A hypervisor is a type of software that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine. A hypervisor can be used to create virtual machines, which are software copies of physical machines.

Virtual machines have many benefits over physical machines, including the ability to be backed up, cloned, snapshot, and rolled back. They are also much easier to provision and scale.

Hypervisors and virtual machines are a key part of cloud computing, which is the delivery of computing resources over the internet. Cloud computing has many benefits over traditional on-premises computing, including the ability to scale quickly and pay-as-you-go pricing.

In this article, I will discuss the benefits of using hypervisors and virtual machines in cloud computing, and aim to highlight various strengths and business benefits your organisation should be looking to leverage as you continue to consume technology services which increasingly are being offered in As A Service cloud computing forms.

What is a Hypervisor?

A hypervisor, also known as a virtual machine monitor or VMM, is a type of software that enables the creation and management of multiple virtual machines, or VMs, on a single physical machine.

This allows multiple operating systems to run on the same machine, each in its own virtual environment. The hypervisor acts as an intermediary to manage the resources between the different operating systems.

The VMs created by the hypervisor appear as if they are running on their own computer, regardless of whether they are actually running on the same physical machine or not. The hypervisor effectively hides the physical hardware from the operating system, allowing each VM to behave as if it were on its own hardware.

In the context of cloud computing, hypervisors are used to create large numbers of virtual machines quickly and easily in response to changing demand.

With a hypervisor, cloud providers can create, deploy, and manage multiple VMs simultaneously with minimal cost and effort. In this way, hypervisors are essential to the success of cloud computing.

Types of Hypervisors

There are two types of hypervisors:

Type 1 Hypervisor

Also called ‘bare metal’ hypervisors, these run directly on the physical server hardware and are responsible for managing all the virtual machines running on the system.

Type 1 hypervisors are the most efficient, but they require more time and resources to manage since they are responsible for allocating resources to the VMs.

Examples of type 1 hypervisors include VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, KVM, and Xen.

Type 2 Hypervisor

Also known as ‘hosted’ hypervisors, type 2 hypervisors run on top of a conventional operating system, such as Windows or Linux, as an application.

They are easier to set up and manage since the operating system handles the majority of the resource management, but they are less efficient than type 1 hypervisors since there is an extra layer of software between the VMs and the physical hardware.

Examples of type 2 hypervisors include VMware Workstation, VirtualBox, and Parallels.

Benefits of Using Hypervisors

The benefits of using hypervisors and virtual machines in cloud computing are significant. Here are four of the major advantages:

• Improved Resource Utilisation: Hypervisors enable multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single physical server, allowing for the efficient use of resources. This improves the total cost of ownership (TCO) since fewer physical servers are required.
• Improved Resource Flexibility: Resources, such as memory and CPUs, can be allocated to VMs on demand, enabling the system to scale quickly and meet the changing demands of the workloads.
• Increased Security: Hypervisors include built-in security features that help to protect the system from malicious software and ensure the integrity of the data.
• Improved Reliability: VMs allow for easy failover and backup options in the case of hardware or software failures. This provides improved reliability and can help ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster.

Hypervisors and virtual machines provide the flexibility, scalability, and cost savings to make cloud computing a viable and attractive option for businesses of all sizes.

Virtual Machines

Virtual machines (VMs) are independent software installations that can run operating systems and applications in the cloud environment. They offer the same features and benefits as physical servers, but without the physical overhead.

VMs provide an isolated environment for running applications and are easy to scale up or down depending on the demand. They can also be used to manage workloads better, helping to improve the efficiency of an organisation’s resources.

The following are some benefits of using virtual machines:

• Improved Resource Utilisation – VMs can allow multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single physical server, allowing for the efficient use of resources. This improves the total cost of ownership (TCO) since fewer physical servers are required.
• Improved Resource Flexibility – Resources, such as memory and CPUs, can be allocated to VMs on demand, enabling the system to scale quickly and meet the changing demands of the workloads.
• Increased Security – Virtual machines provide an isolated environment for running applications, allowing for improved security features such as the ability to isolate viruses or malicious software.
• Improved Reliability – VMs allow for easy failover and backup options in the case of hardware or software failures. This provides improved reliability and can help ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster.
• Easier Maintenance – VMs can be quickly backed up, transported, and relocated or migrated within redundant infrastructure, data centres or environments, i.e. between development, training, testing, production and disaster recover / business continuity environments.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a technology wherein data is stored and utilises shared resources and services in a network of computers that can be accessed over the internet. Such resources and services may include servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, intelligence, and more.

The use of virtual machines and hypervisors in cloud computing makes it possible for businesses to access and utilise cloud-computing services without having to invest in and maintain physical infrastructure. This allows businesses to access more storage or computing power than what’s available on-site and also eliminates the need for expensive upgrades and maintenance of on-premise hardware.

Hypervisors are a critical component of cloud computing as they allow for multiple machines to run on the same physical hardware and facilitates services such as high availability, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and more. In combination with virtual machines, hypervisors can be used to provide a great deal of flexibility in processing and storage requirements.

