Q19Cloud Computing
Question
Explain Virtualization in Cloud Computing. Discuss the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisors with suitable examples.
Answer
Virtualization enables running multiple virtual systems on a single physical machine. Hypervisors are categorized into Type 1 (Bare-Metal) and Type 2 (Hosted).
Virtualization in Cloud Computing is the foundational technology that allows the abstraction of physical hardware into virtual resources. It allows multiple Virtual Machines (VMs) to run on a single physical host, improving resource utilization and providing isolation.
Type 1 Hypervisor (Bare-Metal): This type runs directly on the host's physical hardware. It controls the hardware directly and manages guest OSes. Because there is no underlying host OS, it offers high performance, security, and stability, making it standard for enterprise data centers. Examples: VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Xen.
Type 2 Hypervisor (Hosted): This type runs as a software application over a conventional operating system (the host OS). The hypervisor requests hardware resources from the host OS, which adds overhead. It is mainly used for client-side environments, software testing, and development. Examples: VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox.