Virtualization is a technique, in which the creation of a virtual, rather than actual version of something. In computing, virtual is a digitally replicated version of something real. The replication, which is created with software, may not be an exact copy of the actual item, but it is similar enough in essence to be described as a digital rendition. The term virtualization broadly describes the separation of a resource or request for a service from the underlying physical delivery of that service. With virtual memory, for example, computer software gains access to more memory than is physically installed, via the background swapping of data to disk storage. Similarly, virtualization techniques can be applied to other IT infrastructure layers - including networks, storage, laptop or server hardware, operating systems and applications. Virtualization is a combination of software and hardware engineering that creates Virtual Machines (VMs) - an abstraction of the computer hardware that allows a single machine to act as if it where many machines. There are many challenges in business like, cost-effective resources utilization, responsiveness in supporting new business initiatives, flexibility in adapting to changes in organization function, expansion and sense of urgency and so on. Virtualization is a fundamental technological innovation that allows skilled IT managers to deploy creative solutions to such business challenges. This paper discusses what virtualization is, how technologies improve it, and how organizations can benefit from adopting virtualization into future IT plans.

Cloud Computing, Grid Computing, Virtualization, Utility Computing, Autonomic Computing

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