Virtualization is a key technology used in datacenters to optimize resources. As IT needs continue to evolve, virtualization can no longer be regarded as an isolated technology to solve a single problem.

Virtualization is a technology that enables running multiple operating systems side-by-side on the same processing hardware. This white paper provides an easy to understand introduction to virtualization, and explains the benefits that virtualization technology can provide for engineering applications.

 Introduction

Virtualization is a technology that allows running two or more operating systems side-by-side on just one PC or embedded controller, and it is rapidly being adopted in the engineering world. While the word “virtualization” is simply another term for abstraction, in practice it allows engineers to save cost, reduce footprint, and consolidate systems in ways that were not previously possible.

For example, consider a common engineering application that can benefit from virtualization (running multiple operating systems in parallel). Today, many designers need to take advantage of real-time processing or control while providing a graphical user interface. While traditionally this would have required two physical computers (one for each operating system), virtualization enables running both operating systems on the same PC or embedded controller. Eliminating the need for an extra computer means a better integrated overall system, a savings in cost, and a reduction in footprint.

Virtualization can also help engineers better utilize their available processing hardware to build more efficient systems. As multicore processors with 4, 8, and 16 cores on a chip become commonplace, many processor cores are likely to be underutilized in a typical system. Most applications will have only a finite amount of parallel tasks that can be executed at a given time, leaving many processor cores idle. Virtualization software can help solve this challenge by allocating groups of processor cores to individual operating systems running in parallel. Simply put, virtualization allows processing that would have been achieved on multiple computers to run on just one powerful multicore processor.

It is important to note that virtualization is not only being used in the engineering domain. Many information technology (IT) companies have used virtualization to consolidate large groups of servers at a savings that can reach millions of dollars. This paper will specifically outline the major benefits that virtualization can provide engineers, and provide an introduction to the types of virtualization software on the market today.

 Virtualization Today

The framework in which virtualization aligns in today’s IT world is much broader than the 1960s. In practical implementation, virtualization can be used for a variety of IT infrastructure challenges. Here are some examples:

	Machine Virtualization – multiple computers acting as one (metacomputers).
	Operating System Virtualization – enabling multiple isolated and secure virtualized servers to run of a physical server (the same OS kernel is used to implement the guest environments).
	Application Virtualization – using a software virtualization layer to encapsulate a server or desktop application from the local operating system. The application still executes locally using local resources, but without being installed in the traditional sense.
	Network Virtualization – the network is configured to navigate to virtual devices where processing is completed – cross platform

 Virtualization Benefits

	Save Hardware Cost and Footprint
	Virtualization provides the ability to take advantage of multiple operating systems on one physical PC or embedded controller, without investing in a separate computer for every OS. This allows engineers to buy less hardware and reduce overall system footprint (which is especially important in deployed applications).
	Take Advantage of Operating System Services
	With virtualization it is possible to take advantage of the capabilities offered by different operating systems on just one set of hardware. For example, a designer may wish to use graphics services provided by Windows in conjunction with deterministic processing provided by a real-time OS such as LabVIEW Real-Time.
	Make Use of Multicore Processors
	Virtualization software can allow users to directly assign groups of processor cores to individual operating systems. For example, if an engineer wishes to use Linux and a real-time OS, more CPU and memory resources can be allocated to the real-time OS to optimize performance. Running virtualization software on a given computer allows designers to make the most of their processing resources by keeping processor cores busy.
	Increase System Security
	Since individual operating systems running on a virtualized machine can be isolated from each other, virtualization is one way to create secure machines (e.g. for military applications). This reduces the need for multiple physical computers that operate at different security levels but are not fully utilized.