The trend of virtualization, where do I start?

[Yorus]

Hello community!

Among so many things, I'm trying to do some home practice with servers, especially from the Windows Server family, but also something with Linux. What I've been told is interesting to learn and is really used a lot in the business environment is the topic of virtualization, that is, something more than Vmware Player or Virtual Box. I read a lot about Vmware Esxi, would it be interesting for someone who wants to delve deeper into systems?

In general, it's about learning as much as possible on my own, at least so that things don't sound like Chinese to me, and in the future if the economy allows it or my future company gets involved (the current one doesn't have a clue) then do something official, certification, etc...

Has anyone messed around with these things or even set up a homelab to try it out?

[Mystique]

I have used something, but mainly they were virtual machines for tests and university practices with vmware workstation

Regarding virtualization, you have, let's say, 2 types:
-virtualization of the entire operating system, which is the usual thing, a windows/linux/other running inside another system
-application virtualization, in this case you have the server or backend where the application runs and then there is the client or frontend computer where the person who uses the application is located. Basically, the image of the application window is transmitted through the network but the entire process runs on the backend.

We use this last type of virtualization at my job and it works well in some cases and is a disaster in others.

Apart from looking at vmware esxi, also look at citrix products (which is what we use) that you might like better

[Yorus]

Both things are interesting. I have seen Citrix in action, but only from the corner of my eye, and I know that with Linux you can do something similar through xorg, or at the time it was something similar.

I am taking note that everything is a learning experience and you never know.

[cobito]

With xorg and ssh you can run graphical applications remotely. For this method it is important to have a connection with low latency and good bandwidth. If something is missing, it becomes torturous to handle the program.

I use VirtualBox to test betas of right-handed people and to use programs that are only available for windows. Years ago I used the vmware machine and before that virtualpc from microsoft and basically they work the same way. In VB you have the option to handle the virtualized desktop remotely without having to install software. I suppose that the rest have already included that option.

[Yorus]

I have used VirtualBox, VMWare Workstation/Player and VirtualPC, especially the first one. For example, right now on the laptop I don't have Linux, but I do have Mint with VirtualBox for when I do shopping, banking, etc...

[cobito]

I just remembered that a quadrillion years ago I published this.

As a curiosity to see how the topic has evolved it should be fine, but the available options have changed a bit, although not too much (at least in VirtualBox).

[Yorus]

Yes, the truth is that the subject hasn't changed that much either, except in more professional environments where it is now used much more.