Choosing tools for effective virtualization
Going Virtual

Good tools are half the battle – even if you are just managing virtual machines. This month we take a practical look at virtualization, and we show you a new threat to watch for in the virtual future.
Servers are not human. They don't live and breathe. They just consume power and take up space. Do we really need so many? The virtualization revolution is about saving money, time, and floor space. Today's virtualization tools provide an efficient environment for testing, running, and managing applications – with lower electric bills and fewer hardware headaches. But is virtualization all good, or does it also open the door to new kinds of threats?
In this month's cover story, we examine the practical side of virtualization. We start with an introduction to some of the virtualization tools available for Linux. Then we take a closer look at a pair of popular open source virtualization alternatives: Xen and VirtualBox. Finally, we settle in for a look at the dark side of virtualization: the mysterious world of virtualizing rootkits.
Practical Virtualization
The virtualization paradigm has come down to Earth, leaving the lofty heights of Mount Olympus for real-world concerns like stability, performance, and ease of management. A virtualization system that wants to fulfill all of these requirements must be ready for:
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