Virtualization, the Future of Computing
Imagine a Technology Lab, and the first scheduled class of the day is a 2-hour block that covers using Microsoft Word in Microsoft Windows XP. Twenty minutes after the class ends, another 2-hour block is going to cover building and administering a web server. In the afternoon, there are at least three more class sessions that will teach Novel Netware (providing their own disk images and curriculum), Introduction to Linux via Ubuntu, and DVD authoring.
All of it runs on the same hardware, all on different operating systems, and all without rebooting or reloading anything. How is this possible? Virtual Machine software.
Here's another scenario. At one of our branch libraries, the staff computer hard disk has crashed. A new one is delivered, pre-imaged with a standard Linux distribution and configured on-site with the username, hostname and IP address. A single file is copied over from a USB flash drive or recovered from the defective hard disk. The system is booted up and the Librarian continues working using Dynix Horizon on Windows XP Pro. All e-mail and other settings were automatically retrieved from a network-attached storage device. The same device also shares duties with a content filtering and caching server and firewall running on a single headless black box inside a network cabinet.
Today, there are virtual machine solutions from Parallels, VMWare and Innotek (now owned by Sun Microsystems) that allow you to install and run as many operating systems on a single computer that you have memory, storage and processing power for. Instead of having to run a dual-boot system where you have to restart in order to switch from Windows to Ubuntu, you simply click and run the operating system, or resume from a certain "point." I use VirtualBox on my ThinkPad to run XP Pro; which has a few administration tools. I also use it to test disk iso images before burning them to disk or test new operating systems.
Another advantage a virtual machine is that moving your existing installation of Windows to a new or different model computer is as simple as copying the virtual disk file. Otherwise, either you'd have to do a clean or repair install and re-patch. Viruses and malware are less of a concern because even if they run, the underlying operating system is untouched--simply restore a backup copy of the disk. Does a patron prefer Windows XP, Vista or would like to try something new with Ubuntu? Simply choose what you want.
The only major disadvantage to using a virtual machine is that 3D graphics acceleration using the "real" hardware is not implemented yet. Parallels and VMWare do support 3D graphics, but only on Intel Macintosh computers running OSX. However, in two years, it may become common-place on generic hardware.
Another potential problem is that some "real" hardware may not be seen in a Virtual Machine; though I've used USB flash drives, DVDs, and even a serial port with no issues.
All of it runs on the same hardware, all on different operating systems, and all without rebooting or reloading anything. How is this possible? Virtual Machine software.
Here's another scenario. At one of our branch libraries, the staff computer hard disk has crashed. A new one is delivered, pre-imaged with a standard Linux distribution and configured on-site with the username, hostname and IP address. A single file is copied over from a USB flash drive or recovered from the defective hard disk. The system is booted up and the Librarian continues working using Dynix Horizon on Windows XP Pro. All e-mail and other settings were automatically retrieved from a network-attached storage device. The same device also shares duties with a content filtering and caching server and firewall running on a single headless black box inside a network cabinet.
Today, there are virtual machine solutions from Parallels, VMWare and Innotek (now owned by Sun Microsystems) that allow you to install and run as many operating systems on a single computer that you have memory, storage and processing power for. Instead of having to run a dual-boot system where you have to restart in order to switch from Windows to Ubuntu, you simply click and run the operating system, or resume from a certain "point." I use VirtualBox on my ThinkPad to run XP Pro; which has a few administration tools. I also use it to test disk iso images before burning them to disk or test new operating systems.
Another advantage a virtual machine is that moving your existing installation of Windows to a new or different model computer is as simple as copying the virtual disk file. Otherwise, either you'd have to do a clean or repair install and re-patch. Viruses and malware are less of a concern because even if they run, the underlying operating system is untouched--simply restore a backup copy of the disk. Does a patron prefer Windows XP, Vista or would like to try something new with Ubuntu? Simply choose what you want.
The only major disadvantage to using a virtual machine is that 3D graphics acceleration using the "real" hardware is not implemented yet. Parallels and VMWare do support 3D graphics, but only on Intel Macintosh computers running OSX. However, in two years, it may become common-place on generic hardware.
Another potential problem is that some "real" hardware may not be seen in a Virtual Machine; though I've used USB flash drives, DVDs, and even a serial port with no issues.
posted by Technology Coordinator at 10:38 AM
1 Comments:
Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Impressora e Multifuncional, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://impressora-multifuncional.blogspot.com. A hug.
Post a Comment
<< Home