VIRTUALIZATION – CONCEPT AND DEVELOPMENT. VIRTUALIZATION ENVIRONMENT AND TOOLS

Abstract

In this paper I review virtualization and provide a comprehensive overview of it, as it’s key technology that enhances resource utilization, isolation, flexibility, and scalability in modern IT infrastructures. We explore the concept and development of virtualization, highlighting its evolution from mainframe environments to contemporary cloud-based solutions and it’s progress over the years. The discussion includes various types of virtualization, such as hardware, operating system, storage, and network virtualization, emphasizing their significance in optimizing resource usage and improving system performance. Additionally, we examine a range of popular virtualization platforms and tools, including Docker, Kubernetes, VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, Xen, Amazon EC2, Google Compute Engine, OpenStack, QEMU, VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop, Hyper-V Manager, VMRC, vSphere, vCenter Server, NSX, Azure Stack, Azure Government, AWS services like S3, RDS, Lambda, ECS, and Linux distributions such as RHEL, CentOS, and Debian. Each platform’s capabilities, typical use cases, and benefits are discussed, providing a clear understanding of how these tools contribute to efficient and scalable IT operations.