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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