Virtual Infrastructure

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What is Virtual Infrastructure?

A virtual infrastructure is a type of IT infrastructure that uses software to create virtual versions of physical hardware, such as servers, storage, and networks. The idea behind virtual infrastructure is that it delivers the same IT functionality as physical hardware but at a lower cost.

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It is designed to be shared as a service that is usually provided over the cloud, which means it is accessed through large networks such as the Internet.

What is Virtual Infrastructure

Key Takeaways

  • Virtual infrastructure uses software to create virtual versions of physical hardware, like servers and storage, to make better use of resources.
  • It uses virtualization technology with hypervisors that allow multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on one physical server.
  • Technologies like virtualization software, containerization, Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Software-Defined Storage (SDS), and orchestration tools help manage and scale virtual infrastructure.
  • Virtual infrastructure is versatile and can be used for various purposes, like cloud computing, virtual desktops, and development environments, making it a good fit for different business needs.
  • Virtual infrastructure is useful for saving costs, scaling, and flexibility, but it needs skilled management and has potential security risks and costs.

How Virtual Infrastructure Works

Virtualization technology uses hypervisors to let a physical server host multiple virtual machines (VMs). Each VM operates independently, but they all share the physical server’s resources, such as CPU (central processing unit), memory, and storage.

The idea is that no single server uses all of its resources to their maximum capacity. Instead, it makes more sense to use these resources by running multiple virtual servers on the same physical server so that together they can fully use the server’s available capacity.

Virtual Infrastructure Architecture

Virtual infrastructure architecture has layers that create a flexible and efficient virtual system:

  1. Physical layer

    The base layer that includes hardware like servers, storage, and network devices.
  2. Virtualization layer

    This layer has hypervisors that manage VMs and allocate resources such as CPU, memory, and storage as needed.
  3. Virtual layer

    The top layer where VMs and virtual networks run, providing separate environments for different operating systems (OS) and applications.

Virtual Infrastructure Components

Virtual Infrastructure Components

Physical host servers
The main hardware that provides the resources, like CPU, memory, and storage, needed to run VMs.
Hypervisor
Software layer that runs on top of physical servers. It allows multiple VMs to work on a single physical server by managing how resources are shared.
Virtual machines (VMs)
Software versions of physical computers. Each VM has its own operating system and applications, but they share the physical server’s resources through the hypervisor.
Virtual networks
Networks created using software that let VMs communicate with each other and with external networks, similar to how physical networking hardware works.
Storage area network (SAN) or network attached storage (NAS)
Storage systems that provide shared, high-speed data storage, allowing many VMs to access the same storage resources.
User interface (UI)
Front-end dashboard that lets system administrators manage and view their virtual infrastructure.

Key Technologies in Virtual Infrastructure

Virtual infrastructure depends on several key technologies to operate properly. These include virtualization software, containerization, software-defined networking (SDN), software-defined storage (SDS), and orchestration tools. Each of these technologies helps to enable efficient use of resources, enhance scalability, and automate management tasks within virtual environments.

Virtualization software
Programs like VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V allow multiple VMs to run on one physical server.
Containerization
Tools like Docker and Kubernetes create lightweight, portable environments for applications, which makes it quicker to deploy and use resources more efficiently compared to traditional VMs.
Software-defined networking
SDN separates the control of the network from the data that travels through it, making it easier to manage the network automatically and improve scalability and security.
Software-defined storage
SDS separates storage resources from the physical hardware, making it easier to manage and allocate storage based on what is needed.
Orchestration tools
Tools like OpenStack and VMWare vRealize automate the setup, scaling, and management of virtual resources, helping to keep operations running smoothly.

How to Manage Virtual Infrastructure

Managing virtual infrastructure properly is crucial to maintaining performance and a high level of security. This involves using monitoring tools, automating regular tasks, setting up strong security measures, and having strong backup and recovery solutions to protect data:

Monitoring tools
Use tools like VMware vCenter and Microsoft System Center to check performance, manage resources, and find issues early.
Automation
Automate regular tasks like setting up VMs, updating systems, and balancing workloads to save time and improve efficiency.
Security management
Set up strong access controls, update software regularly, and protect data to keep the virtual environment safe.
Backup and recovery
Backup and recovery solutions are essential to quickly restore data if something goes wrong. 

Virtual Infrastructure Use Cases

Virtual infrastructure is flexible and cost-effective, making it useful for many types of organizations. It helps businesses make better use of their resources and reduces the need for physical hardware, which makes it easier to grow and improve efficiency.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)Large enterprisesCloud service providersVirtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)Development and testing

SMBs use virtual infrastructure to access advanced IT resources without needing to buy expensive hardware, which helps them save money.

Large companies often use virtual infrastructure to combine data centers, plan for disaster recovery, and create testing environments, which reduces costs and boosts performance.

It allows cloud providers to offer services that can easily scale up or down, making it easier to meet customer needs.

VDI lets organizations create virtual versions of individual PCs within their network. This means teams can access their desktop environment from anywhere and on any device, making it easier for employees to work remotely.

Virtual infrastructure is perfect for creating separate environments where developers can test software without affecting the main systems.

Benefits of Virtual Infrastructure

  • You can set up as many or as few virtual servers as needed and only pay for the resources you use
  • Supports different server and network setups with ease, unlike physical infrastructure, which requires more money and effort to change
  • Adds an extra layer of security since all data passes through physical hardware first
  • Distributes work evenly across different virtual servers so that no single server becomes overloaded
  • Backs up VMs easily by saving data in different locations; quickly restart VMs on another host if the physical server (host) goes down

Drawbacks of Virtual Infrastructure

  • Slows down if multiple VMs share the same resources, making applications run slower than on dedicated servers
  • Complicated management requires specialized knowledge and skills
  • Introduces new risks, as the security breach in the hypervisor or virtual network could affect all VMs, leading to larger security issues
  • Depends on physical hardware, so a failure in a physical server could impact all the VMs running on it, causing potential downtime
  • High costs for software licenses, management tools, and backup solutions can be a burden, especially for smaller businesses

The Bottom Line

Virtual infrastructure provides a flexible, scalable, and cost-effective way to manage IT resources. By allowing several virtual machines to run on one physical server, it helps use hardware more efficiently and reduces costs.

However, it requires careful management and comes with some security risks and costs. Understanding the virtual infrastructure definition and how it works can help businesses decide if it is the right choice for them.

FAQs

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Maria Webb
Tech Journalist
Maria Webb
Tech Journalist

Maria has more than five years of experience as a technology journalist and a strong interest in AI and machine learning. She excels at data-driven journalism, making complex topics accessible and engaging for her audience. Her work has been featured in Techopedia, Business2Community, and Eurostat, where she provides creative technical writing. She obtained an Honors Bachelor of Arts in English and Master of Science in Strategic Management and Digital Marketing from the University of Malta. Maria's experience includes working in journalism for Newsbook.com.mt, which covers a variety of topics, including local events and international technology trends.