chapter 1 Flashcards
What is the relationship between virtualization and cloud computing?
Virtualization forms the foundation for cloud computing by allowing multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical machine, enabling the efficient use of resources and scalability in the cloud environment.
What are chipsets?
A: Chipsets are collections of integrated circuits on a motherboard that manage the communication between the processor, memory, peripheral devices, and other components of a computer system.
How does virtualization work?
Virtualization creates multiple virtual machines (VMs) from a single physical machine, allowing each VM to run its own operating system and applications. It abstracts the hardware resources and provides isolation between VMs, enabling efficient resource utilization and flexibility in managing workloads.
How is a VM created?
Virtualization software creates a layer on top of the physical hardware.
This layer clones the resources of the physical components and creates virtual hardware.
A virtual machine is built using the virtual hardware components.
Components of a VM?
Requires virtual versions of hardware like CPU, RAM, storage.
Needs an operating system (guest OS) to function.
The set of files containing the virtual hardware and OS is the VM itself.
Benefits of VMs?
Easier to move and copy than physical machines (since they are files).
Easier to manage and isolated from other VMs on the same hardware.
More efficient use of physical hardware resources (run multiple VMs on one machine).
Reduced energy consumption by using fewer physical servers.
what is Hypervisor?
A hypervisor is a software layer that enables the creation and management of virtual machines (VMs) on a physical machine
sits between the hardware and the virtual machines, managing and allocating the physical resources of the host machine to the virtual machines.
… enable running multiple operating systems (OS) on a single machine by dividing hardware resources (partitioning).
hypervisors
hypervisors are more flexible than traditional dual-boot, where only one OS runs at a time.
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virtualization is a “green” technology
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how is Isolation a benefit in hypervisors?
- VMs run within the hypervisor (host), creating a closed environment for each VM.
- This isolates VMs from each other, improving security and manageability.
Overall, virtualization improves efficiency by?
Allowing more efficient use of hardware resources.
Reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint.
Simplifying IT resource management and problem diagnosis.
explain Type 1 Hypervisor AKA Bare Metal Approach
- Is a virtualization method that installs directly on the hardware.
- without the need for a separate operating system.
- Offers strong isolation: Issues in one VM don’t affect others.
Benefits of Type 1 Hypervisor
Efficient use of hardware resources by running multiple VMs.
Improved security and stability due to VM isolation.
example of type 1 hypervisor
- VMware ESXi , Microsoft Hyper-V, and Xen.
explain Type 2 Hypervisor: AKA Hosted hypervisor
Provides virtualization capabilities by running on top of an existing operating system. (e.g., Windows 10, macOS).
Relies on the host OS for hardware access and resource management.
which hypervisor is Easier to set up and use
type 2
benefits of type 2
Simple installation and user-friendly for beginners.
Good for testing and development environments.
Examples of type 2
VMware Workstation (Windows/Linux host)
VMware Fusion (macOS host)
Oracle VirtualBox
Compare type 2 with Type 1 Hypervisor
Less efficient due to resource sharing with the host OS.
Lower security and isolation between VMs compared to Type 1.
… are ideal for large-scale deployments in data centers.
Bare-metal hypervisors.
- Reduce IT costs while providing global access to company files for employees.
- Install VMware ESXi (Type 1 hypervisor) on company servers.
- Create virtual machines (VMs) for employees to access.
… are suitable for personal use and creating a limited number of VMs..
Hosted hypervisors/ type 2
- Tim’s Home Laptop
- Allow kids to play Minecraft without compromising Tim’s work files.
VMware Workstation is a … hypervisor
hosted (Type 2)
Supported Operating Systems:
Windows, Linux, and macOS versions.
Comparison of VMware Workstation with Bare-Metal Hypervisors (Type 1):
More user-friendly and easier to set up.
Less powerful and resource-intensive compared to Type 1 hypervisors.
explain Snapshots in VMware Workstation
A snapshot is like a save point for your virtual machine (VM). It captures the entire state of the VM at a specific time, including:
- The state of all virtual machine disks
- The contents of the VM’s memory
- The VM settings
Benefits of Snapshots
Testing and development: Quickly revert to a working state if something breaks.
Disaster recovery: Recover from accidental data loss.
Experimentation: Try out new software or settings without worrying about permanently affecting the VM.
Snapshots consume disk space as they store a copy of the VM’s state at the time of creation.
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Taking too many snapshots can impact VM performance.
