[觀察] Virtualization - threat or menace? - CNET News.com

IT業界關於虛擬化(virtualization)應用的風潮正起

"Virtualization - threat or menace? - CNET News.com"
Posted by Peter Glaskowsky

這篇文章提到一個很有意思的概念 - "virtual appliances"

整理重點如下:

1. in the future, applications may be distributed in the form of complete virtual machines, including all the operating-system code they need.
2. the application can be treated as a self-contained object that performs a specific purpose without requiring a lot of configuration.
3. simpler software development, improved reliability and stronger security.
4. instant cross-platform compatibility

Traditionally, operating systems have played two roles: managing hardware and providing services to software. Virtualization separates those functions, which could separate the interests of hardware and software developers.

簡言之
在"web application"與"virtualization"兩者推波助瀾下
用戶端作業系統將由今日主流"all-in-one"的堆疊式架構走向未來高度模組化的"thin-client"定位
作業系統將成為高度精簡高效率的中介軟體(middleware)透過標準化接口連結各式服務應用
在企業級IT架構我們稱為SOA, 而個人應用層級的"virtual appliances"也將興起
拭目以待



覺得此概念抽象的朋友, 可以把"virtual appliances"想像成類似現今"綠色軟體"的概念