Virtuozzo 7 Offers New Open Source Way to Drive Virtual Environments
More and more, we're seeing virtual environments become the order of the day, as things like network functions virtualization (NFV) and software-defined networking (SDN) step in to take over from large-scale hardware operations. Virtuozzo is a major force when it comes to virtual environments, currently part of the backbone of over five million such operations at last report. Recently, it just brought out its newest version, and this new version's going to have plenty to offer.
Virtuozzo 7, as it's known, recently went into general availability, offering users access to a new level of flexibility and performance, and all at sufficiently low levels of latency to make transmissions across the network smooth and responsive. Virtuozzo 7's biggest distinction is its ability to run both applications and services in tandem, and it doesn't matter, at last report, whether these are in containers or in hypervisors.
It also lends support to any orchestration system, whether a commercially-made one like OpenStack, or a purpose-built platform specifically for a certain operation. It boasts an updated CentOS kernel, an open-source base for added versatility, and the new ReadyKernel system. With ReadyKernel, the kernel can be patched as needed, automatically, and without the need for rebooting a system to slow things down. It boast a kernel-based virtual machine (KVM) architecture with a rebuilt hypervisor core, offers round-the-clock support options, Docker support, and even advanced Windows support to make it possible to run Windows and Linux operations together at the same standard level of overall effectiveness.
Companies ranging from Web.com to ViUX and InMotion Hosting have put Virtuozzo to work over the last few years, and seem almost
universally to be looking forward to the new release. Virtuozzo's senior vice president of research and development, Alexey Kobets, offered some explanation, saying “Leveraging the entire Virtuozzo 7 product stack–or utilizing standalone products within it, such as Virtuozzo Storage–gives our partners the flexibility and efficiency required to run their business across multiple clouds with the lowest total cost of ownership.”
Since virtualized environments are only likely to gain position over the coming years, being ready to put such environments to work internally becomes an important step in the process. Such tools need the right infrastructure, however, and it's tools like Virtuozzo that should be a great basis for delivering virtualization, since it delivers so many options for offering virtualized environments. The ReadyKernel option is particularly noteworthy, as it allows for updates without the need to shut down or reboot, a point which would cost time and thus cut into productivity.
Virtualization isn't going away, and if anything, it's only getting stronger. That makes Virtuozzo 7 a valuable new entry into the field, and one that should bring a lot of interest from those wanting to add virtual environments to everyday operations.
Edited by Maurice Nagle
