Description: VM migration is the process of moving a virtual machine from one host to another without downtime. This process is fundamental in virtualization environments, as it allows for resource redistribution, performance optimization, and improved service availability. Migration can be of two types: live migration, where the VM continues to operate during the transfer, and cold migration, where the VM is shut down before being moved. The ability to perform VM migrations is a key feature of modern virtualization platforms, allowing facilitation of resource management in data centers, as well as enabling disaster recovery and maintenance planning without impacting end users. VM migration relies on technologies such as memory replication and disk synchronization, ensuring that the state of the virtual machine remains consistent during the transfer process. In summary, VM migration is an essential tool for the efficient management of virtualized infrastructures, allowing organizations to quickly adapt to changing business demands.
History: VM migration began to develop in the 1990s with the popularization of virtualization in servers. Companies such as VMware, Microsoft, and others were pioneers in creating software that allowed for x86 server virtualization, facilitating VM migration. Over the years, functionalities like live migration have been adopted and improved upon, making VM migration a standard in data center management.
Uses: VM migration is primarily used in data center management to optimize resource usage, perform maintenance without interruptions, and improve service availability. It is also crucial in disaster recovery scenarios, where VMs can be moved to other hosts in case of failures. Additionally, it allows for server consolidation, where multiple VMs are grouped onto fewer physical servers to reduce costs and improve energy efficiency.
Examples: An example of VM migration is when a system administrator uses a virtualization platform to move a virtual machine running a critical application from an overloaded server to another server with more available resources, all without end users noticing any interruptions. Another case is the use of live migration during scheduled hardware maintenance, ensuring that services remain online.
