VMs
A virtual machine (VM) is a software-emulated computer system that runs programs like a physical machine. VMs execute on physical hardware through a layer called a hypervisor, which abstracts and allocates processor, memory, storage, and I/O resources. A VM runs a complete guest operating system, which is separate from the host system.
There are two broad VM categories: system virtual machines and process virtual machines. System VMs emulate
Hypervisors manage VMs. Type 1 hypervisors run directly on the host’s hardware and typically provide high performance
Benefits include isolation, easier testing and development across different OSes, and improved resource utilization through consolidation.
Performance and security considerations include virtualization overhead, the need for compatible hardware features (such as Intel
VMs are widely used in server consolidation, cloud computing, testing, education, and legacy software support. The