Overview
This lecture explains the importance of virtualization in infrastructure services and system administration, comparing dedicated hardware with virtualized servers regarding performance, cost, maintenance, and reliability.
Dedicated Hardware vs. Virtualization
- Services can run on either dedicated hardware or virtualized instances on a server.
- Dedicated hardware means a physical server runs a single service.
- Virtualization allows multiple virtual instances, each running a service, on a single server.
Performance Comparison
- Dedicated hardware offers better performance because a single service uses all machine resources.
- Virtualized environments may share resources among several services, which can reduce performance.
Cost Considerations
- Dedicated server hardware is expensive when each service needs its own machine.
- Virtualization allows multiple services on one physical server, significantly lowering hardware costs.
- Most services underuse physical hardware, making virtualization more efficient for resource utilization.
Maintenance & Flexibility
- Physical servers need regular hardware and operating system maintenance, potentially causing service downtime.
- Virtualized servers make maintenance easier by allowing quick migration of services to other physical servers.
- Services on virtualized servers can be stopped and started flexibly for maintenance.
Points of Failure & Redundancy
- A service on a single physical machine is at risk if the hardware fails.
- Virtualized services can be quickly moved to backup servers, reducing the impact of hardware failure.
- Redundant server setups with duplicate servers can prevent single points of failure.
Making the Right Choice
- Weigh pros and cons of dedicated hardware versus virtualization before deciding which suits your organization best.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Virtualization — running multiple virtual servers or instances on a single physical server.
- Dedicated Hardware — a single physical server running only one service.
- Redundant Servers — duplicate servers set up to act as backups in case of failure.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the pros and cons of both dedicated hardware and virtualized servers for your own service needs.