Overview
A Virtual Machine (VM) is a compute resource that uses software instead of a physical computer to run programs and deploy apps. One or more virtual 'guest' machines run on a physical 'host' machine. Each virtual machine runs its own operating system and functions separately from the other VMs, even when they are all running on the same host.
Key Concepts
- Host Machine: The underlying physical hardware that provides resources (CPU, memory, storage) to the VMs.
- Guest Machine: The virtual machine itself, running its own OS and applications.
- Isolation: Each VM is isolated from others, providing security and stability.
- Portability: VMs can be easily moved between different physical hosts.
Benefits
- Cost Savings: Multiple VMs can run on a single physical server, reducing hardware costs.
- Scalability: VMs can be quickly provisioned or decommissioned as needed.
- Disaster Recovery: VMs can be backed up and restored easily.