A virtual machine (VM) is a software emulation of a physical computer. You can create several VMs on one computer that will use its computing resources (processor, adapter, etc.), but work in isolation and independently of each other. Virtual machines are actively used in cloud computing and data centers.
Types of hypervisors for VM deployment
The VM is deployed using a hypervisor, which allocates the resources of the host machine for each virtual machine. There are two types of hypervisors.
Hypervisors of the first type. They work directly on the host hardware, they are often used in enterprises. Examples include Microsoft’s Hyper-V and VMware’s ESXi.
Hypervisors of the second type. They work under the control of the host operating system and are often used for personal purposes or for development. Examples: VMware Workstation and VirtualBox from Oracle.
Advantages of virtual machines
Effectiveness. VMs allow better use of hardware resources, since several virtual machines can run on the same physical one.
Flexibility. VMs can be easily created, modified, and deleted depending on business needs.
Isolation. VMs are isolated from each other, which increases information security and minimizes the number of threats and vulnerabilities.
Ease of management. Virtual machines are easy to manage. You can create or delete a VM with a few clicks in a special panel.