VMWare is a virtual machine software (hereinafter referred to as VM) released by VMWare Inc. in Palo Alto, California. The company provides various software and applications for virtualization. She has become one of the key suppliers of these products. VMWare Workstation software was launched in May 1999.
About VMWare
The company was founded in 1998. It provides software and services for cloud computing and virtualization. It is also worth noting that VMware is a subsidiary of Dell Technologies.
VMware bases its virtualization technology on the bare metal ESX / ESXi hypervisor that supports virtual machines. The company's desktop software runs on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.
In 2011, the company launched the VMWare GSX and VMWare ESX servers. Most VMWare virtualization programs are designed for business use.
There are 3 types of VMWare software:
- For desktop virtualization.
- For server virtualization.
- To manage the cloud.
Let's consider them in more detail.
Desktop virtualization software
VMware is widely represented in the desktop environment. It was based on the success of VMware Workstation, allowing any computer running Windows or Linux to run a VM. In addition, it includes VMware Horizon, a VMware virtual desktop environment that allows applications to be delivered directly to the user on any type of station involved. This is commonly used in organizations to provide employees access to a centralized and identity-driven application stack.
This also includes software such as VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation Player. The first provides similar functionality for users of the Intel Mac platform, as well as full compatibility with VMs created by other products of the company.
VMware Workstation Player is free for non-commercial use, does not require a license.
Introduction to Virtual Networks
As a rule, the most important thing for a computer programmer is connecting a VM to a local network, and then to the Internet. Virtual network created by VMware Workstation. It connects the VM to the physical network. Just like on a desktop computer or laptop, a VM needs Internet access to view network content or check email. They also need access to corporate applications running on the local network.
By default, Workstation offers 3 types of virtual networks:
- NAT
- Bridge.
- Only for hosting.
Access to the Internet, as described above, is done using the default virtual machine network type NAT.
Application
The program provides technical users with a cost-effective way to use desktop virtualization, and IT managers with a universal console.
In a typical corporate environment, a workstation can help companies achieve two of their most important goals: increasing productivity and reducing costs. For example, technical support representatives who need access to various desktop environments to help customers can do this with one piece of hardware. Instead of buying and servicing several workstations, the support representative simply launches the VM in VMware Workstation and instantly gains access to other operating systems if necessary.
One of the biggest challenges in IT is the creation and deployment of new workstations. Workstation simplifies this process by allowing IT staff to create a new VM once and deploy it to those who need it.
VMware Workstation vs VMware Player
The product of the workstation in question is not needed by most people receiving these deployments. For users who just need to use VMs created by someone else, VMware Player will meet all the requirements. IT managers should plan to use these two products on their corporate networks.
There are several differences between VMware Workstation and VMware Player. The first is the price. VMware Player can be downloaded and installed for free, and a workstation will cost about 25,000 rubles. The second difference is that the station allows you to create your own VMs, and VMware Player can only use those that are created elsewhere.
Install and configure VMware Workstation
Installation is simple: you need to choose a path, click Next several times, enter license information and click Finish. After rebooting and accepting the license agreement, the fun begins.
The first step is to create a new VM. To start the wizard for this purpose, simply click “File” -> “Create” -> “Virtual Machine” or simply click the “New Virtual Machine” icon on the “Home” tab.
The first option in the wizard asks you to select the type of configuration. Most often, it will meet the needs. If you need to create a VM that is compatible with older versions of VMware or with specific hardware requirements, you will need to select a custom route.
On the next screen, you need to choose which guest operating system and version will be used on the new VM. VMware Workstation supports 45 different operating systems.
Then you need to select a name for the new VM and location. Next, you need to determine the type of network. This is perhaps the most important part of the master.
Finally, you need to determine the amount of disk space that needs to be allocated to the new VM.
After that, the user clicks the “Finish” button and he gets a brand new shiny VM. However, at the moment this is just a shell; you still need to install a guest OS before a person can actually use a virtual VMware workstation.
Server Virtualization Software
The most important server virtualization programs in the product line are VMWare vSphere and VMWare Server.
VMware VCenter Server is a data center management server application designed to monitor virtual environments.
