Benefits of virtualization
Virtualisation is a type of technology that enables users to create and run virtual machines or applications from a physical server. These virtual machines include the features and hardware power of the server they were created from, while offering a high degree of scalability.
OVHcloud has fostered close partnerships with global leaders in the field of virtualization technology for a number of years. Our ranges of dedicated bare-metal servers have been designed to underpin industry-leading virtualization software, including VMware’s benchmark offering.
The server virtualization process involves installing a hypervisor on a bare-metal server, which allows you to segment and isolate its various resources into virtual machines. In other words, it converts physical resources into virtual ones, for more effective resource utilization, complementing the guaranteed resources of physical hardware by maximising flexibility, scalability and availability. This, in turn, will enhance application performance and service delivery, while helping build a robust IT infrastructure.
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Virtualizing a dedicated server vs. pure bare metal
While a bare-metal dedicated server is still unmatched in terms of raw power, hardware virtualization is the answer whenever flexibility, speed and cost are top priorities.
With provisioning time reduced by as much as 70%, according to VMware, fast, low-cost solutions can be effortlessly deployed in virtual environments. Equally, sysadmins widely use server virtualization for temporary projects, testing, and troubleshooting.
Our recommendation
Advance-4 Dedicated Server
Server powered by an AMD EPYC™ 7313 processor (16c/32t @3.0/3.7GHz)
Advance-5 Dedicated Server
Server powered by an AMD Epyc 7413 processor (24c/48t @2.65GHz /3.6GHz)
Scale-1 Dedicated Servers
Server based on an AMD Epyc 7402 processor (24 c/48 t @2,8 GHz /3,35 GHz)
Tip 1. Select the right virtualization software
The combination of VMware virtualization technology – including the vSphere, hypervisor and vRack – with OVH’s world-class bare metal server ranges, is the ideal foundation on which to build your own virtual infrastructure. However, OVHcloud servers can also be deployed with other virtualization software, including Zen and Proxmox. Some of these are free, while others are paid services, and each offers distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Tip 2. Don’t neglect your backup processes!
If you are deploying your infrastructure on a standalone server, a secure, reliable backup solution is vital, to ensure you don’t acquire a single point of failure. OVHcloud’s dedicated server ranges are all supplied with 500GB of backup storage as standard, with the option of upgrading, should you need to scale out.
Tip 3. Consider your path to the cloud
OVHcloud and VMware virtualization technology enables the smooth integration of cloud and bare-metal solutions, leading to sophisticated Hybrid Cloud infrastructures, which combine the benefits of multiple solutions in unique, tailored combinations. A virtualized server is therefore an ideal stepping stone to a fully-agile VMware Private Cloud environment, which includes advanced automation features and tools.