Ethical and Social...J.M.Kizza 1 Module 11: New Frontiers for Computer Ethics: Virtualization and Virtual Reality Virtualization History of Virtualization

Ethical and Social...J.M.KizzaEthical and Social...J.M.Kizza 11

Module 11: Module 11: New Frontiers for Computer New Frontiers for Computer Ethics: Virtualization and Virtual RealityEthics: Virtualization and Virtual Reality

VirtualizationVirtualization

History of VirtualizationHistory of Virtualization

Different Aspects of VirtualizationDifferent Aspects of Virtualization

Virtual RealityVirtual Reality

Social and Ethical Implications of Social and Ethical Implications of Virtualization*Virtualization*

Virtualization Security as an Ethical Virtualization Security as an Ethical ImperativeImperative

IntroductionIntroductionVirtualization is a process through which one can create something that Virtualization is a process through which one can create something that is there in effect and performance but in reality not there – that is virtual. is there in effect and performance but in reality not there – that is virtual.

It is a physical abstraction of the company computing resources like It is a physical abstraction of the company computing resources like storage, network servers, memory and others. storage, network servers, memory and others.

For computing systems, it is a process in which software creates virtual For computing systems, it is a process in which software creates virtual machines (VMs) including a virtual machine monitor called 'hypervisor,' machines (VMs) including a virtual machine monitor called 'hypervisor,' that allocates hardware resources dynamically and transparently so that that allocates hardware resources dynamically and transparently so that multiple operating systems, called “guest operating systems” can run multiple operating systems, called “guest operating systems” can run concurrently on a single physical computer without even knowing. concurrently on a single physical computer without even knowing.

The potential power of virtualization in substantially increasing the The potential power of virtualization in substantially increasing the performance of computing systems such as hardware and software performance of computing systems such as hardware and software through division of the underlying physical computing resources into through division of the underlying physical computing resources into many equally powerful virtual machines, has increased the popularity of many equally powerful virtual machines, has increased the popularity of the technology in the last twenty years and this love continues todaythe technology in the last twenty years and this love continues today


History of VirtualizationHistory of VirtualizationComputers of the 1960s could do only one task at a time and depended Computers of the 1960s could do only one task at a time and depended on human operators, increasing system performance was bottlenecked on human operators, increasing system performance was bottlenecked at two points: at the submission stage and at the computation stage. at two points: at the submission stage and at the computation stage.

Batching improved system performance some but did not go far Batching improved system performance some but did not go far enough.enough.

In response to this growing need for speed up, IBM responded with the In response to this growing need for speed up, IBM responded with the CP-40 main frame which later evolved into the CP-67 system, thought CP-40 main frame which later evolved into the CP-67 system, thought to be the first commercial Main Frame to support Virtualization. to be the first commercial Main Frame to support Virtualization.

The CP-67 had a unique operating system combination consisting of The CP-67 had a unique operating system combination consisting of CMS (Console Monitor System) piggybacked on a control program CMS (Console Monitor System) piggybacked on a control program called rightly CP. called rightly CP.

The CP/CMS was a small single-user interactive operating system and The CP/CMS was a small single-user interactive operating system and CP, upon which CMS run, actually run on the Mainframe to create the CP, upon which CMS run, actually run on the Mainframe to create the Virtual Machines which individually run their own copies of CMS. Virtual Machines which individually run their own copies of CMS.

To each virtual machine running CMS, CP allocated parts of the To each virtual machine running CMS, CP allocated parts of the underlying physical machine which formed the virtual machine. underlying physical machine which formed the virtual machine.


Different Aspects of Different Aspects of VirtualizationVirtualization

There are many types of virtualization including platform, network, There are many types of virtualization including platform, network, storage and application.storage and application.

Platform Virtualization - is the use of server hardware by the Platform Virtualization - is the use of server hardware by the virtualization software to host multiple VMs as guest VMs. Each VM virtualization software to host multiple VMs as guest VMs. Each VM is a virtual environment with its operating system (the guest is a virtual environment with its operating system (the guest operating system), which may or may not be the same as the operating system), which may or may not be the same as the physical server’s operating system (the host operating system), physical server’s operating system (the host operating system), emulates the whole physical infrastructure of a computing system emulates the whole physical infrastructure of a computing system including memory and each VM is independent of other VMs including memory and each VM is independent of other VMs sharing the physical server. sharing the physical server.

Platform virtualization itself is subdivided into two types: workstation Platform virtualization itself is subdivided into two types: workstation and server:and server:– Workstation Virtualization Workstation Virtualization – Server VirtualizationServer Virtualization


Network Virtualization - Like storage virtualization, network Network Virtualization - Like storage virtualization, network virtualization pools the resources, like files, folders, storage and I/O virtualization pools the resources, like files, folders, storage and I/O devices, of separate and different networks into one networkdevices, of separate and different networks into one network

Storage Virtualization - is the process of pooling together of Storage Virtualization - is the process of pooling together of resources of many different network storage devices such as hard resources of many different network storage devices such as hard drives to create what looks like one big storage managed from a drives to create what looks like one big storage managed from a single consolesingle console

Application Virtualization – the process of allowing the bytecode of Application Virtualization – the process of allowing the bytecode of an application package to be portably run on many different an application package to be portably run on many different computer architectures and operating systems through the use of computer architectures and operating systems through the use of running an interpreter or just-in-time compilation of the application running an interpreter or just-in-time compilation of the application before it runs on the computer architecture of choice. An example of before it runs on the computer architecture of choice. An example of this is the Java Machine Virtualization. this is the Java Machine Virtualization.



