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server virtualization

Server virtualization is the partitioning of a physical server into smaller virtual servers. In server virtualization the resources of the server itself are hidden, or masked, from users, and software is used to divide the physical server into multiple virtual environments, called virtual or private servers.

One common usage of this technology is in Web servers. Virtual Web servers are a very popular way of providing low-cost web hosting services. Instead of requiring a separate computer for each server, dozens of virtual servers can co-reside on the same computer.

Server virtualization has many benefits. For example, it lets each virtual server run its own operating system and each virtual server can also be independently rebooted of one another. Server virtualization also reduces costs because less hardware is required so that alone saves a business money. It also utilizes resources to the fullest so it can also save on operational costs (e.g. using a lower number of physical servers reduces hardware maintenance).

There are several ways to create a virtual server, with the most common being; virtual machine, operating system-level virtualization, and paravirtual machine.

See The Difference Between Server and Desktop Virtualization in Webopedia's Did You Know...? section.
See also
Server Virtualization: 10 Reasons to Invest.
Also see Webopedia's virtualization definition.

server virtualization


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