You Have Read About Server Virtualization And Cloud C 398936 ✓ Solved

You Have Read About Server Virtualization And Cloud Computing In Chapt

You have read about server virtualization and cloud computing in chapter 6 of your textbook. For your written assignment this week, complete a case study of the organization you work for (use a hypothetical or “other” organization if more applicable) that will address the following prompts: • Describe the organization’s environment, and evaluate its preparedness for virtualization. • Explain Microsoft (or another product) licensing for virtualized environments. • Recommend a configuration for shared storage; make sure to discuss the need for high availability and redundancy for virtualization for the organization. • Explain Windows Azure capabilities for virtual machines and managing a hybrid cloud, including Windows Azure’s Internet as a Service (IaaS) and storage capabilities Make a recommendation for cloud computer use in the organization, including a justification for your recommendations. Submit your research paper as a single document. Your paper should meet the following requirements: • Be approximately 2 pages in length, not including the required cover page and reference page. • Follow APA6 guidelines. Your paper should include an introduction, a body with fully developed content, and a conclusion. • Support your answers with the readings from the course and at least two scholarly journal articles to support your positions, claims, and observations, in addition to your textbook. The UC Library is a great place to find resources. • Be clearly and well-written, concise, and logical, using excellent grammar and style techniques. You are being graded in part on the quality of your writing.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving landscape of information technology, organizations are increasingly adopting virtualization and cloud computing to enhance operational efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. This paper examines the hypothetical organization "TechSolutions Inc.," analyzing its current environment, preparedness for virtualization, licensing considerations, storage configurations, and the potential integration of Microsoft Azure services to establish a hybrid cloud environment. The goal is to develop strategic recommendations aimed at optimizing the organization’s IT infrastructure through virtualization and cloud computing technologies.

Organization Environment and Preparedness for Virtualization

TechSolutions Inc. operates as a mid-sized technology firm specializing in software development and IT consulting services. Its existing IT infrastructure comprises several physical servers hosting application servers, databases, and email systems. The organization has an active IT department that has implemented basic virtualization techniques using VMware, primarily for test and development environments. However, its current setup lacks comprehensive virtualization deployment across its enterprise, partly due to limited understanding of virtualization benefits and challenges, budget constraints, and concerns about data security and downtime.

Assessing its environment reveals moderate preparedness for expanding virtualization. The underlying hardware is compatible with virtualization solutions, and the IT staff possesses foundational knowledge, but there is a need for strategic planning, staff training, and investment in shared storage and redundancy to enable enterprise-wide virtualization with high availability.

Licensing for Virtualized Environments

Microsoft’s licensing models for virtualized environments have evolved to accommodate the growing demand for flexible, scalable solutions. For Windows Server, organizations typically require a server license for each physical host and Client Access Licenses (CALs) for users or devices accessing the server. Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Services (RDS) licensing plays a role when virtual desktop infrastructures (VDI) are deployed.

In the context of virtualization, Microsoft offers the Datacenter edition, which permits unlimited virtual instances on a licensed server, making it ideal for organizations seeking extensive virtualization capabilities. However, licensing costs must be carefully evaluated alongside the organization’s virtualization strategy to ensure compliance and cost-efficiency.

Shared Storage Configuration for Virtualization with High Availability

Implementing shared storage is critical for enterprise virtualization, facilitating VM mobility and disaster recovery. Common configurations include Storage Area Networks (SANs) or Network Attached Storage (NAS). San-backed storage allows multiple hosts to access the same storage resources, enabling features like live migration and clustering.

High availability (HA) and redundancy are essential to prevent downtime and data loss. Combining SAN with redundant controllers, multiple network paths, and RAID configurations ensures fault tolerance. For TechSolutions, adopting a SAN with multiple paths to storage and integrating clustering solutions such as Microsoft Failover Clustering would ensure continuous service and minimal disruption, aligning with best practices for virtualization redundancy.

Windows Azure Capabilities for Virtual Machines and Hybrid Cloud Management

Windows Azure, now part of Microsoft Azure, offers comprehensive support for virtual machines (VMs) and hybrid cloud solutions. Its Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model enables organizations to deploy and manage VMs in the cloud, providing flexibility to scale resources up or down based on demand. Azure’s storage solutions—Blob Storage, Disk Storage, and File Storage—offer scalable, durable options for data management.

Azure supports hybrid cloud strategies by integrating on-premises infrastructure with cloud services, facilitating seamless workload migration, disaster recovery, and backup solutions. Azure Stack extends Azure capabilities to on-premises environments, providing consistent management portals and APIs. This hybrid approach allows organizations like TechSolutions to leverage cloud scalability while maintaining control over sensitive data and applications.

Recommendations for Cloud Computer Use and Justification

Based on the organization’s needs, adopting a hybrid cloud model leveraging Microsoft Azure is advisable. This approach provides scalability, reduces capital expenditure, and improves disaster recovery resilience. Deploying virtual machines on Azure would allow TechSolutions to offload non-critical workloads to the cloud, freeing up local resources for core activities.

Furthermore, Azure’s hybrid management tools enable centralized governance, security, and monitoring across both on-premises and cloud environments. The flexibility of Azure’s storage options supports data backup and archival, enhancing data protection. Implementing a hybrid cloud strategy aligns with the organization’s growth plans, addresses security concerns, and ensures operational continuity, making it a strategic investment for future expansion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, TechSolutions Inc. has a solid foundation for expanding its virtualization capabilities and integrating cloud computing into its IT infrastructure. By strategically investing in shared storage with high availability, leveraging Microsoft’s licensing models effectively, and utilizing Azure’s hybrid cloud capabilities, the organization can achieve enhanced scalability, resilience, and operational efficiency. A well-implemented hybrid cloud environment will position TechSolutions to meet future technological demands and maintain a competitive edge in the industry.

References

• Alomari, A., & Tawalbeh, L. (2019). Cloud Computing Hybrid Models: A Review and Comparison. Journal of Cloud Computing, 8(1), 12.
• Bradford, N., & Maheshwari, S. (2020). Virtualization and Cloud Computing: Concepts, Technologies, and Challenges. Journal of Information Technology & Software Engineering, 10(2), 1–9.
• Microsoft Corporation. (2022). Windows Server Licensing. Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing
• Mu, Y., & Zhang, L. (2021). High Availability in Cloud Storage Systems. IEEE Transactions on Cloud Computing, 9(3), 876–889.
• Shaikh, A. A., & Zaveri, N. (2018). Cloud Computing Security Challenges and Solutions. Journal of Cloud Computing, 7(1), 10.
• Stallings, W. (2018). Foundations of Modern Networking: Software Defined, Cloud, and Virtual Networks. Pearson.
• Singh, M., & Kaur, H. (2020). Cloud Integration Strategies for Small and Medium Enterprises. International Journal of Cloud Applications and Computing, 10(2), 1–20.
• Thomas, D., & Abadi, D. (2017). Designing a Hybrid Cloud Management Framework. Journal of Cloud Computing, 6(1), 4.
• Vohra, M., & Shukla, A. (2021). Evaluation of Cloud Storage Solutions for Enterprise Data Backup. Journal of Systems and Storage, 14(4), 142–154.
• Zhang, Q., Cheng, L., & Boutaba, R. (2010). Cloud Computing: State-of-the-Art and Research Challenges. Journal of Internet Services and Applications, 1(1), 7–18.