Virtual Machine

Definition

A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based emulation of a physical computer that runs an operating system and applications just like a physical machine. VMs allow multiple operating systems to run on a single physical hardware platform, enabling efficient resource utilization and isolation. This technology is fundamental in cloud computing and infrastructure as code, where environments can be created, modified, and destroyed on demand without the need for physical hardware.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Virtual machines provide isolation between different environments, making it easier to test applications without affecting other systems.
2. Each VM operates with its own operating system, which can be different from the host machine’s OS, allowing for versatility in development and testing.
3. Virtual machines can be quickly created or deleted, providing scalability and flexibility in managing resources.
4. VMs support snapshots, which capture the state of a virtual machine at a specific point in time, allowing for easy rollback in case of issues.
5. The use of VMs helps in optimizing hardware usage by allowing multiple instances to run on a single physical server, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

Review Questions

• How do virtual machines enhance resource utilization compared to traditional physical servers?
  • Virtual machines enhance resource utilization by allowing multiple VMs to run on a single physical server. Each VM shares the underlying hardware resources while remaining isolated from one another. This means organizations can maximize their hardware investment by running different applications or environments concurrently, which leads to improved efficiency and reduced costs.
• In what ways do hypervisors play a critical role in the operation and management of virtual machines?
  • Hypervisors are essential for creating and managing virtual machines as they serve as the interface between the VMs and the physical hardware. They allocate resources such as CPU, memory, and storage to each VM while ensuring that they operate independently without interference. Additionally, hypervisors provide features like VM migration, load balancing, and snapshots, which enhance flexibility and management capabilities.
• Evaluate the impact of using virtual machines on software development and deployment processes in modern IT environments.
  • The use of virtual machines significantly impacts software development and deployment by enabling rapid prototyping, testing, and scalability. Developers can create isolated environments tailored for specific applications without worrying about compatibility issues with other systems. Furthermore, VMs facilitate continuous integration and deployment practices by providing consistent environments that mirror production settings. This streamlines the development cycle and enhances collaboration among teams by reducing deployment errors and increasing reliability.

Related terms

Hypervisor: A hypervisor is a software layer that enables the creation, management, and execution of virtual machines by managing the underlying hardware resources.

Containerization: Containerization is a lightweight form of virtualization that allows applications to run in isolated environments known as containers, which share the host operating system kernel.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Infrastructure as Code is a practice in DevOps that allows the management and provisioning of computing infrastructure through machine-readable definition files, rather than physical hardware configuration.