application virtualization (application portability or application service virtualization)
Application virtualization (also known as application portability or application service
virtualization) is the practice of running software from a
remote server
rather than on the user's computer. Dynamic link library (DLL) programs
redirect all the virtualized application's calls to the server's file system. When software is run
from the server in this manner, no changes are made to the local computer's operating system (OS),
file system
or registry.
Computing resources are allocated based on changing requirements in real time.
Advantages of application virtualization include:
- Cost savings on hardware.
- Cost savings on software and OS licenses.
- Ability to handle large and fluctuating work volume.
- Ability to run multiple versions of an application
program concurrently on a single computer.
- Ease of application management, upgrading and migration.
- Ability to leverage resources without adversely impacting users.
- Optimal utilization of existing hardware.
- Flexibility in the acquisition of hardware resources.
- Enhanced system reliability and scalability.
Application virtualization is useful in diverse scenarios such as e-commerce,
banking, stock trading, insurance administration, business simulations, supply
chain management and assistive
software.
This was last updated in November 2008
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