How a cloud server works
Answering the question of how a cloud server works, it is first necessary to explain what it actually is. A cloud server is a hardware-software complex that represents virtual isolated copies of physical machines, created using virtualization technologies.
Virtualization is the process of dividing large computing resources into separate, unique, and fully isolated virtual machines using specialized software, which can solve various tasks in parallel and independently.
Virtualization is the main strategic direction in the development of technical thought in the field of computing resource management. Even mobile base stations, those very cellular towers, are now successfully virtualized. Therefore, when asking how a server works today, or how the cloud works, the question of virtualization is inherently connected.
Why is virtualization needed?
Virtualization not only allows one large server to be divided into many smaller ones but also enables servers to be combined into giant logical clusters to solve heavy tasks. Even if different servers are managed by different operating systems and have different, possibly incompatible hardware, virtualization hides this layer and provides a unified hardware-software complex with all necessary resources for the client.
Without virtualization technologies, only one operating system can run on a physical server at a time, taking full control of all computing resources and storage. Virtualization allows multiple virtual configurations with their own resources and separate operating systems to run on the same server. In server infrastructure virtualization, software is separated from physical hardware using a hypervisor, which logically isolates virtual machines from each other.
Modern virtualization environment
Today, there are two popular virtualization environments: VMware and VirtualBox. Both environments have their advantages and disadvantages. VirtualBox is an open-source project distributed under the GPL license and freely available to everyone. VMware is a commercial product that provides higher-quality virtual "hardware," but only in the paid version. Despite the advantages of free software, our service uses VMware virtualization technology to provide clients with the highest level of service to meet the needs of even the most demanding customers.
What this ultimately provides:
- The functional capabilities of virtual servers are higher, as they are essentially only limited by cluster size;
- Operating expenses for a virtual server are lower, since infrastructure support is handled by the service provider;
- The performance of many applications is higher in a virtual environment;
- Application deployment speed is higher.
Cloud technologies are steadily replacing traditional servers and workstations. Today, the use of cloud technologies allows for more rational use of resources and demonstrates higher efficiency at lower costs.