Virtual Machines

Definition

Virtual machines (VMs) are software-based emulations of physical computers that run an operating system and applications just like a physical machine. They allow multiple operating systems to run on a single physical hardware platform, enabling efficient resource utilization, isolation, and flexibility in managing applications and workloads.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Virtual machines provide hardware independence, allowing them to run on different underlying physical hardware without needing to change the guest operating system.
2. Each virtual machine operates in its own isolated environment, which means that issues or crashes in one VM do not affect others running on the same host.
3. VMs can be easily created, modified, cloned, and deleted, making them highly flexible for development and testing purposes.
4. The use of VMs can lead to improved disaster recovery solutions since entire virtual machines can be backed up and restored quickly.
5. Resource allocation for VMs can be dynamically adjusted based on current needs, allowing for efficient usage of available hardware resources.

Review Questions

• How do virtual machines enhance resource utilization on a single physical server?
  • Virtual machines enhance resource utilization by allowing multiple operating systems and applications to run simultaneously on a single physical server. This consolidation reduces the need for additional hardware, lowers costs, and maximizes the use of CPU, memory, and storage resources. Each VM can operate independently and utilize the physical resources as needed, making it a flexible solution for running diverse workloads.
• Discuss the role of hypervisors in the management of virtual machines and their importance in network virtualization.
  • Hypervisors are crucial for creating and managing virtual machines by providing an abstraction layer between the hardware and the VMs. They allocate resources such as CPU time, memory, and storage to each VM while ensuring they operate in isolation from one another. In network virtualization, hypervisors enable dynamic allocation and management of networking resources for each VM, facilitating better scalability and flexibility in network architectures.
• Evaluate the impact of virtual machines on modern cloud computing infrastructures and their advantages over traditional computing methods.
  • Virtual machines have significantly transformed modern cloud computing infrastructures by providing scalable and flexible environments for deploying applications. Unlike traditional computing methods that rely on dedicated hardware for each application, VMs allow for efficient resource sharing and rapid provisioning of services. This virtualization leads to lower operational costs, easier management of resources, enhanced disaster recovery options, and the ability to quickly adapt to changing business needs. Overall, VMs empower organizations to leverage cloud resources more effectively while maintaining high availability and performance.

Related terms

Hypervisor: A hypervisor is software that creates and manages virtual machines, allowing multiple VMs to run on a single physical host by allocating resources and ensuring isolation between them.

Containerization: Containerization is a lightweight alternative to virtualization that allows applications to run in isolated environments (containers) on the same operating system, sharing the same kernel but maintaining separation.

Cloud Computing: Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services over the internet, enabling on-demand access to resources such as virtual machines, storage, and applications without direct management by the user.