ExpertGlossary

• A computer within a computer, implemented in software. A virtual machine emulates a complete hardware system, from processor to network card, in a self-contained, isolated software environment, enabling the simultaneous operation of otherwise incompatible operating systems. Each operating system runs in its own isolated software partition.
  Microsoft - Cite This Source - This Definition
• a partitioned, isolated, and encapsulated abstraction of physical hardware to present a consistent, logical image of hardware resources (processor, memory, disk, network) to a hosted operating system to enable server virtualization.
  Versatile Systems - Cite This Source - This Definition
• An empty, isolated, virtual environment, lying on top of a host OS, equipped with virtual hardware (processor, memory, disks, network interfaces, etc.) and managed by a virtualization product. It's where the guest OS is installed.
  virtualization.info - Cite This Source - This Definition
• A representation of a real machine using software that provides an operating environment which can run or host a guest operating system.
  VMware - Cite This Source - This Definition
• A virtualized x86 PC environment in which a guest operating system and associated application software can run. Multiple virtual machines can operate on the same host system concurrently.
  VMware - Cite This Source - This Definition
• The environment in which a hosted operating system runs, providing the abstraction of a dedicated machine. A virtual machine may be identical to the underlying hardware (as in full virtualisation, or it may differ, as in paravirtualisation.
  Xen.org - Cite This Source - This Definition
• Browse Related Terms: bare-metal, dom0, emulation, full virtualization, guest operating system, host OS (Operating System), hosted environment, Hosted Virtualization, operating system virtualization, partitioned, server virtualization, virtualization

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