Virtualization
What you should know
Virtualization - what is it all about?
Each of us probably associates such a device as a server. They are those "humming boxes that blink" and when they break down, we can't work. By the way, they hold our data or some programs.
It's often the case that a company has several programs, servers, storage locations, VPNs and often they are on several physical servers. Most often, it's a good idea to migrate these servers to virtual machines and put them on one physical server.
Admittedly, this makes us have a single point of failure, but in practice we greatly simplify and organize the infrastructure. Equally importantly, a single physical server is adequately well-prepared, equipped with redundant elements like spare disks and power supplies that allow you to continue working in the event of failure of one such element.
Virtualization makes the process of backing up entire virtual machines very easy. Copies are sent to a different physical location every day. Even in the event of a failure, theft of a physical server or fire, the data is safe. All you have to do is substitute a second server and upload entire virtual machines from the copies. No need to reinstall or configure installed programs on them. In case the program itself crashes, makes a theoretically irreversible error, or is encrypted, just recover the copy from yesterday and go on.
Ultimately, virtualization makes one properly configured, monitored, backable, server with multiple virtual machines on it a better solution than several physical servers.
When is it a good idea to virtualize servers?
Undoubtedly, virtualization brings the most value when we have several servers or applications. In such a situation, it definitely reduces the cost of equipment because instead of buying another server, in the best case you don't have to buy anything, or in the worse case, you add additional RAM or disk and you can already start with another virtual machine for a new project or program.
In practice, it is worth using virtualization even in the case of a single server with a single program. It greatly simplifies the process of creating and restoring security copies. Because even during a critical failure, with almost one click we can restore a copy from yesterday. In addition, such a virtual server can always be remotely restarted even if it crashes and completely stops responding. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
When is it not worth virtualizing servers?
A good example of a contraindication to virtualization is a NAS file server, with a lot of data, because it takes too long to back up and open the vitals machines with really large disks and should be on the NAS. So with that, we are staggering.
As another example, let's take specialized servers designed for heavy load, requiring a lot of physical server resources. It is often not worth it, especially since such installations often work in some kind of cluster so their failure is not a problem.
Why with us?
With most of our clients we have a permanent form of cooperation, which means that in addition to ongoing support of clients, we also care that their servers work for them without interruption and without problems. Therefore, the server is automatically monitored. Some problems are detected and fixed remotely before the user notices. Without monitoring, you can have even five spare disks, but so what if no one knows that four are already broken? Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
In addition, on request, for our clients we provide copies of their servers off-site makes it so that even in a very bad scenario such as theft or fire of the client's premises, not only the data is not lost, but we can quickly recreate its virtual machines on another server and make the work possible.
So what do we propose?
For our clients, in addition to selection, implementation and ongoing support, of course, we provide overall service. We automatically monitor the servers themselves. Most often, customers learn about minor failures, such as a broken disk, from us as we arrive to replace it. In addition, as needed, data should be automatically backed up and held additionally in another geographic location in case of theft or fire scenarios.
Although more often than not, automatic data copy solutions from one or another major vendor are often the optimal solution, there are still quite a few companies that need fast and reliable access to their data on-site due to specific requirements.
Collaboration in the form of ongoing support makes us provide services aimed at reliability, good cooperation and long-term data protection rather than a one-time sale of equipment or service. Proper customization of the solution and a focus on long-term cooperation ultimately allows us to support companies at a cost that is also acceptable to small businesses.