Realize the Full Value of a Virtual Environment: Your Introduction to VMWARE

What is Virtualization?

Virtualization is a proven software technology that is rapidly transforming the IT landscape and fundamentally changing the way that people compute. Today’s powerful x86 computer hardware was designed to run a single operating system and a single application. This leaves most machines vastly underutilized. Virtualization lets you run multiple virtual machines on a single physical machine, sharing the resources of that single computer across multiple environments. Different virtual machines can run different operating systems and multiple applications on the same physical computer. While others are leaping aboard the virtualization bandwagon now, VMware is the market leader in virtualization. Our technology is production-proven, used by more than 130,000 customers, including 100% of the Fortune 100.

How Does Virtualization Work?

The VMware virtualization platform is built on a business-ready architecture. Use software such as VMware vSphere and VMware ESXi (a free download) to transform or “virtualize” the hardware resources of an x86-based computer—including the CPU, RAM, hard disk and network controller—to create a fully functional virtual machine that can run its own operating system and applications just like a “real” computer. Each virtual machine contains a complete system, eliminating potential conflicts. VMware virtualization works by inserting a thin layer of software directly on the computer hardware or on a host operating system.

Hypervisor

This contains a virtual machine monitor or “hypervisor” that allocates hardware resources dynamically and transparently. Multiple operating systems run concurrently on a single physical computer and share hardware resources with each other. By encapsulating an entire machine, including CPU, memory, operating system, and network devices, a virtual machine is completely compatible with all standard x86 operating systems, applications, and device drivers. You can safely run several operating systems and applications at the same time on a single computer, with each having access to the resources it needs when it needs them.

Build your Datacenter on a Flexible Architecture

Virtualizing a single physical computer is just the beginning. With VMware vSphere, the industry's first cloud operating system, scales across hundreds of interconnected physical computers and storage devices to form an entire virtual infrastructure. You don’t need to assign servers, storage, or network bandwidth permanently to each application. Instead, your hardware resources are dynamically allocated when and where they’re needed. This “internal cloud” means your highest priority applications will always have the resources they need without wasting money on excess hardware only needed for peak times.

Manage your Resources with the Lowest TCO

It’s not just virtualization that’s important. You need the management tools to run those machines and the ability to run the wide selection of applications and infrastructure services your business depends on. VMware lets you increase service availability while eliminating error-prone manual tasks. IT operations are more efficient and effective with VMware virtualization.