Skip to main content

Reduce administrative burden with virtualization

Virtualization offers a transformative approach to laboratory operations—offering a host of advantages that reduce IT expenses and enhance productivity. By simulating physical resources and creating virtual instances, OpenLab CDS enables enhanced flexibility, scalability, and efficiency for laboratory workflows.

Get started with OpenLab


Benefits of virtualization

  • Lab efficiency
    Virtualization frees up valuable bench space in the lab and streamlines the maintenance of lab computer resources.

  • Easily scalable
    Make expanding your laboratory easier through virtualization. Avoid unnecessary procurement steps when new instruments are added to the lab. Instead of purchasing/installing physical PCs, virtual machines can be rapidly deployed.

  • Stronger security
    Integrate virtualized OpenLab servers in company data centers or private clouds where they can be more easily backed up, monitored, and protected from security threats.

  • Cost savings
    In addition to uptime and IT cost savings, laboratories can also achieve significant savings by enhancing their quality control processes through virtualization.


Virtualization basics

What does virtualization mean?

Virtualization transforms physical devices into software-based “virtual machines” (VMs) that perform the functions of the physical device.

What can be virtualized?

A wide range of lab resources, including workstations, clients, servers, and storage systems.

What is the difference between virtualization and cloud?

Virtualization is a technique for creating virtual resources, while the cloud is a service that allows you to deliver and share virtualized resources on demand. Learn about our cloud-based storage options.


How virtualization works: Overview

The move to networked OpenLab CDS configurations can improve your overall lab operations through centralization. Instead of having to manage user and instrument setups across individual workstations, you can do it all system-wide from a single location.

Only clients are virtualized
All CDS components are virtualized

Virtualization with OpenLab software





Designed with virtualization in mind, OpenLab CDS Client/Server has a modular software architecture that provides labs with a range of supported virtualization technologies and deployment models. This enables our customers to choose what’s best for their lab needs and gives technical flexibility to IT resources that deploy and maintain the virtualized chromatography software.


Considerations of virtualization




For the lab

  • Number of computers in the lab: As the number and diversity of computers in the lab proliferates, virtualization provides an option to free bench space as analysts simply use a virtual machine window on their own laptops.

  • Laboratory IT costs: As multiple operating systems and applications run on a single host server, virtualization reduces the IT costs versus deploying and managing multiple physical machines and their software.

  • Disaster recovery plan: With virtualization of lab computers, all machines can be easily backed up centrally by IT.




For IT

  • Remote accessibility: Virtualization could make it easier to grant remote access to lab personnel while maintaining a high level of security.

  • Virtualization software expertise and infrastructure: Virtualizing lab resources could support or add value to a company-wide virtualization initiative.

  • Security management: Virtualization may allow you to leverage existing processes for deployment of security updates and patches in the lab.


Ready to get started?

Agilent has considerable experience helping clients migrate to a virtualized chromatography system. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements and goals.

Contact us