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Overview of Hyper-V, Microsoft’s Virtualization Solution

December 21, 2009

Now that you’ve learned about what virtualization can do for your company, you’ve decided to learn more about the companies that offer virtualization solutions. The three most highly recommended companies are Microsoft, VMware, and Citrix. This article will focus on Microsoft’s solutions.

Microsoft offers virtualization solutions for server, desktop, and applications. To make virtualization even easier, Microsoft also offers virtualization management solution.

Server Virtualization

Hyper-V is Microsoft’s server virtualization solution that runs on Windows 2008 server technology. Hyper-V offers the following benefits:

Save server room space by consolidating multiple, under-used physical servers to virtual machines on a single host server.
Save money on your electricity bill by using only one physical server.
Save time and money on server administration.
Image a server while it is still operating.
Manage utilities that integrate with other Microsoft tools.
Manage Linux virtual servers.

Desktop Virtualization

Depending upon your business’s needs, Microsoft offers three desktop virtualization solutions.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) creates and manages virtual machines that are stored and run from a central server. Applications, data, and processes are removed from physical workstations and relocated on a server. This allows users to access their desktops on any capable device such as a home computer, laptop, thin client or smart phone. The benefits of VDI include the following:

Improved flexibility for users—employees can work anywhere, on any compatible computer or device, and access the same desktop used at work.
Integrated management of physical, virtual, and session-based desktops makes support easier.

Virtual PC is a workstation based virtualization tool that is installed on a physical machine. Virtual PC will let you create multiple virtual machines with different operating systems on one physical workstation or laptop that is running a Windows operating system. Two key features of Virtual PC are as follows:

Access multiple operating systems such as Windows XP, Linux and Mac from one workstation.
When not running, the virtual machines are stored as a single file, which can be copied or shared for training, on-demand projects and increased productivity.

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a free application that, in conjunction with Windows Server 2008, makes it possible to run a Windows desktop or application in one location but access it from another. This is a useful virtualization strategy to use when one user needs to access a specific desktop or application from multiple workstations but your company doesn’t want to pay for volume licensing on the program. Additional perks include the following:

Data remains stored on the hosting desktop, keeping it more secure than it would be on a remote desktop or laptop.
Remote worker efficiency is increased because the user will have access to an identical desktop that they use in their work environment.

Application Virtualization

Application Virtualization (App-V) converts applications into virtual services to provide conflict-free applications that can run on any operating system. Benefits include the following:

Stream applications on-demand across your business network or over the internet to desktops, terminal servers and laptops.
Reduce impact to users and systems when applications need to be updated and replaced.
When configured properly, users can access the virtualized applications even when they are offline.

Virtualization Management

Virtual Machine Manager helps businesses manage their physical and virtual IT infrastructure, allowing administrators to support servers, workstations and applications from one console. Key features make it easy to do the following:

Create and manage virtual systems and applications from a central location.
Convert physical servers into virtual hosts as needed.

Learn more

To discover more about how the virtualization technologies from Microsoft can help your company, please call the IT consultants at All Covered at 866-446-1133.

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Tags: Virtualization