Virtualization in Client/Server Development (2006 years prediction)

Pondělí IV 20, 2009

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Virtualization in Client/Server Development

Upcoming into X86 world full HW supported virtualization will significantly change development process for Client/Server based solutions because will allow developers to fully emulate this environment on their workstations.

This entry is part of Virtualization Glossary

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Virtualization as development driver

When people think about virtualization they most have in they mind server consolidation with resources optimization effects, however full HW supported virtualization will come not only to X86 server world, but also in desktops. This will open new possibilities for similar optimizations in development processes, especially in Client/Server based projects, current desktop HW is very powerful and so most developers prefer to have both Client and Server environments on their desktop, this concept will alter significantly with upcoming virtualization.

Traditional vs. new model of development

In traditional model developer use MS Windows or Linux (Client) for development and in the same SPACE they have installed server for compatible server version of Client OS.

I new model however developers are free to combine their usual workplace MS Windows or Linux (X86 Client OS) with fully independent real X86 server instance - server OS with server App installation (Any of X86 Windows, Linux or Solaris server OS plus server App layer).

Opening space for SW development optimization and freedom to program on Windows workstation, but developt for Linux Server.
Basically developers can get 3 main benefits from new model of native development:

1. Faster SW development
2. Improve resulted quality
3. Shorter implementation time

How it is possible?

Upcoming into X86 world full HW supported virtualization will be for desktops available in 2006 by both major X86 processor producers in their new dual core-products. (INTEL Vanderpool, AMD Pacifica) and with addition of right software (Xen, WMvare or MS Virtual PC) it will allow to run at least 2 OSes in one time.

Instant power - many logical processor units

New processors can offer 2S4C8T for developer workstation (2 sockets 4 cores 8 threads = 2x dual core Pentium 4 with hyper-threading) can easily represent 8 logical processor units for virtualization which can be used by virtual SMP techniques. With new fast SATA II drives most limiting resource for running multiple concurrent OSes will be still memory. Some developers want to run 3 milestone versions of OS and/or APP to ensure basic compatibility for developed solutions. Both OS and APP producers must be sure then their products can be easily stalled in reasonable minimalist configurations with minimal resources footprint, especially minimal memory needs. Many server oriented products are for now pre-tuned for high usage which is not needed in development environment and can't be installed with minimal footprint.
Latest news:
  Intel quad-core chips arriving in 2006
  AMD quad-core details

Impact for administrators

For developers is important then they can have installed more OS instances but run simultaneously only some of them. For example MS Windows developer can have installed 2 generations of Linux server and Solaris one. Because this instances on Server OSes are fully independent ones, they can be managed in development organization by central administrator in similar way like just bunch of servers or even their images. Main task of Administrators will be to manage libraries of this pre-configured OS images and application deployments for developers. This will give to developers posiblity geting quickly well tuned environments for their work tasks.