the engine room of today's cloud-based business world.

What is virtualisation?

Imagine a Kafkaesque scenario where you wake up one morning and find that you've been put in charge of Ireland's electricity grid. You need to monitor and improve its infrastructure and delivery, fast.

Now imagine that your boss leads you into a small control room. There's a wall-length screen that shows the grid in all its twisting, complex glory. There are buttons – lots of buttons. Each one corresponds to a function of the grid. Click one and you get to see usage levels. Click another and you can see any bottlenecks in the system. Click another and – well, you get the idea.

Then you discover that you can carry out repairs from this control room. You don't need to go out into the field. This virtual machine can be maintained just like the grid itself.

This is an analogy for virtualisation in the computing world – a giant, virtual replica of an existing system. Computing resources like servers, desktops and storage are replicated using virtualisation software. Each function has a corresponding virtual machine (VM). Using this VM is just like working on a normal computer.

Why? First and foremost, it's cheaper. You don't need to have a big warehouse on-site that's bulging with servers, cables and power supplies. Secondly, it's easier to manage. It's like playing FIFA on your PlayStation rather than getting your boots muddy in the park. IT can manage the network from the comfort of a single management console.

What's more, you can run multiple VM instances on a single server. You don't need to have a device for each function. The software that achieves this is called a "hypervisor" (new piece of jargon – tick. Don't worry, there are not many more.)

You can virtualise pretty much any aspect of computing: servers, desktops, storage, network and applications. 

What is the relationship between virtualisation and cloud computing?

If you can access an online service from any device, anywhere, then you're using the cloud. This is true whether you're using industry-specific software, an entertainment platform like Netflix or Amazon Prime or an online backup service like Dropbox.

Cloud computing couldn't exist without virtualisation software. Users are essentially logging into a virtual server. The same is true of complex enterprise infrastructures – mobile apps, say, or payment brokers, or shared online databases, to take just a few examples.

What are its benefits for business?

Virtualisation has five main benefits for business that add up to one big benefit: they help you save money and time with no sacrifice to security.

First, let's look at those cost savings. A Tamagotchi (remember those?) is cheaper to care for than a rabbit. Similarly, virtual machines are cheaper to run than physical ones.

Second, VMs are flexible. You can spin them up and discard them as needed. Multiple VMs can be run on a single hypervisor. It simplifies management, meaning fewer headaches and greater flexibility.

Third, they improve uptime. If you have an on-premise data centre – a big box in the corner with flashing lights – there's always the possibility that it will fail. And if it fails, you're going to have to get a technician out. It's going to cost you time and money to fix.

With a virtual server, maintenance is a doddle. If it goes down, you can recreate it almost immediately. This is one of the key offerings of public cloud providers.

Fourth, virtualisation gives you freedom of movement. Once you've virtualised your computing and migrated your workloads to the cloud, you can pass data and apps around with just a few clicks. Compared to moving data from one physical server to the next, it's as easy as teleportation.

Finally, virtualisation gives you a digital sandbox with a secure perimeter fence. You can fiddle with code to your heart's content, knowing that it won't affect any other part of the network.

All in all, virtualisation simplifies management, reduces costs and gives you unprecedented uptime.

Who are the main providers?

All the big tech players offer cloud solutions and virtualisation software. This includes Amazon, IBM, Google and Microsoft. Other market contenders include Red Hat, Oracle and Citrix.

Then there's VMware, one of the brave pioneers in the virtualisation world. VMware is to virtualisation what Heinz is to baked beans. It offers an almost bewildering array of enterprise-grade virtualisation tools and platforms.

How can Ascend Cloud Solutions help?

At Ascend, we know virtualisation like the back of our hands. We've helped over 400 companies move to the cloud and provide tailored VMware consulting services across the world.

We hope this article has helped demystify the world of virtualisation a little. But understanding is one thing – planning and implementation is another. Come to us with your business requirements and we'll help you get there.