What Is a Virtual Server?

Virtual server and physical server difference

The physical server expresses the hardware directly. Virtual server is an environment that works on this hardware. Multiple virtual machines can be found in the same physical system. Virtualization software manages processor, memory, disk and network access.

Insulation depends on the design of spareness and performance infrastructure. Physical host failure can affect multiple virtual machines. Therefore, the presence of a single virtual server does not mean high accessibility; application, infrastructure and data level need separate planning.

Where to use virtual servers?

Web application, database, file service and development environment can be operated on different virtual machines. It allows for a more controlled review of changes that separate a application from production to the test environment. It can be easy to grow resources or to install new environment according to the service features.

For example, with accounting app, it can limit the maintenance effect of managing the website in separate machines instead of setting up to the same operating system. However, dependency between applications, licensing conditions and connection security should be evaluated again. Separate virtual machines do not eliminate all the risks per single.

How to determine the configuration?

• Measure CPU and memory usage of the app.
• Rate access delay with disk capacity.
• Verify operating system and application license compliance.
• Identify network traffic, IP and access requirements.
• Set backup and return targets.
• Compare Managed and unmanaged service coverage.

Snapshot, backup and maintenance

Snapshot can be used to capture the status of a certain time; does not automatically switch instead of independent and long-term backup. What copies can be used in the loss of the same infrastructure should be checked. Restore test ensures the recovery time and data consistency.

Operating system updates may be the responsibility of customer according to user authorizations and application safety service model. Controlled access and configuration records of management ports are important. Monitoring resource usage helps to plan capacity without needing; if unnecessary large packages can increase the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions