My friend James makes several excellent points about virtualization.
For comparisons sake, there is very little left that VMware does, that KVM [Linux kernel based virtualization] doesn't also do FOR FREE. Most of that doesn't apply to small medical practices.
Another key value of KVM virtualization is being able to move VMs from host to host transparently. All of the hardware connections are abstracted, so the VM doesn't know if you changed network adapters, drives, OS, etc.
One thing I would disagree with my esteemed colleague is there is a better friend that virtualization; a good working dog. I think Leslie would back me up on this one. My Australian Shepherd never failed me. :-)
