- Hypervisors allow virtual machines to be created instantly, unlike bare-metal servers.
- Hypervisors support the creation and management of virtual machines (VMs) by abstracting a computer’s software from its hardware.
The hypervisor is a pivotal element of virtualisation technology, playing a crucial role in modern IT infrastructures by enabling multiple virtual machines to coexist on a single physical server. Its ability to optimise resource usage, enhance security, and simplify management has made it indispensable in both enterprise and cloud environments. In this blog, we’ll explore what hypervisor is, its key functions and its benefits.
What is a hypervisor?
A hypervisor, also known as a virtual machine monitor (VMM), is software that creates and manages virtual machines on a physical host system. By abstracting the underlying hardware, a hypervisor allows multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a single physical server. Each virtual machine operates independently, with its own virtualised hardware resources, making it possible to consolidate multiple workloads onto a single physical server.
Also read: What is hyper-converged infrastructure?
Also read: What is a virtual server and how does it work?
Key functions of a hypervisor
Virtualisation: Hypervisors abstract physical hardware to create virtual machines, each appearing to have its own dedicated resources such as CPU, memory, and storage.
Resource allocation: They manage the distribution of hardware resources among multiple VMs, ensuring that each virtual machine gets the necessary resources for its operation.
Isolation: Hypervisors provide isolation between VMs, preventing one VM from affecting the performance or security of another. This isolation enhances stability and security.
Management: They offer tools for managing VMs, including creating, starting, stopping, and configuring virtual machines, making it easier to maintain and operate a virtualised environment.
Migration: Many hypervisors support live migration, allowing VMs to be moved between physical hosts with minimal disruption. This feature is particularly useful for load balancing and hardware maintenance.
Benefits of hypervisors
Hypervisors significantly enhance resource utilisation by enabling multiple virtual machines (VMs) to share the same physical hardware, which leads to more efficient use of resources. They also bolster security and isolation by running applications in separate VMs, ensuring that problems in one VM do not affect others. Additionally, hypervisors offer flexibility and scalability by allowing different operating systems and applications to run on a single server, accommodating growing or changing workloads. Furthermore, virtualisation driven by hypervisors reduces the need for extra physical servers, resulting in substantial savings on hardware, power, and cooling costs.
Hypervisors are integral to the success of virtualisation and cloud computing. They enable organisations to run multiple virtual environments on a single physical server, enhancing efficiency, security, and flexibility. Whether you’re managing enterprise data centres or developing applications, understanding and leveraging hypervisors is essential for optimising your IT infrastructure and staying competitive in today’s technology-driven world.
