How Does Server Virtualization Work?

Server virtualization is the process of dividing a single physical server into multiple virtual machines (VMs) using hypervisor software. Each VM operates as an independent system with its own operating system (OS), applications, and resources.

Step-by-Step Process of Server Virtualization

1. Hypervisor Installation – A hypervisor (like VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, or KVM) is installed on a physical server (host). It manages and allocates resources (CPU, RAM, storage) among virtual machines.
2. Creating Virtual Machines (VMs) – The hypervisor creates multiple VMs, each with its own OS and software, enabling them to run independently on the same physical hardware.
3. Resource Allocation – The hypervisor dynamically distributes CPU, memory, and storage between VMs, optimizing resource usage.
4. Isolation of VMs – Each VM operates separately, preventing issues in one from affecting others.
5. Remote Management & Scalability – VMs can be easily scaled up or down, migrated to different physical servers, or backed up efficiently.

Types of Server Virtualization

• Full Virtualization – Uses a hypervisor to fully emulate hardware for each VM.
• Para-Virtualization – VMs are aware of the virtualization environment, reducing overhead.
• OS-Level Virtualization – Containers (e.g., Docker) share the same OS but run applications in isolated environments.

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