A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based emulation of a physical computer. It runs an operating system and applications just like a real computer, but is hosted on a physical server. Virtual machines are created and managed through a hypervisor, which allocates physical resources like CPU, memory, and storage to each VM.
VMs are commonly used for testing and development, running legacy applications, or consolidating multiple workloads onto fewer physical machines. They offer flexibility, isolation, and cost savings since multiple VMs can run on a single physical host.
One of the key advantages of VMs is their portability. They can be easily moved, cloned, or backed up, facilitating disaster recovery and efficient infrastructure management. VMs also provide security benefits through isolation, as one VM cannot directly interfere with another.
However, VMs also introduce some overhead, as the hypervisor must manage the interaction between virtual and physical resources. As a result, some performance degradation may occur compared to bare-metal environments.
Virtual machines continue to play a vital role in modern data centers and cloud environments, providing a foundation for scalable and resilient IT systems.
