Cloud computing vs. Server virtualization

I hope you have read my previous articles: Cloud computing – an insight, Server virtualization – Basics and got idea about these 2 most happening topics in IT industry. Now let’s see the difference between these 2.


Comparison

1) Virtualization is the deployment of existing infrastructure to do more service through shared mechanism. Also it can be considered as a sub-set of cloud computing. Cloud computing is an approach to consolidate IT infrastructure across enterprises which can be deployed on shared service model. Virtualization is an abstraction for the hardware layer to run more virtual machines on single physical machine.

2) Virtualization is a technical term; it’s for IT-Administrators and not governed. Cloud computing is Business; it’s for all, and it’s governed.

3) Virtualization focuses on leveraging the IT infrastructure in an optimal fashion to reduce operational costs. The software like XEN, VMWare allow different applications and OS to be consolidated on the same physical machine. Cloud computing is to deliver computing resources and software as on-demand pay-per usage basis. Companies opt to buy such services from service providers rather than hosting them in own data centers.

4) Virtualization helps to make cloud computing a reality (both public and private cloud). Cloud model is strategic decision to of moving from traditional model “cook and eat” to service oriented model “eat from restaurant” which is more efficient, flexible and simple (pay for what we use).


5) Both technologies are developed to maximize the use of computing resources with minimal cost, though the approaches are different. Also both can save money in different ways. Virtualization may be used to provide cloud computing.

6) To implement virtualization, organizations need upfront cost since it involves purchase of servers and infrastructure. There will be large capital cost involved, but the money will be saved over a period. Cloud is the opposite of this. This means organizations can start using the resources with less capital cost. But as the applications becomes popular and uses more resources, it might become more expensive than setting up own virtual infrastructure. 
Implementation of cloud also depends upon credibility / good-will of the service provider (vendor) since the data will be residing in their servers. But in virtualization, the organization has more control in the data back-up, disaster recovery mechanism etc. History: Microsoft’s data center, which provides T-mobile’s sidekick service, was crashed in year 2011. The customer data was lost and it was huge blow to T-mobile reputation.

The End

In 3 articles, I was trying to focus more on the fundamentals or basics of 2 concepts. Now I gonna start my journey to the core of these subjects: - architecture, implementation, layers, infrastructure etc and blog more. 
Bye till then !!!

Comments

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