Virtual Machine (VM)
A software emulation of a physical computer that runs an operating system and applications.
Detailed Explanation
A virtual machine creates an isolated computing environment on physical hardware, allowing multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a single physical machine. VMs are managed by hypervisors that allocate resources and provide isolation between instances. They enable efficient hardware utilization, easier testing and development, and simplified disaster recovery.
Examples
- VMware
- VirtualBox
- AWS EC2
Common Use Cases
Server consolidation
Testing environments
Cloud computing
Related Terms
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