what is the idea behind virtualisation in s2008?

timoski

What role is it intended to perform?. Is it to make actual physical servers redundant? Other parts of a network redundant by virtualising them? Sorry for the newb question, trying to get a handle on what it actually is, and more importantly what it is intended to be used for. Thanks for any info! ....

MentholMoose

There are a variety of reasons to virtualize servers. This link has a few of the key benefits (1-4 at least, 5 is regarding desktop virtualization):
Why Virtualize: Server Consolidation, Business Continuity

Top 5 Reasons to Adopt Virtualization Software

1. Get more out of your existing resources: Pool common infrastructure resources and break the legacy “one application to one server” model with server consolidation.
2. Reduce datacenter costs by reducing your physical infrastructure and improving your server to admin ratio: Fewer servers and related IT hardware means reduced real estate and reduced power and cooling requirements. Better management tools let you improve your server to admin ratio so personnel requirements are reduced as well.
3. Increase availability of hardware and applications for improved business continuity: Securely backup and migrate entire virtual environments with no interruption in service. Eliminate planned downtime and recover immediately from unplanned issues.
4. Gain operational flexibility: Respond to market changes with dynamic resource management, faster server provisioning and improved desktop and application deployment.
5. Improve desktop manageability and security: Deploy, manage and monitor secure desktop environments that users can access locally or remotely, with or without a network connection, on almost any standard desktop, laptop or tablet PC.