Abstract
Virtualization is an approach by which several applications—sometimes running on different operating systems—run on the same piece of hardware, creating multiple “virtual†servers from a single machine. Software manages the different applications and systems, resulting in an experience for end users that is indistinguishable from having each application on a dedicated machine. A virtualized data center uses fewer machines, requiring less physical space and less energy for cooling. By avoiding hardware that runs at partial capacity, virtualization provides greater return on IT investments, and a virtualized server environment provides an IT organization with greater flexibility to deploy new applications.
The "7 Things You Should Know About..." series from the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) provides concise information on emerging learning technologies. Each brief focuses on a single technology and describes what it is, where it is going, and why it matters to teaching and learning. Use these briefs for a no-jargon, quick overview of a topic and share them with time-pressed colleagues.
In addition to the "7 Things You Should Know About…" briefs, you may find other ELI resources useful in addressing teaching, learning, and technology issues at your institution. To learn more, please visit the ELI Resources page.