Preface

If you’ve picked up this book, chances are that you’re thinking about virtualizing at least some part of your IT infrastructure. The odds are probably also good that you’ve been tasked with doing it in a way that will ultimately save your company money. Or maybe you’re curious about this technology that has gotten so much press, and you would like to get your feet wet in a way that won’t cost a fortune, either at home or in the office.

If any of these scenarios sounds at all familiar, Practical Virtualization Solutions has the answers you’re looking for. We offer, first and foremost, a practical look at how to fit virtualization into your organization.

Reasons for virtualizing are as varied as the companies choosing them, and in Chapter 1, “To Virtualize or Not to Virtualize?” we look at the more popular reasons, offering explanations about each one. We provide a general explanation of virtualization and a look back at virtualization’s roots. We also look at recommended virtualization workload candidates.

Chapter 2, “Comparing Virtualization Technologies,” steps through the different kinds of virtualization and the environments that support them. We look at the guest OS or host OS virtualization and hypervisor-, emulation-, kernel-level-, and shared-kernel-based virtualization.

Then we’re off to the heart of virtualization. Chapters 3 through 8 dive into six x86 virtualization environments, all of which are free of charge and each of which takes a different approach. We look closely at VMware Server, VMware ESXi, Citrix XenServer, Microsoft Virtual PC, Microsoft Hyper-V, and VirtualBox. For each environment we look at the client console, stepping through how to create a virtual machine (VM) setup and secure VM files and folders. We do not discuss in these chapters how to install an operating system on the VM. For that you will be referred to the Appendix, “Virtual Machine Installation,” because it is consistent across environments.

In keeping with the “practical” nature of this book, most of these chapters conclude with a case study that demonstrates how the technology is being used in a production environment.

In Part II we look at ways to apply virtualization. First, in Chapter 9, “Server Virtualization in Action,” we step through how to configure a server with virtualization, from preparing the VM to dedicating the server. We also look at virtual appliances, adjusting and tuning virtual servers, and securing and backing up virtual servers. The chapter also covers migration, both from VMs to new servers and from physical to virtual servers.

In Chapter 10, “Desktop Virtualization in Action,” we look at terminal services, both smart and dumb, along with hosted desktops. We dissect two types of web-based solutions on the market: hosted web applications and hosted web-based pseudo-desktop systems. Finally, we explore the three methods of localized virtual desktops: live CD, live operating system distribution on a USB drive, and desktop virtualization software running a VM.

Chapter 11, “Network and Storage Virtualization in Action,” concludes Part II with an explanation of virtual private networks, differentiating between a hardware VPN and a software VPN, and stepping through how to set up the latter for both server and client. We then look at VLANs, both standard and combination, and conclude with a discussion of SANs, VSANs, and NAS.

With Part III, our focus shifts somewhat from looking at virtualization itself to looking at virtual infrastructure—specifically, hardware’s role in virtualization. Chapter 12, “Form-Factor Choices and Their Implications,” discusses how hardware impacts performance and reliability in virtualized environments. We begin with an assessment of racks, towers, and blades, and then look at the options available for filling these footprints. The chapter concludes with a look at how to mitigate I/O and memory issues, two key pain points for virtualized environments.

In Chapter 13, “Choosing a Vendor,” we apply the general principles discussed in Chapter 12 in the context of what the major OEMs—IBM, HP, Sun, and Dell—are offering. We also evaluate how compatible each vendor’s hardware is with the various virtualization software options. The chapter concludes with a look at white box and cloud computing options.

With Chapter 14, “Beyond the Box,” we delve into the virtual infrastructure. We return to network and storage virtualization, this time in the context of an ecosystem perspective, and discuss the various available options for pulling together a virtual infrastructure.

Part IV moves into the virtual infrastructure realm with a look at the deployment process. We begin with the ever-important planning phase in Chapter 15, “Laying the Foundation: The Planning Stage.” We cover everything from selling senior management on virtualization, to choosing an autodiscovery tool, to testing.

In Chapter 16, “Deployment,” we focus on the nitty-gritty that comes with the actual rollout and flipping the virtual switch. We look at how to choose which applications to virtualize, incorporating automation and autodiscovery, and securing VMs.

We conclude Part IV with a look at a fully virtualized infrastructure in Chapter 17, “Postproduction: Wrapping It Up.” We discuss monitoring tools, which become a necessity to keep systems running efficiently; disaster recovery planning; and budgeting.