Virtual RealityVirtual Reality

VR – is a stimulation of a real or imaginary VR – is a stimulation of a real or imaginary phenomena in three-dimensional environmentsphenomena in three-dimensional environmentsIs revolutionalizing the study of scienceIs revolutionalizing the study of scienceEthics in Virtual Reality:Ethics in Virtual Reality:

Lack of being in controlLack of being in controlSafety and security of usersSafety and security of usersHuman-agent interactions Human-agent interactions Intentions of the actor Intentions of the actor Accountability of the actorAccountability of the actorResponsibility of the actorResponsibility of the actorPsychological effects on the actor and commnityPsychological effects on the actor and commnity

Social and Ethical Implications Social and Ethical Implications of Virtualizationof Virtualization

One of the anticipated good of virtualization to society is to extend One of the anticipated good of virtualization to society is to extend known and relatively managed humanity’s social spheres and social known and relatively managed humanity’s social spheres and social networks in an unprecedented way through opening up of virtual networks in an unprecedented way through opening up of virtual domains of social interactions, many with a degree of managed domains of social interactions, many with a degree of managed control.control.

Another good social aspect of virtualization is to avail tools for Another good social aspect of virtualization is to avail tools for society to create new virtual social networks out of the old and society to create new virtual social networks out of the old and dismantle old social ones. dismantle old social ones.

In addition, virtualization is bringing about easy creation of new In addition, virtualization is bringing about easy creation of new human identities in the new virtual environmentshuman identities in the new virtual environments– This makes authentication more difficult but at the same time creating This makes authentication more difficult but at the same time creating

unprecedented potential in self-creation and self-presentation. This may bring new unprecedented potential in self-creation and self-presentation. This may bring new opportunities to humanity.opportunities to humanity.

– virtualization, in principle, has the potentiality of either erasing or virtualization, in principle, has the potentiality of either erasing or heightening or situated presence in the world. heightening or situated presence in the world.


Virtualization on the flip side, may create mayhem to the social Virtualization on the flip side, may create mayhem to the social infrastructure as we know it today, just because individual can infrastructure as we know it today, just because individual can literally decide to be who they wish to be with ease. literally decide to be who they wish to be with ease.

True virtualization requires an absence of reality. This may lead to:True virtualization requires an absence of reality. This may lead to:– Lack of consciousness in individuals and groups, Lack of consciousness in individuals and groups,

– Lack of accountability as individuals and groups are shielded from real Lack of accountability as individuals and groups are shielded from real

consequences consequences of their actions. of their actions.

Without a situated and embodied sense of individual or Without a situated and embodied sense of individual or group responsibility, there are likely to be no group responsibility, there are likely to be no commitment and no riskcommitment and no risk

In such In such an environment, therefore, moral engagement is limited an environment, therefore, moral engagement is limited and human relations become trivializedand human relations become trivialized

This may lead to society not benefiting from virtualizationThis may lead to society not benefiting from virtualization..


Virtualization Security as an Virtualization Security as an Ethical ImperativeEthical Imperative

Perhaps the greatest threat presented by virtualization to Perhaps the greatest threat presented by virtualization to computer networks is the fact that using one physical computer networks is the fact that using one physical computer, one can access many virtual infrastructure, a computer, one can access many virtual infrastructure, a feat that not so feasible in the physical networks. feat that not so feasible in the physical networks. Virtualization security should include:Virtualization security should include:– Hypervisor securityHypervisor security– Securing Communications Between Desktop and Securing Communications Between Desktop and

Virtual InfrastructureVirtual Infrastructure– Security of Communication Between Virtual Machines Security of Communication Between Virtual Machines – Threats and Vulnerabilities Originating from a VMThreats and Vulnerabilities Originating from a VM


The ethical approach entails us to making sure we devote our best The ethical approach entails us to making sure we devote our best and most thorough thinking to every weak spot in our interaction and most thorough thinking to every weak spot in our interaction with the world. with the world.

Virtualization, in all its forms, is a process and a technology that is Virtualization, in all its forms, is a process and a technology that is bound to complicate and transform the social fabric of society. bound to complicate and transform the social fabric of society.

It is not only ethical but imperative that we deal with all its ethical It is not only ethical but imperative that we deal with all its ethical and security loopholes through which both intentional and and security loopholes through which both intentional and unintentional exploitations of the technologies can take place, and unintentional exploitations of the technologies can take place, and these exploitations are bound to have far-reaching consequences these exploitations are bound to have far-reaching consequences for humanity.for humanity.


Documents

Ethical and Social...J.M.Kizza 1 Module 11: New Frontiers for Computer Ethics: Virtualization and Virtual Reality Virtualization History of Virtualization