What is Virtualization?

Virtualization technically means creating something (a machine) which is not physical using the physical resources like Memory, CPU, Storage etc.

Confused!!!

Ok let me take an example and explain clearly....

Just think you have ordered a computer (or server) with the below basic configuration (or resources)

• Quad core processor (4 cores).

•  8 GB Memory.

• 1 TB Hard disk. 

How many computers (machines with different Operating Systems and applications) do you think can you run simultaneously out of the above configuration?

Do you think it is only one?

No, I can promise you that you can run more than one (with some conditions though).

Yeah, seriously you can run and access N number of machines at the same time (N depends on some conditions, I will discuss those later).

How?

You know? Each core in your Quad core CPU works as a separate CPU, which means you have 4 CPUs in your computer, 8 GB memory can be used by segregating it as powers of 2 like 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB and 8 GB and storage can also be segregated accordingly (any size depending on usage).

So, For example I can create 4 computers with 1 core (virtually a CPU), 2 GB RAM and 200 GB Hard disk each.

These 4 computers are called Virtual Computers (Virtual Machines or VMs in vmware) running simultaneously on your single physical Computer (machine).

Still confused????

Ok lets get into more details using figures....Virtualization Explained...