What is the Difference Between Cloud and Virtualization

The main difference between Cloud and Virtualization is that the Cloud is a methodology that allows multiple users to share resources as required while virtualization is a technology to create multiple simulated environments from a single physical hardware system.

Cloud allows delivering computing, network, storage infrastructure resources, services, platforms and applications to multiple users across the network. On the other hand, virtualization is a technology that allows users to create multiple simulated environments from one physical hardware system.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Cloud
– Definition, Functionality
2. What is Virtualization
– Definition, Functionality
3. Difference Between Cloud and Virtualization
– Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Cloud, Cloud Computing, Virtualization, Virtual Machine

What is Cloud

Cloud is used in cloud computing. It provides required IT resources through the internet at a low cost. Moreover, most small to enterprise-level IT companies need IT infrastructure. They require database servers, mail servers, routers, switches, configurable system, etc.; however, these are very expensive. Therefore, companies rely on cloud computing as it provides IT infrastructure at a reasonable cost.

Cloud computing provides multiple advantages. First, it allows users to share resources efficiently while supporting a distributed environment. Moreover, it also minimizes the possibility of an infrastructure failure. Cloud also improves the maintainability of resources. Furthermore, Cloud has the ability to reduce expenses.

What is Virtualization

Virtualization refers to a creation of a virtual version of a server, desktop, operating system, storage device or a network resource. It also allows sharing a single physical instance of a resource or an application among multiple customers and organizations. The machine that creates the virtual machine is the host machine while the virtual machine is the guest machine.

There are various types of virtualization including hardware, operating system, server, storage virtualization.

Hardware Virtualization

Hardware virtualization is a hardware system after installing a virtual software or virtual machine manager (VMM). After hardware virtualization, users can install a different operating system and run the required applications on that OS. Unlike a virtual machine, it is difficult to control and manage a server. Therefore, hardware virtualization is commonly used for server platforms.

Operating System Virtualization

Operating system virtualization is the technique of installing virtual machine software or virtual machine manager (VMM) directly on the hardware system. Furthermore, this is commonly used for testing purposes.

Server Virtualization

Server virtualization refers to directly installing the virtual machine software or the virtual machine manager (VMM) on the server. Moreover, this helps to divide the tasks of a single physical server on multiple servers to balance the load.

Storage virtualization

Storage virtualization refers to grouping the physical storage from multiple network storage devices to make it appear like a single storage device. Additionally, this is mainly used for backup and recovery.

Difference Between Cloud and Virtualization

Definition

Cloud is the methodology of delivering host services over the internet while virtualization is the technique of creating a virtual version of a computer hardware platform, storage device or a network resource. Thus, this is the main difference between Cloud and Virtualization.

Configuration

Also, another difference between Cloud and Virtualization is that Cloud configuration is template based whereas virtualization configuration is image based.

Usage

Concerning the usage, the cloud helps to provide resources to a group of users for various tasks. In contrast, virtualization helps to deliver packaged resources to specific users for a particular task. Hence, this is also a difference between Cloud and Virtualization.

Conclusion

The main difference between Cloud and Virtualization is that Cloud is a methodology that allows multiple users to share resources while virtualization is the technique of creating a virtual version of a computer hardware platform, storage device or a network resource.

Reference:

1.“Learn Cloud Computing Tutorial – Javatpoint.” Www.javatpoint.com, Available here.
2.“Virtualization in Cloud Computing – Javatpoint.” Www.javatpoint.com, Available here.