Virtualization: The HP Perspective

Virtualization refers to the abstraction of IT resources from their physical hardware- or software-based constructs. It’s often defined as a technique for hiding the physical characteristics of computing resources from the way in which other systems, applications, or end users interact with those resources. This includes making a single physical resource—such as a server, an operating system, an application, or storage device—appear to function as multiple logical resources; or it can include making multiple physical resources—such as storage devices or servers—appear as a single logical resource.

The common theme of all virtualization technologies is the hiding of technical detail through encapsulation. Virtualization creates an external interface that hides an underlying implementation by multiplexing access, by combining resources at different physical locations, or by simplifying a control system.

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