Can I Run Multiple Operating Systems on My Server?

Can you imagine if you could only work with one application such as e-mail, word processing, or browser at a time? This would obviously be a radical impairment on our ability to work. The same holds true for operating systems and platforms. Restriction to one of these at a time is a needless hindrance, and now Dell virtualization provides a way to run Windows, Linux, Mac, and other operating systems on one server.

Dell virtualization software allows you to run more than one operating system on a server. Virtualizing can save money, time, energy, and space by using remote technology to accomplish a variety of tasks without being tied down to the physical contingencies of a physical server.

To install the software for virtualization, you boot up the server or computer, load the virtualization program, and install an operating system from the media you have. The main operating system will be called the host operating system; secondary platforms will be guests. Once the virtualization program is running, each operating system you install on your server will perform like a new, separate computer. You can do anything on the guest servers that you can do with the host. You can run programs, share files, and partition drive space. The litany of benefits of virtualization includes:

Consolidation of Servers – Your server infrastructure can be maximized without having to purchase additional hardware; resources can be used more efficiently.

Energy Conservation – The less servers you have, the less electricity you will use. It has been estimated that the energy costs associated with running servers are actually more than the cost of the servers.

Management Made Easier – Managing one physical server with more than one virtual server is easier than managing several physical units. Hardware upgrades can be done using a management console, which eliminates having to shut the server down, install the hardware, and restart the server. Servers can all be managed with the same console.

Reduction of Backup and Recovery Time – Backing up and restoring virtual machines is easier as well. Hard drives and other hardware failures will not affect virtual machines as they are restricted to their physical medium.

As you can see, virtualization is a smart, efficient way to make the most of your networking infrastructure.