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data centers use virtualization to create a pool of virtual resources
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Data center as a resource pool:
Similar to how your pc can be used for various tasks, data centers provide a vast pool of resources that can be dynamically allocated to different cloud services.
Virtualization benefits in data centers
efficiency, isolation, recovery
how is resource utilization optimized during Virtualization in data centers
Multiple virtual machines can share the same physical hardware, maximizing resource usage and reducing costs.
explain agility during Virtualization in data centers?
Virtual resources can be provisioned and deprovisioned quickly, enabling businesses to scale their cloud services up or down as needed.
… are The Powerhouses of Information
Data Centers:
… store and process massive amounts of information accessed through the internet.
data centers
Data centers use … to track various aspects and identify areas for improvement.
performance metrics
Beyond Virtualization, Other aspects contribute to data center efficiency:
Power Management: Efficient use of power to reduce energy consumption and costs.
Cooling Systems: Maintaining proper cooling to prevent overheating of equipment.
Security Measures: Implementing robust security measures to safeguard sensitive data.
what are Data Center Workhorses
Servers
what are servers,
specialized computers optimized for data processing and storage.
Server Types?
- Tower Servers
- Rack-Mounted Servers
- Blade Servers
what are Tower Servers:
Traditional PC tower design, common in computer labs and offices.
what are Rack-Mounted Servers:
Thin, rectangular servers designed to slide horizontally into racks for space optimization.
A typical rack is called a … due to its width and is measured in rack units (U) for server height.
19-inch rack
what are Blade Servers:
Smaller form-factor servers inserted vertically into a larger frame, offering high density and efficient resource utilization.
Data center servers typically use … architecture
the x86
what is the x86
a processor type with roots in 8-bit processors from the late 1970s.
This architecture has evolved to support 16-bit, 32-bit, and the current dominant 64-bit (x64) architecture.
Why 64-bit Matters for Virtualization
- Virtualization technology is primarily compatible with 64-bit processors.
- 64-bit processors offer advantages like increased memory capacity, crucial for handling virtual machines, and improved overall performance.
In data centers, multiple servers with similar configurations can be grouped into …
a cluster
what are the benefits of clusters
resources are shared among the nodes in the cluster, which allows for load balancing and redundancy.
If one node fails, the workload can be redistributed to other nodes in the cluster, ensuring continuous operation without significant disruption.
Key networking hardware components include:
Routers
Switches
NICs (Network Interface Controllers)
Ethernet Cables
Ports
what are Routers:
Think of routers as traffic directors on the internet.
They receive data packets from one network and determine the best path for them to reach their destination on another network.
They use IP addresses to make these decisions and ensure that data gets to where it needs to go efficiently.
switches?
Switches are like traffic lights within a network.
They connect multiple devices, such as computers, printers, and servers, within the same network.
When a device sends data, the switch directs it only to the device it’s intended for, rather than broadcasting it to all devices like a hub would.
This helps reduce congestion and improves network efficiency.
NICs (Network Interface Controllers)
: Hardware that connects a computer to a network using Ethernet technology.
Ethernet Cables:
Physical cables that connect network devices.
Ports:
Communication points between network devices.
Networks are categorized based on their scope: explain
LAN (Local Area Network)
WAN (Wide Area Network)
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)
…. Breaks down data into packets for transmission and reassembles them at the receiving end.
tcp layer
… Assigns unique IP addresses to devices, enabling data delivery to the correct destination.
ip layer
Network topology
refers to the physical arrangement of devices on a network, including servers, storage, and network hardware.
Unlike personal storage needs, data centers prioritize high availability of data.
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… involves creating copies of data and storing them in separate locations.
Redundancy
- its The Secret to Availability
Datastores?
: Designated storage spaces within data center storage to accommodate virtual machines.
Deployment methods for datastores include:
Direct-Attached Storage (DAS)- storage devices that are directly connected to a single computer or server.
Network-Attached Storage (NAS)- is a storage device that is connected to a network and provides file-level data storage services to other devices on the network
what is Redundant Array of Independent Disks
combines multiple physical disk drives into a single logical unit for the purposes of :
1. data redundancy improvement
2. performance improvement
explain RAID Techniques
- Mirroring (RAID 1): Copies data to another drive for redundancy. Great for critical data.
- Striping (RAID 0): Distributes data across drives for speed. No redundancy, so data loss occurs if a drive fails.
what is parity
RAID has various levels (RAID 5, 6, etc.) that use a technique called parity to balance performance and redundancy with additional data bits for error checking and data recovery.
explain Block Storage
Block Storage: Imagine your data is chopped up into small blocks, like Lego pieces. Each block has a unique address, and these blocks are stored on a storage device, like a hard drive or SSD. When you save a file, it’s broken down into these blocks and scattered across the storage.
