Supportsoft Glossary

Virtual Machine: Emulating Computer Systems

A Virtual Machine is a digital file that behaves like a physical computer, allowing you to run multiple operating systems on a single piece of hardware.

A Virtual Machine (VM) is basically the "Inception" of computing—a computer running inside another computer. Using software called a hypervisor, you can slice one big physical server into ten distinct "virtual" servers. Each VM has its own OS, memory, and storage, and thinks it’s an independent machine.

You could run Linux, Windows, and an old Windows 98 VM all on the same Mac at the same time. This tech is the bedrock of the cloud. When you "rent a server" from AWS, you aren't usually getting a metal box; you get a VM on a massive server farm. VMs provide safety. If one VM gets a virus, the others stay safe. They are also portable; you can copy a VM file and move it easily. While newer tech like containers is popular, VMs remain essential for heavy isolation. Our Cloud Development Services help you find the right mix of virtualization to maximize your hardware.