VMware VCENTER SERVER 4.0 - GETTING STARTED UPDATE 1 Specifications download pdf (Page 11)

vSphere Concepts and Features 1

VMware vSphere™ leverages the power of virtualization to transform datacenters into simplified cloud

computing infrastructures and enables IT organizations to deliver flexible and reliable IT services.

The two core components of vSphere are VMware ESXi™ and VMware vCenter Server™. ESXi is the

virtualization platform on which you create and run virtual machines. vCenter Server is a service that acts as

a central administrator for ESXi hosts that are connected on a network. vCenter Server allows you to pool and

manage the resources of multiple hosts. vCenter Server provides many features that allow you to monitor and

manage your physical and virtual infrastructure.

Additional vSphere components are available as plugins that extend the functionality of the vSphere product.

This chapter includes the following topics:

“Virtualization Basics,” on page 11

“Physical Topology of vSphere Datacenter,” on page 12

“vSphere Software Components,” on page 13

“vSphere Managed Inventory Objects,” on page 15

“Optional vCenter Server Components,” on page 17

“vCenter Server Plug-Ins,” on page 18

Virtualization Basics

A virtual machine is a software computer that, like a physical computer, runs an operating system and

applications. The hypervisor serves as a platform for running virtual machines and allows for the consolidation

of computing resources.

Each virtual machine contains its own virtual, or software-based, hardware, including a virtual CPU, memory,

hard disk, and network interface card.

Software called the hypervisor is installed on the physical hardware in a virtualized datacenter, and acts as a

platform for virtual machines. ESXi is the hypervisor in a vSphere environment. The hypervisor provides

physical hardware resources dynamically to virtual machines as needed to support the operation of the virtual

machines. The hypervisor allows virtual machines to operate with a degree of independence from the

underlying physical hardware. For example, a virtual machine can be moved from one physical host to another,

or its virtual disks can be moved from one type of storage to another, without affecting the functioning of the

virtual machine.

VMware, Inc.

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VMware VCENTER SERVER 4.0 - GETTING STARTED UPDATE 1 Specifications Page 11