Virtual Machines

Definition

A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based emulation of a physical computer that runs an operating system and applications just like a real computer. VMs are important in cloud computing because they allow multiple operating systems to run on a single physical server, maximizing resource utilization and providing flexibility to scale resources up or down based on demand.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Virtual machines provide the ability to quickly deploy and tear down environments, which is essential for development, testing, and production use in cloud environments.
2. Each VM operates with its own virtual hardware, which includes CPU, memory, storage, and network interfaces, allowing for a high degree of customization and isolation.
3. Virtual machines can be moved between physical hosts seamlessly through live migration, enabling better resource allocation and reducing downtime during maintenance.
4. VMs can be configured to automatically scale based on load, ensuring optimal performance during peak usage times while minimizing costs during low usage periods.
5. Snapshots of virtual machines can be created at any point in time, allowing for easy backups and quick recovery in case of failures or other issues.

Review Questions

• How do virtual machines contribute to scalability and elasticity in cloud computing?
  • Virtual machines significantly enhance scalability and elasticity by allowing organizations to quickly provision additional instances as demand increases. When workloads spike, new VMs can be created rapidly without needing physical hardware installation. This flexibility ensures that resources can be adjusted in real time to match usage patterns, thus optimizing performance and cost-efficiency.
• Discuss the advantages of using virtual machines over traditional physical servers in cloud environments.
  • Using virtual machines instead of traditional physical servers offers several advantages including improved resource utilization, cost savings, and enhanced flexibility. VMs allow multiple operating systems to run on a single physical server, reducing hardware costs and simplifying management. Additionally, VMs enable quick deployment of applications and services, making it easier for organizations to adapt to changing needs without significant infrastructure changes.
• Evaluate the role of hypervisors in managing virtual machines and their impact on overall cloud infrastructure efficiency.
  • Hypervisors play a crucial role in managing virtual machines by allocating resources from the underlying physical hardware while ensuring that each VM operates independently. This management layer enhances overall cloud infrastructure efficiency by maximizing resource utilization and providing isolation between VMs. As a result, organizations can run multiple workloads on fewer physical servers, reducing energy costs and improving system performance while maintaining security through isolation.

Related terms

Hypervisor: A hypervisor is a software layer that enables multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical machine, managing the hardware resources and ensuring isolation between VMs.

Cloud Computing: Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services—such as storage, processing power, and applications—over the internet, allowing for on-demand access to resources without direct management by users.

Containerization:

Containerization is a lightweight form of virtualization that allows applications to run in isolated environments called containers, sharing the same operating system kernel while being more efficient than traditional VMs.