How Virtualization Changes Everything

摘要

It's not often that a new technology affects every corner of enterprise IT. Virtualization, in its many forms, is one of those game-changers-just like networking, virtual memory, and multitasking operating systems were in their time. So it's no surprise that in this special issue of InformationWeek for EMC World, we're covering a lot of virtualization-related subjects. The fundamental proposition of all things virtualization involves taking what seemed to be some inextricable relationship-like an operating system to its hardware platform-and breaking it. Anytime you change what seems to be an immutable relationship, interesting things happen. Human nature being what it is, we tend to think of the great benefits that come with such a change. For instance, it wasn't all that long ago that we thought affordable, high-quality telephony required wires. The benefits of wireless communications are fairly profound and obvious; then a few years into it, after some near-death experiences with cellphone-engrossed drivers and statistics that showed cell talkers to be as dangerous as drunken drivers, we realized that unfettered use wasn't necessarily all good.