Introduction to Cloud Virtualization

Flashcards covering the key concepts discussed in the lecture including virtualization, hypervisors, types of virtualization, benefits, challenges, cloud computing, service models, and the relationship between virtualization and cloud computing.

What is Virtualization?

The process of creating a virtual version of computing resources, such as servers, operating systems, storage devices, networks, and applications.

What is a Hypervisor?

Software that creates and manages virtual machines (VMs), allowing system resources to be distributed among multiple separate and secure virtual computers.

What is Server Virtualization?

Partitioning a physical server into multiple virtual servers to maximize hardware usage and reduce costs.

What is Desktop Virtualization?

Allowing users to access their desktop environments remotely from any device, offering flexibility.

What is Application Virtualization?

Separating applications from the underlying OS, allowing them to run in isolated environments.

What is Network Virtualization?

Abstracting network resources to create virtual networks that operate independently of the physical hardware.

What is Storage Virtualization?

Pooling physical storage from multiple devices into a single, centralized storage system.

What are the benefits of Virtualization?

Sharing of resources, isolation of VMs, scalability, flexibility & mobility, simplified data center management, optimized resource utilization, and easier testing and development.

What is a Type 1 (Bare Metal) Hypervisor?

Runs directly on hardware, faster and more efficient, commonly used in large data centers (e.g., VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V).

What is a Type 2 (Hosted) Hypervisor?

Runs on top of an existing host OS, easier to set up for personal computers, but a bit slower (e.g., VirtualBox, VMware Workstation).

What are the challenges related to Virtualization?

Performance overhead, resource contention, increased management complexity, and the need for specialized tools and procedures for backup, recovery, and performance monitoring.

What is Cloud Computing?

Delivery of computing resources including servers, storage, databases, networking, and software over the internet, allowing on-demand access without managing physical infrastructure.

What are the main differences between Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud models?

Public clouds are owned and run by third-party providers, while private clouds are built, run, and used by a single organization; hybrid clouds mix public and private environments.

What is Software as a Service (SaaS)?

Provides access to software applications over the internet (e.g., Gmail, Microsoft 365).

What is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)?

Provides on-demand access to fundamental computing resources like servers and storage (e.g., Google Cloud Platform).

What is Platform as a Service (PaaS)?

Provides a platform for developers to build and manage applications without managing the underlying infrastructure (e.g., Google App Engine).

What is the key difference between Virtualization and Cloud Computing?

Enables running multiple VMs on one machine, serving as the technology behind cloud computing's service delivery model.

How is Virtualization commonly used in Cloud Computing?

Creating virtual servers, choosing OS and software for each instance, and scaling resources as needed.