One of the most significant technological advancements is the development of virtualization, which has transformed the traditional server infrastructure. The debate between using physical servers and virtual machines has been ongoing for a while now. While both have their advantages and disadvantages, the choice ultimately depends on the specific needs of the organization.
In this blog post, we will explore the differences between physical servers and virtual machines and provide insights into which option might be the best fit for your business. We will discuss the pros and cons of each option, the cost implications, performance factors, and scalability.
What is a Physical Server?
A physical server is a standalone hardware device that is comprised of processor, memory, network connection, and operating system for managing programs and applications. A physical server can only support and run one type of operating system at a time. Physical Servers are ideal for applications that require high levels of performance and security as there is no share of resources with multiple users.
Physical servers come in different sizes and configurations, from tower servers that can fit on a desk to larger rack-mounted servers that can hold multiple processors and hard drives. They can be purchased or leased and are typically managed on-premises by the organization’s IT staff.
Virtual Machine (VM):
To understand about virtual machines we need to know about the underlying technology – Virtualization.
What is Virtualization?
Virtualization is the process of creating a software-based or virtual version of a computing resource, such as a server, storage device, or network.
Hypervisor:
Hypervisor is a piece of software that enables to split-up the resources available in the physical server and allocates them among the VMs. It manages the allocated resources and also at the same time provides a secure and isolated that prevents VMs from interfering with one another’s data or operations.
There are two different types of hypervisors:
- Type 1 or Bare Metal Hypervisor
- Type 2 or Hosted Hypervisor
Type 1 Hypervisor
Type 1 hypervisor run on the computer’s physical hardware directly and so it is called as “Bare Metal Hypervisor”. Few examples of type 1 hypervisors available in the market are VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, KVM, etc.,
Type 2 Hypervisor
Type 2 hypervisor runs as an application over the existing operating systems. Since they run over an existing OS, this is also called as “Hosted Hypervisor”. Few examples of type 2 hypervisors available in the market are VMware Workstation, Oracle Virtual Box.
Read this blog to know about Type 1 and Type 2 Hypervisors in detail:
https://www.bdrsuite.com/blog/type-1-and-type-2-hypervisor/
What is a Virtual Machine?
A virtual machine is a virtual computer that is emulation of a physical server virtually with the help of hypervisors like VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V.
Multiple virtual machines can be hosted using a single physical server as its resources are split up and shared among the VMs.
VMs are independent of one another and different operating systems can be run on different VMs hosted on the same physical machine. Since they are independent from one another, they are also easily portable from one hypervisor to another hypervisor. They are called multi-tenant environments as they can be used by multiple users.
Comparison Between Physical Server and Virtual Machine
Performance
Both the physical servers and virtual machines carry out the same performance. Both can be configured to have identical specifications. physical servers can be a bit more powerful since they work with dedicated resources and virtual machines share the available resources.
Scalability
Virtual Machines are a lot more flexible. Adding, removing, or updating resources according to the expansion of the business is more hassle-free. It can be done with a few clicks as this runs on the shared resources of the server. On the other hand upgrading a physical server is upgrading all of its physical components which might consume a lot of time, energy, and money.
Virtual machines are easier and faster to scale as your business grows, making it easier to configure it quickly and carry out the business operations.
Security
Both physical server and virtual machine have the same security risks. However, Physical servers offer a high level of security since they are isolated from other servers and are physically located within the organization’s premises. Physical server can be a choice with strict security requirements.
On the other hand, Virtual machines can also be secure, but their security depends on the hypervisor and the underlying hardware. Virtual machines are vulnerable to attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in the hypervisor or the host operating system, which can compromise the security of all the virtual machines on that host.
Business Continuity
On the basis of business continuity, obviously with no doubt virtual machines are more efficient than physical servers.
In case of any disaster, virtual machines can be available in a few clicks with features like clustering, high availability, and more. The features assures minimal downtime ensuring business continuity, whereas this isn’t possible with the physical servers.
If a physical server is crashed or corrupted, it is impossible to reverse the destroyed data, which heavily interrupts the business operations unless you have any backup system in place.
Migration
A major benefit of virtual machines is they can be migrated easily across the virtual environment with minimal effort. Even VMs can be migrated from one hypervisor to another hypervisor.
In the case of physical server, migration is a time-consuming process with cost involved, as it requires to copy the entire data to a removable device and also it needs to setup a new physical server from the scratch where it is needed to be migrated.
Cost
Physical server require a significant upfront investment and can be expensive to maintain over time. Additionally, physical servers can be difficult to scale, as adding additional capacity often requires purchasing new hardware. Also, the hardware and software needed to be updated from time to time. Collapse of physical components are sometimes impossible to repair and must be replaced, which costs both money and time.
On the other hand, virtualization can be considered a perfect option since the resources are evenly assigned among its VMs. And the capacity can be enhanced according to the needs of the business. Although the license can be considered expensive but when seen in the long run and dependability, VMs are more considerable.
Physical Server vs Virtual Machine: Which to Choose?
The choice depends upon the organization’s need. Physical servers offer high performance, security, and control, but can be expensive to maintain and difficult to scale. Virtual machines, on the other hand, are flexible, easy to scale, offers cost savings compared to physical servers.
Moreover, factors like workload requirements, budget, size of the data that need to be stored, growth of the business, type of the data allow one to determine the best choice for your business.
Backup and Recovery for Physical Servers & Virtual Machines
No matter what type of workload you are running, ensuring that you have a reliable backup solution in place is crucial for minimizing the risk of data loss or downtime. Fortunately, there are many backup solutions available that can help you protect your data and ensure business continuity.
One such solution is BDRSuite, a comprehensive and cost-effective backup solution that provides near continuous data protection and fast, reliable recovery of data. With BDRSuite, you can backup and recover physical servers, virtual machines, and cloud workloads, Endpoints, SaaS Apllications, all from a single, easy-to-use interface.
Would you like to explore BDRSuite for your business? You can download our 30-day free trial or Request a demo
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