'Virtualization' and the emerging cloud-based operating systems

At first glance most assume that virtualization and cloud computing are the same entity, this is only partially correct. Cloud computing is only possible through the use of virtualization, but not the other way around. Virtualization software (which may mimic the capabilities of certain hardware) can be employed on a home computer that's not even connected to the net, for example. Cloud computing was actually born from the progress achieved in virtualization technology. The new cloud operating systems are essentially advanced virtualization interfaces; or interfaces that allow the user end device to access real or simulated hardware / software. The emerging operating systems are being designed to more effectively manage available resources through the implementation of advanced virtualization.

There is some debate among tech groups that virtualization / cloud computing will eventually make operating systems (as we know them today) obsolete. In the outer reaches of the tech sphere there is a push toward implementation of an entirely web-based OS. Obviously, this is being met with strong opposition as most individuals predict that this potential web OS will be much more unreliable than the current standard models. What they aren't taking into account however is the fact that a web-based OS isn't going to be designed for any of the current computer systems we're currently using. Instead, the web OS will be designated for a new type of computer that is essentially just a portal to the web.

But what of the new operating systems that are emerging for standard cloud computing applications? How will they differ from what we're currently using? First of all, cloud operating systems will not be reliant on hardware, so higher levels of efficiency are going to become possible. The biggest perk of a cloud operating system is that individual applications will no longer be required to share resources. Cloud computing makes is possible for the OS to provide seemingly unlimited resources to individual applications; in fact, there will also be fewer instances of inter application conflicts / crashes as well. This will also greatly increase an individual system's ability (and speed) to monitor the entire run-time environment for changes and / or potential attacks and viruses.

Today's cloud computing think tanks are looking at the internet and what's possible there and then designing their hardware and operating systems around those possibilities (as opposed to the old method of creating hardware and software and then upgrading components around newly emerging capabilities). In other words, the new 'boss' is going to be software, not hardware. Hardware is being relegated to a backseat position, while the advanced computational prowess of software is not only performing its regularly assigned tasks, but also doing all the work that hardware was originally responsible for. Cloud computing is the next logical step in the evolution of the personal computer and will give individual users access to an even larger bank of resources than ever before.

For more information on Virtualization and to sign up for our Cloud Computing Certification courses, have a look at the Virtualization Certification Kit.