Pros: Fast and efficient for storing and accessing individual pieces of data.
Cons: It doesn’t know or care about the type of data it’s storing. It’s up to the operating system or application to organize those blocks into meaningful files.
… is commonly used in situations where speed and direct access to data are crucial, such as databases and virtual machines.
block storage
explain File Storage:
Instead of breaking your data into blocks, imagine it as a big filing cabinet with folders and files. Each file has a name and is stored in a specific location within the filing system. When you save a document, it’s stored as a whole file with its name and location.
Pros: Easy to manage and access files because they’re stored as complete entities with names and locations.
Cons: Not as fast or efficient as block storage
… It’s commonly used for storing documents, images, videos, and other types of files.
file storage
Common DAS storage devices include:
Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) - Use spinning disks for data storage.
Solid State Drives (SSDs) - Use flash memory for faster data access.
Optical Disk Drives (ODDs) - Use lasers to read/write data on optical discs (e.g., DVDs).
Benefits of DAS:
Easy to set up and use, ideal for personal use or small businesses.
Scalable by adding more storage devices as needed.
Drawbacks of DAS:
Limited to the server or computer it’s connected to.
Requires compatible protocols (like USB) to communicate between devices.
May require an HBA (host bus adapter) for the server to connect to certain storage devices.
NAS Overcomes a limitation of DAS by …
allowing data sharing across multiple servers on a network.
IN NAS, how is Data organized
in files and accessed using file paths (e.g., /storage/data/file.txt).
NAS connects to the network and has its own IP address
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… is Ideal for large organizations with extensive data storage needs beyond DAS or NAS capacities.
Storage Area Network (SAN)
how does Storage Area Network (SAN) work
Connects multiple block-level storage devices into a high-speed network.
Appears as local storage to servers, even though it’s physically separate.
Benefits of SAN:
Centralized storage accessible from multiple servers across locations.
Faster data access compared to NAS due to block-level storage and dedicated network.
Highly scalable for big data demands.
… is a network of storage devices, while … is a single storage device connected to a network.
SAN, NAS
list Common Storage Protocols
SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)
SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)
SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)
FC (Fiber Channel)
FCoE (Fiber Channel over Ethernet)
iSCSI (Internet SCSI)
… is Used for medium-sized servers (blade servers, enterprise servers) and DAS (Direct Attached Storage).
SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)
SAS (Serial Attached SCSI):
… is Used for small tower servers with DAS.
SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment):
… is used for High-performance protocol for large enterprise servers in SAN (Storage Area Network) environments.
FC (Fiber Channel):
… Combines FC’s speed with Ethernet’s reach, used in SANs.
FCoE (Fiber Channel over Ethernet):
… is a Lower-cost option for enterprise servers in NAS (Network Attached Storage) environments.
iSCSI (internet SCSI):
… assigns storage space strategically to servers based on capacity and needs.
Provisioning
explain traditional Provisioning
Pre-allocates a fixed amount of physical disk space to a server or virtual machine.
Similar to setting up storage space for programs on a computer (e.g., C drive, D drive).
Advantages: Simple and predictable.
Disadvantages: Can waste storage space if overestimated, reduces flexibility.
what are the Two main infrastructure models for building a data center
Converged Infrastructure
Best-of-Breed Infrastructure
explain Converged Infrastructure:
Pre-configured package with all components from a single vendor (e.g., Dell).
Simpler setup but less flexibility.
explain Best-of-Breed Infrastructure:
Top-tier components from different vendors (e.g., HP servers, Cisco networking).
Offers lower cost and more flexibility but requires more configuration.
Four Causes of Stranded Compute Capacity
Zombies
Oversized VMs
Stranded Spare Capacity
Snoozing
… explains Inactive VMs, storage, and servers still consuming power.
zombies
… VMs allocated more resources than they actually need.
oversized vms
… Unused IT capacity in one department while another needs more.
Stranded Spare Capacity:
… Idle data center hosts left powered on standby mode.
Snoozing:
Solutions to Reduce Stranded Capacity
Identify and shut down zombie VMs (zombie hunting).
Resize oversized VMs to optimize resource allocation.
Implement smart sharing to utilize spare capacity from underused departments.