Overall, the use of hypervisors and virtual machines in cloud computing provide a flexible, cost-effective, and secure platform that businesses can utilise to better meet the needs of their customers and accelerate their business growth.

How Hypervisors Work in Cloud Computing

Hypervisors are the backbone of cloud computing, and they function as the intermediary between virtual machines and a physical server. For cloud computing to work, a hypervisor is necessary to manage and allocate resources efficiently and securely. It allows applications to be isolated from each other, even though they are running on the same physical hardware.

A hypervisor works by creating virtual machines, also known as “guest machines”, on a physical server by dividing the server’s computing resources, such as memory, disk space, and processors among the virtual machines. Each virtual machine acts independently of each other, as if they are running on their own physical machine.

The use of hypervisors allows cloud users to access a range of services from one physical server. It also allows cloud users to securely access data from cloud-based applications. The hypervisor acts as a security layer to ensure that any data stored in the cloud remains secure and protected from hacking attempts.

Hypervisors are an incredibly useful tool for cloud computing. They provide a secure, efficient, and cost-effective way for businesses to utilise cloud-based services by allowing multiple virtual machines to run on one physical server.

The Different Types of Cloud Computing

There are three main types of cloud computing: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS).

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): With IaaS, customers can access computing infrastructure such as servers, storage, and networking. It provides customers with the ability to scale up or down based on their needs, creating flexibility.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): PaaS provides customers with the ability to access certain software and development tools in the cloud without the need to maintain the platform themselves.
• Software as a Service (SaaS): SaaS provides customers with access to applications that are hosted in the cloud. This gives customers the ability to access applications from any device, from anywhere in the world, without having to manage the software or hardware themselves.

These types of cloud computing, when use together with hypervisors, can provide a powerful combination of scalability, flexibility, and cost savings to businesses.

Public Cloud

The public cloud is one of the main types of cloud computing. It’s a cloud computing model where the computing infrastructure is owned by a third party organisation and is available for various businesses to use. The public cloud provides scalability on demand, without having to invest in software, hardware, or other resources.

The public cloud can be used to store and manage data, run applications, and host websites. It’s also an ideal platform for building and deploying machine learning models due to its scalability and flexibility.

Hypervisors can also be used in the public cloud to provide businesses with more control and flexibility. Hypervisors also help ensure the security of data and applications in the cloud. By using hypervisors, customers can create isolated environments where they can control who can access their data and applications.

The use of hypervisors coupled with the scalability of the public cloud can provide businesses with a powerful platform to build and deploy applications, manage data, and host websites.

Private Cloud

Private cloud is a type of cloud computing that resembles the public cloud model but is maintained on a private internal network rather than a public cloud service provider. In this cloud computing model, the data and applications are housed on privately owned servers, and the users have complete control and flexibility in managing the data.

The private cloud is the best choice for businesses that need to store sensitive information with enhanced security. This model also provides users with a much higher level of control that public cloud models can’t offer.

Using hypervisors in the private cloud also provides users with even more control and flexibility. Hypervisors provide additional layers of security by creating isolated environments with higher levels of control over access and visibility into user activities.

Hypervisors can offer an excellent choice for businesses that want to deploy private cloud applications with maximum speed, scalability, and security.

Hybrid Cloud

The hybrid cloud is a cloud computing environment that combines both public and private clouds to create a secure, high-performance computing experience. This type of cloud computing allows users to benefit from the cost savings and scalability of public cloud services while maintaining the security of private clouds.

The hybrid cloud approach takes advantage of virtualisation technology such as hypervisors to create virtual machines that have the ability to move easily between the public and private cloud environments. By using hypervisors, it is possible to create and manage secure virtual machines in both the public and the private cloud.

This hybrid cloud approach allows users to run the same applications on different platforms and move virtual machines between the public and private cloud environments as needed. By using hypervisors, users can ensure that their data is secure in both public and private clouds.

The hybrid cloud is an ideal approach for businesses that need to keep sensitive information secure but also need the flexibility and scalability of public cloud services. By using hypervisors, users can benefit from the advantages of both public and private clouds without sacrificing security.

Summing it all up

The use of hypervisors and virtual machines in cloud computing offers invaluable benefits to businesses and organisations of all sizes. The ability to create and manage secure virtual machines in both the public and private cloud environments has allowed organisations to leverage the scalability and cost savings of public cloud services while still maintaining the security of private clouds.

Furthermore, the ability to move virtual machines between the public and private cloud environments has enabled users to run the same applications on different platforms. The use of hypervisors and virtual machines in cloud computing is only set to increase as organisations look for innovative ways to maximise the capabilities of the cloud.

The technology is revolutionising the productivity potential of cloud computing and promises greater user security into the future. With the rise of cloud services across the globe, organisations of all sizes will continue to benefit from the advantages of having an infrastructure that is secure, virtualised, and optimised for performance.

Follow me on Twitter for more executive overviews like this.