So how does cloud computing work? Well virtualization was one of the core technologies that contributed to the emergence of Cloud Computing. Virtualization technology made it possible to create the virtual servers, desktops, and application streaming of a Cloud environment. To fully understand how Cloud Computing works, it’s important to understand the three main types of virtualization and how they enable Cloud Computing.
How Does Cloud Computing Work – Server Virtualization
In the past (and unfortunately still in most companies) servers were bought to fulfill a dedicated role, such as an e-mail server, file server, app server, etc. Even a small business network could end up with 5-6 physical servers. Each of these servers was only typically used at 20-30% of its capacity because each one only had a few very specific roles which resulted in the infamous “server sprawl” with unused computing resources being wasted.
Server virtualization enables one physical server to be provisioned into multiple “virtual servers.” Each virtual server can perform a dedicated task that an entire physical server would otherwise perform (e-mail server, file server, application server, etc.). This technology has enabled rely upon to dramatically boost their server utilization and offer more affordable solutions to the market.
How Does Cloud Computing Work – Application Virtualization
For the purposes of Cloud Computing, application virtualization is the practice of running applications from a remote server rather than on a user’s machine or onsite server. Application virtualization technology has made it possible to deliver applications over the Internet and provide as rich a user experience as if it were installed directly on a PC. Companies like Citrix have perfected this technology and helped make Cloud Computing a reality. They developed proprietary protocols to get almost any application to run virtually. This is crucial to Cloud Computing because allows a user to use all of their software remotely and with a relatively low Internet bandwidth.
Desktop Virtualization
To make Cloud Computing usable to the average user, it was necessary provide a platform that users could relate to and use in the same manner in which they worked on a traditional PC. This gave way to desktop virtualization and a hosted desktop. Desktop virtualization enabled companies to avoid purchasing physical PCs by using lower cost “dumb terminals” or thin clients instead. This is known as a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). True VDI technology is usually only found in large corporations because it quite expensive, cumbersome to manage, and requires dedicated Windows licensing and heavy server resources.
LevelCloud took the main components of server, application, and desktop virtualization to create an ultra-secure platform called FIT LevelCloud that allows companies of all sizes to flexibly, efficiently, and cost effectively allow its employees to access company data, e-mail, and applications from anywhere, any time, and on any device using the convenient and easy-to-use WebTop.