Power off idle data center hosts when not in use.
what are the Key challenges of traditional data centers:
Server inefficiency (underutilized resources)
Application availability (ensuring uptime)
Manpower efficiency (managing complex infrastructure)
virtualization Increases hardware utilization from …
10-15%, maybe even higher
…. data centers are hardware-focused, vendor-specific hardware.
Traditional data centers
… data centers are software-defined, hardware-agnostic (flexible).
Virtual data centers (SDDC):
what is vSphere?
VMware vSphere is a suite of virtualization tools designed to transform a traditional data center into a virtual data center
list vSphere’s key components
ESXi (VMware’s ESXi hypervisor)
vCenter Server
vSphere Client
vSphere Host Client
explain ESXi (VMware’s ESXi hypervisor):
This is the foundation, a Type 1 hypervisor. It enables the creation and management of virtual machines (VMs).
explain vCenter Server
acts as the central management hub for your virtualized data center built on vSphere.
… provides a centralized view and control over your entire virtual data center.
vSphere Client
- general vibes
… is a more focused tool designed for focused management of individual ESXi hosts
vSphere Host Client
- specific vibes
Benefits of vSphere:
Increased Efficiency
Improved Availability
Simplified Management
Greater Flexibility
… is A type 1 hypervisor that creates VMs on physical servers.
ESXi
key features of ESXi
Lightweight (microkernel)
flexible (supports various guest OS)
efficient (prioritizes VM resources).
… is the primary user interface for managing your vSphere environment.
vSphere Client
… is Installed directly on the ESXi host while … is Installed on a separate machine (often a Windows PC).
vSphere Host Client , vSphere Client
Provides a user-friendly graphical interface with menus, icons, and checkboxes for configuration and tasks.
vSphere Client
Benefits of Server Virtualization:
Increased Efficiency
Cost Savings
Improved Agility
Business Continuity: Easily migrate VMs to other physical servers in case of hardware failure.
Environmental Benefits
explain Thin Provisioning
Allocating storage to VMs only as needed, maximizing utilization.
what’s the solution for : Older applications incompatible with current systems.
Virtualize applications themselves for remote access.
how do you migrate from physical servers to virtual?
Two Strategies:
- Containment:
- Consolidation:
explain Containment
: It’s like giving your old apps their own space to stay while you try out new ones in a virtual environment.
This way, you can gradually transition without disrupting what’s already working on your physical servers.
explain Consolidation
: This is like gathering all your scattered physical servers and turning them into virtual machines.
It’s faster because you’re converting them directly, sort of like moving all your belongings from multiple smaller boxes into one big box.
Consolidation uses … software
P2V software
explain P2V software
helps move physical servers to virtual machines.
It ensures everything works smoothly by translating between the physical and virtual environments.
(e.g., VMware vCenter Converter)
what are the Conversion Methods, explain them
Cold Conversion (Preferred): Shut down the server to convert it (reliable but causes downtime).
Hot Conversion: Convert the server on the fly (no downtime but risk of data loss).
… conversion is used For planned maintenance.
cold
Cloud Types:
Public (managed by a provider)
private (internal).
Cloud computing offers various service models. list them
Software as a Service (SaaS): Easiest to use; access shared applications directly over the internet (e.g., Microsoft Office 365, Slack).
Platform as a Service (PaaS): Provides pre-configured servers for developers (e.g., Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud).
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Offers the most control; users manage virtual or physical systems themselves (e.g., Amazon Web Services, Digital Ocean).
… define how cloud computing resources are delivered and controlled.
Cloud deployment models
… cloud is Ideal for scalability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use (good for non-critical workloads)
public cloud
… cloud is Best for security, compliance, and control over sensitive data
private
… cloud is Suitable for collaboration and cost-sharing between similar organizations
community
benefits of private cloud
Highest level of security and privacy (no one else shares the “building”)
Complete control over infrastructure, reliability, and performance
Easy resource monitoring and allocation
Flexibility for scaling resources up or down
drawback of private cloud
expensive set up and maintainance
benefits of community cloud
Shared resources and infrastructure reduce costs
Collaboration opportunities for organizations in the same industry or working on a joint project
Control over user experience is managed by the community
… clouds are the most popular cloud deployment model
public
benefits of public cloud
Convenience: Cloud provider manages infrastructure and security.
Scalability
Cost-Effectiveness: Pay only for the resources you use.
Energy Efficiency
benefits of hybrid cloud
scalable, cost effective, secure
explain Containers
lightweight alternative to virtual machines for deploying applications
