Choose a Virtualization Vendor for Mac OS X Servers
There are three major companies that make virtualization software for Macs: Parallels, VMware, and Oracle. If you plan to run Lion Server in a virtualized environment, you will need to select one of these products to do so. In a nutshell, here are the choices:
Parallels Server: Meant for serious virtualization of multiple production servers on one Mac, Parallels Server includes management software for the servers. It comes in several versions, from a $300 Mac mini edition to the $2,000 Parallels Server for Mac.
Parallels Desktop: This user-level, or desktop, application costs under $100. You need version 7 or later to run Lion in a virtual machine.
VMware Fusion: Another user-level virtualization package, Fusion is very similar to Parallels Desktop and similarly priced. You need version 4 or later to run Lion in a virtual machine.
Oracle VirtualBox: This open source product is free for personal use.
You can use the desktop versions for testing servers or for running services that don’t use a lot of system resources. A desktop version won’t let you assign as much of the Mac hardware to a virtual machine Parallels Server.
Cloud Computing Glossary
cloud computing
A networking solution in which everything — from computing power to computing infrastructure, applications, business processes to personal collaboration — is delivered as a service wherever and whenever you need.
Cloud Computing Glossary
cloud service
The delivery of software, infrastructure, or storage that has been packaged so it can be automated and delivered to customers in a consistent and repeatable manner.
Cloud Computing Glossary
deprovision
The release of cloud services that are no longer needed.
Cloud Computing Glossary
federating
Linking distributed resources together over the cloud.
Cloud Computing Glossary
hypervisor
An operating system that acts as a traffic cop, managing the various virtualization tasks in the cloud to ensure that they make things happen in an orderly manner.
Cloud Computing Glossary
multi-tenancy
The sharing of underlying resources by multiple companies over a cloud.
Cloud Computing Glossary
network attached store
Storage that has its own network address through which it is accessed by the network's workstation users. Acronym: NAS
Cloud Computing Glossary
service level agreement
A contract that stipulates the type of service you need from providers and what type of penalties would result from an unexpected business interruption. Acronym: SLA
Cloud Computing Glossary
solution stack
An integrated set of software that provides everything a developer needs to build an application.
Cloud Computing Glossary
storage area network
A storage systems that is flexible and scalable because it's available to multiple hosts at the same time. Acronym: SAN
Cloud Computing Glossary
vertical industry groups
Workgroups comprised of members from a particular industry such as technology and retail.
Cloud Computing Glossary
virtual memory
The portion of your hard drive that Windows uses to expand the available RAM
Cloud Computing Glossary
virtualization
Using computer resources to imitate other computer resources or whole computers to maximize performance and flexibility.
