Virtualization technology enables the creation of multiple virtual environments, known as Virtual Machines (VMs), within a single physical computer. VMs function independently of each other, allowing users to run various operating systems and applications in a single hardware platform.
A virtual machine (VM) is a virtual environment that emulates a physical computer, allowing you to run an operating system and applications separately from the underlying hardware. VMs allow for efficient utilization of computer resources, as they enable multiple instances of a system to run on the same physical machine.
A hypervisor, also known as a virtual machine monitor (VMM), is the software responsible for creating, managing, and monitoring the virtual environments on a host machine. There are two types of hypervisors:
The guest operating system, or guest OS, is the operating system installed on a virtual machine. Since VMs are independent of each other, you can run different operating systems and applications on each one without any conflicts.
Virtual hardware refers to the resources allocated to a virtual machine, such as CPU, RAM, storage, and networking. Virtual hardware is managed by the hypervisor and ensures that each VM has access to a required set of resources without interfering with other VMs on the host machine.
There is a wide range of virtualization software available, including:
In conclusion, virtual machines play a critical role in modern computing, providing a flexible and efficient method to optimize computing resources, isolate applications, and enhance security. Understanding VMs and virtualization technology is an essential part of any comprehensive cybersecurity guide.