Server virtualisation is a way of using one physical computer to act like many computers. This is done with the help of special software called a hypervisor. The hypervisor lets many different "virtual" computers run on the same physical computer, each with its own operating system and applications.

This technology allows businesses to save money on hardware costs by running multiple virtual servers on a single physical server. It also makes it easier to manage and use resources more efficiently.

Virtual servers can be easily moved between physical servers or data centres, which makes it easier to scale up or down as needed. This technology also provides added security by keeping different applications and workloads isolated from each other.

There are several major server virtualisation technologies, including:

VMware: VMware is a proprietary virtualisation platform that is widely used in enterprise environments. It offers a wide range of features, including support for multiple operating systems, live migration of virtual machines, and a robust management interface.

Microsoft Hyper-V: Hyper-V is a Microsoft-branded virtualisation platform that is included with some versions of Windows Server. It has similar features to VMware and is often used in Windows-based environments.

Citrix XenServer: XenServer is a virtualisation platform developed by Citrix. It is based on the open-source Xen hypervisor and is often used in large-scale environments for cloud computing and server consolidation.

KVM: KVM is a Linux-based virtualisation platform that is built into the Linux kernel. It is open-source and is often used in smaller environments or as part of a larger virtualisation strategy.

OpenVZ: OpenVZ is a container-based virtualisation platform for Linux. It is less resource-intensive than traditional hypervisors, but also provides less isolation between virtual machines.

All of these virtualisation technologies have their own advantages and disadvantages and the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements.

VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V are considered to be the most feature-rich and enterprise-ready, while KVM and OpenVZ are more lightweight and can be a better fit for smaller environments or those looking for a more cost-effective solution.

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