Virtualisation of server infrastructure

Virtualisation is a technology that allows us to use computing equipment and space more efficiently, while also reducing costs and making maintenance easier. In the case of server infrastructure virtualisation, a company chooses to have only one physical server with enough capacity to host the multiple virtual servers that the company needs.

This approach, where older and newer servers are combined in a virtual environment on a single server, is called enterprise consolidation.

Before embarking on virtualisation in a small business, careful planning is required to ensure that the full benefits of this technology can be fully exploited. The first step is to assess the suitability of existing IT systems for the move to a virtual environment. This involves analysing the load on servers and the availability of the resources available.

It is also important to assess the hardware and software required to successfully implement virtualisation. In addition, special attention should be paid to network devices, as they are a key part of the IT infrastructure and need to be properly integrated into the virtual environment.

In this thesis, we focused on the problem of server virtualisation in a selected small enterprise. The company was struggling with multiple physical servers that required a lot of maintenance and consumed a lot of electricity. As the servers were outdated, the company decided to move them to a new virtual environment.

In the context of the thesis, we introduced the concept of virtualisation and its benefits. We reviewed several virtualisation software providers. We analyzed the current state of the company’s server infrastructure.

We described in detail the process of selecting the hardware for the new virtual environment. We have also given a detailed description of the steps to set up and install a virtual environment. We summarised the different ways of virtualising servers. Finally, we have shown a schematic of the virtual environment after the successful completion of the virtualisation process.

When virtualising physical servers, we focused on creating a stable and working virtual environment, using the most popular tools used in practice. We carried out the virtualisation project from start to finish, combining the knowledge gained during our studies and the experience gained on the job.

By implementing a virtual environment in a small company, we simplified the management and work with servers.