VCenter Server provides centralized management and operation, provisioning and performance assessment of VMs located in a distributed virtual data center. VMware VCentre Server is designed for VSphere, a platform for building virtual cloud infrastructures and VMware images.
vSphere is the heart of a secure SDDC that protects applications, data, and access. Advanced security features, fully integrated into the hypervisor and using machine learning, provide better visibility, protection and faster response time.
vSphere launches, manages, connects, and protects applications in a shared operating environment in a hybrid cloud.
Cloud management software
We will try to clearly explain the VMware cloud what it is. This is an offer from VMware for infrastructure services. It is tightly integrated with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and offers the user the appropriate service for many of the popular VMware applications. This eliminates the need for local data center services and associated costs, and allows many individuals or companies to use VMware products for personal use. Many companies are moving to the cloud as part of their future IT strategy.
Let's get acquainted with the terminology:
- VMware vRealize Suite is a management platform specifically designed for the hybrid cloud.
- VMware Go is a web-based service that helps users of all skill levels install and configure VMware vSphere Hypervisor.
- VMware Cloud Foundation provides an easy way to deploy and operate a private cloud in an integrated SDDC system.
How do VMs function?
VMWare is a virtual machine that allows multiple instances of operating systems to run on the same server.
Up to 16 VMs can be used on one physical server. It acts as an intermediary between the equipment and the OS on the server, increases the capacity of the equipment by dividing it into separate servers, which are allocated by its own processors and memory. You can assign a portion of the available processor pool to each virtual system. It is important to note that VMWare is also the ability to allocate hard disk space from an available storage pool.
Note that memory usage can be configured manually or automatically. It is possible to limit memory usage on certain servers to prevent the consumption of too much of it.
All types of operating systems can be supported by VMWare software: Windows, Linux, Unix. There is a free version of software called VMWare Server. It was formerly called GSX Server. This software can only work on Windows or Linux.
Each VM already contains an operating system and application. It will work on the server independently and independently.
VMWare offers drivers for most branded devices. It supports many client operating systems, such as Microsoft Small Business Server.
If new equipment is installed on the server, you can easily reconfigure it without causing visible changes in the virtual guest OS. Using a VM, you can share resources on a server between different partitions. This makes it suitable for use in VPS web hosting plans.
VMWare offers an efficient server consolidation solution that can help web hosting companies reduce their costs.
Essential VMware Administration Tools
Tools and utilities simplify day-to-day administration tasks. They are necessary for the VMware system administrator. Consider the most important.
- VMware Converter
This is a free utility that helps to convert physical machines based on Windows and Linux and third-party image formats such as backups and other VMs.
Standalone VMware Converter has a central management console that allows you to queue and track many simultaneous conversions, both local and remote, for example, in the main office and in branches. It can also be used to perform virtual migrations (v2v). It can be used not only for migration purposes, but also for other tasks, such as reducing the size of VMDK and downgrading the hardware of the virtual machine.
2. VMware OS Optimization.
This utility helps optimize Windows 7/8/2008/2012/10 for use with VMware Horizon View. The tool contains customizable templates for enabling or disabling Windows system services and functions, as recommended by VMware. Since most Windows services are enabled by default, you can use the optimization tool to simply turn off unnecessary features to improve performance.
3. VMware Software Manager.
This is a free utility that greatly simplifies downloading VMware packages. It discovers new versions and products, provides an easy-to-use interface for finding, selecting and downloading the content needed to install or update a product or VMware package with the click of a button.
4. VMware vSphere Replication.
It is also worth highlighting vSphere Replication VMware. What it is? This utility is an excellent hypervisor-based asynchronous replication solution for vSphere VMs, which provides flexible, reliable and cost-effective replication for data protection and disaster recovery of all VMs. vSphere Replication can be used to protect data locally, within the same site, disaster recovery, data center migration.
5. VMware vSphere Compatibility Predictor.
Updating the vSphere environment after each release is an integral part of the life of a VMware administrator. In cloud environments where a large number of VMware Platform Services Controllers (PSCs), vCenter Servers and Solutions are used, it may be difficult to see how everything is connected. When you try to upgrade such an infrastructure, compatibility issues may occur.
6. VMware Tools.
This is an optional free set of drivers and utilities that improves both the performance of the guest VM operating system and the interaction between this OS and the host.
Conclusion
VMWare enables web hosting companies to reduce costs by integrating virtual hosts on the server. The administrator can conveniently add virtual servers without spending money on the purchase of additional equipment.