Which server to choose for virtualization in 2024

This article is suitable for everyone who has decided to create or modernize their own IT infrastructure for virtualization. There will be specific advice on choosing a physical virtualization server, but without delving into the software.

What is server virtualization?

• Server virtualization is a software division of a server (computer) into several independent and isolated virtual machines (VMs). Simply put, it is a kind of box inside which there are several compartments for storing different or the same things.

The server that is partitioned into virtual machines is called the host machine (box), and the resulting virtual machines are called guest machines (all internal compartments).

Advantages of server virtualization

• Reduction of server downtime;
• Reducing the cost of server maintenance;
• IT infrastructure can be made smaller and simpler;
• Easy VM cloning and transfer;
• Accelerated deployment of workloads.

5 reasons why you need server virtualization:

1. To save money - A productive server or cluster with VMs will be more profitable in large projects than separate servers for each task.
2. To use different environments - Virtualization allows you to create several VMs on which you can deploy different operating systems, their versions, and incompatible software within one server. VMs are often used as testing grounds for platforms and solutions - quickly deployed, tested, closed.
3. To isolate users, their actions and data from each other - Virtualization allows you to isolate users from each other. They can store important personal data and do whatever they want, even deploy virtualization within virtualization.
4. To avoid downtime - Virtualization allows you to avoid downtime when, for example, only a small part of 100% of the server's capacity is used. For example, 10% of server resources are allocated for mail, 30% for databases, and the remaining 60% for the terminal server.
5. To evenly distribute the load between several servers - Virtualization allows you to avoid uneven load distribution, when, for example, one server is loaded at 20%, and two neighboring ones in the rack are at 100% (and there are still a lot of tasks in the queue).

How to choose a server for virtual machines

Choosing hardware for virtualization is no less important than choosing the right software. Iron has a strong impact on infrastructure flexibility and efficiency, consolidation ratio, productivity, cost of ownership and availability of business applications. Irrelevant decisions reduce profitability and limit freedom of action.

1. Determine your needs:

• Number of virtual machines: How many virtual machines do you plan to run simultaneously? This will affect the required number of processors, RAM and disk space.
• Load on virtual machines: What tasks will the virtual machines perform? This could be web hosting, database servers, software development or gaming. Different tasks require different amounts of resources.
• Operating System: What operating systems will you use on the virtual machines? Some operating systems require more resources than others.

2. Equipment:

• Processor: Choose a processor with enough cores and clock speed to support the expected workload.
• RAM: Provide enough RAM to run all virtual machines simultaneously.
• Disk Space: Choose the type and amount of disk space that meets your data storage needs. SSDs offer better performance, but also cost more.
• Network: Make sure the server has a network interface with enough bandwidth to support the traffic of your virtual machines.

3. Type of virtualization:

• Hardware virtualization: Provides the best performance, but also costs more.
• Software virtualization: More affordable, but may have slightly worse performance.
• Container virtualization: Lightweight and economical, but may not be suitable for all tasks.

4. Operating system:

• Windows Server: A popular choice for virtualization due to its flexibility and extensive feature set.
• Linux: A more affordable option that offers high performance and stability.
• VMware ESXi: An enterprise-grade virtualization platform that offers a wide range of management features.

5. Additional factors:

• Reliability: Choose a server with reliable components and a warranty from the manufacturer.
• Support: Make sure the server provider offers quality technical support.
• Cost: Compare the prices of different servers, taking into account the cost of hardware, software and support.

Hardware technologies for server virtualization:

The following hardware components are required for effective server virtualization:

Processor:

• Multicore: The number of CPU cores is one of the most important factors affecting virtualization performance. The more cores, the more virtual machines you can run at the same time.
• Clock speed: A high CPU clock speed also improves virtualization performance.
• Virtualization support: Make sure the processor supports virtualization technologies such as Intel VT-x or AMD-V. This will allow virtual machines to use processor resources more efficiently.

RAM:

• Capacity: The amount of RAM required for virtualization depends on the number and resource intensity of the virtual machines you plan to run. As a general rule, it is recommended to have at least 8 GB of RAM for virtualization.
• Speed: Fast RAM, such as DDR4, can improve virtualization performance.

Disk space:

• Type: SSDs offer significantly better performance than hard disk drives (HDDs) and are recommended for virtualization.
• Capacity: The amount of disk space required for virtualization depends on the size of your virtual machines and their data.

Chain:

• Bandwidth: Make sure the server has a network interface with enough bandwidth to support the traffic of your virtual machines.
• Gigabit Ethernet: Gigabit Ethernet or better network interface is recommended for virtualization.

Additional components:

• Hardware RAID: A RAID array can provide data reliability and availability for your virtual machines.
• Redundant Power Supply: A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) can protect your virtual machines from power surges and power outages.

Recommendations:

• Choose a server with quality components from reliable manufacturers.
• Do not skimp on RAM and disk space.
• Consider using hardware RAID and a UPS for increased reliability.
• Update server firmware and software regularly.

Remember that choosing the right hardware technologies for virtualization is essential to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and security of your virtual machines.

How can we help?

For more detailed information about the DELL PowerEdge R760 server with DDR5 4800 or the DELL PowerEdge R750 server with DDR4 3200, you can visit our website SERVER SOLUTIONS , to find out the price of the server, go to the DELL Server Configurator link .