Software-Defined Data Center — The Next Step in Virtualization
A data center is a specific place where computers use networking equipment to collect, store, process, distribute and access huge amounts of data. A software-defined data center builds on the traditional data center model delivering more value in a cost-effective way.
Before talking about the modern software defined data center, here’s a look at traditional hardware-defined data centers. Starting out in the olden days, a single supercomputer the size of a room would be the beating heart of the data center. With time, data processing needs to be increased and equipment began getting compact and inexpensive. For increased processing power, servers were clustered and users could remotely connect to it. Clustered servers in large numbers can take up a room, a building or groups of buildings. Today, data centers can house thousands of high-performance, compact servers running continuously 24 hours a day.
What is a Software Defined Data Center?
Many believe that this is the next step in virtualization. A software defined data center is an infrastructure that has predominantly virtualized servers. This means that the entire data center is controlled by software. All the hardware in the center is managed with the help of intelligent software systems, as opposed to a hardware-defined data center where the equipment and hardware determine the capacities of the infrastructure.
There are three components in a software defined data center:
Server Virtualization
This is the process of segmenting a physical server so that it becomes several smaller virtual servers. It uses a hypervisor to control the operating system and the applications. Administrators use virtual machines for running different applications and operating systems on one single server.
Network Virtualization
This is the process of using network resources via segmentation of one physical network. This is done by installing software to manage storage, processing cycles and applications. All servers are treated as a single resource that is shared and accessed regardless of its physical components.
Storage Virtualization
This is the consolidation of network storage devices into one single storage unit. Storage virtualization is applied via software applications and deployed in a Storage Area Network. It makes data recovery, back up and data archiving much faster and easier to manage.
Benefits of a Software Defined Data Center
Software defined data centers offer data center management with simplicity. Everything in the virtualized environment from routers to storage is easily provisioned, deployed, monitored, and maintained. One single interface uses software to control all of the network and its components. Automation is fast, easy and simple because of the software. Network resource speeds of delivery are increased as well.
A software defined data center also offers enhanced agility, reliability and flexibility because the software has the ability for mapping to server, storage and networking resources. It can detect and adapt to increased demands to scale up or out whenever needed to facilitate surges in traffic and performance optimization.
Conclusion
A software defined data center is a new concept in the world of virtualization. It helps bring about greater reliability, resource utilization, and simplicity. Traditional data centers had limitations and dictated the abilities of the data center. With software defined data centers, sky’s the limit.
