Here's a possible advantage: you have your site, some php code, mysql, apache, a ton of data, maybe more stuff on disk. Your hosting service jacks its prices, or announces it's shutting down.
Right now, to move to a new host, you need to handle a number doable but annoying steps. Imagine tho that you could just download "The Site". Web server, blog app, database, everything. Including the OS. All as one (albeit large) file.
And then just upload it to a new host, where it Just Works. No reconfig because you're on a newer os or have to use a dfferent version of mysql. All of that is bundled up for you.
This is what virtualization (i.e. cloud computing) can buy you. And an open standard for infrastructure can make it easier to move your virtual system to other hosts.
Right now, to move to a new host, you need to handle a number doable but annoying steps. Imagine tho that you could just download "The Site". Web server, blog app, database, everything. Including the OS. All as one (albeit large) file.
And then just upload it to a new host, where it Just Works. No reconfig because you're on a newer os or have to use a dfferent version of mysql. All of that is bundled up for you.
This is what virtualization (i.e. cloud computing) can buy you. And an open standard for infrastructure can make it easier to move your virtual system to other hosts.