Improve availability and business continuity:

One beneficial feature of virtualized servers not available in physical server environments is live migration. With live migration, virtual servers can be migrated to another physical server for tasks such as performing maintenance on the physical servers without shutting them down. Thus there is no impact on the end user. Another great advantage of virtualization technology is that its encapsulation and hardware-independence features enhance availability and business continuity. Storage Virtualization Storage virtualization is the process of grouping the physical storage from multiple network storage devices so that it looks like a single storage device. The process involves abstracting and covering the internal functions of a storage device from the host application, host servers or a general network in order to facilitate the application and network-independent management of storage. There are three important reasons to implement storage virtualization:

1. Improved storage management in a heterogeneous IT environment
2. Better availability and estimation of down time with automated management
3. Better storage utilization

Desktop Virtualization Desktop virtualization is a virtualization technology that separates an individual’s PC applications from his or her desktop. Virtualized desktops are generally hosted on a remote central server, rather than the hard drive of the personal computer. Because the client-server computing model is used in virtualizing desktops, desktop virtualization is also known as client virtualization Desktop virtualization provides a way for users to maintain their individual desktops on a single, central server. The users may be connected to the central server through a LAN, WAN or over the Internet. Desktop virtualization has many benefits, including a lower total cost of ownership (TCO), increased security, reduced energy costs, reduced downtime and centralized management. Network Virtualization Network virtualization refers to the management and monitoring of an entire computer network as a single administrative entity from a single. Software-based administrator’s console. Network virtualization also may include storage virtualization, which involves managing all storage as a single resource. Network virtualization is designed to allow network optimization of data transfer rates, flexibility, scalability, reliability and security 

It automates many network administrative tasks, which actually disguise a network’s true complexity. All network servers and services are considered one pool of resources, which may be used without regard to the physical components. Network virtualization is especially useful for networks experiencing a rapid, large and unpredictable increase in usage. The intended result of network virtualization is improved network productivity and efficiency, as well as job satisfaction for the network administrator. Network virtualization involves dividing available bandwidth into independent channels, which are assigned, or reassigned, in real time to separate servers or network devices.   Network virtualization is accomplished by using a variety of hardware and software and combining network components. Software and hardware vendors combine components to offer external or internal network virtualization. The former combines local networks, or subdivides them into virtual networks, while the latter configures single systems with containers, creating a network in a box. Still other software vendors combine both types of network virtualization.