Virtual Machines

  • The process of creating and running a virtual machine is known as virtualisation
    • The computer that run the VM is known as the host
    • The virtualised system is known as a guest
      • g. a guest operating system and host operating system
    • Virtualisation software, known as a hypervisor (or emulator), creates a virtual implementation of the guest system on the host computer
      • Providing the host with the functions and programs of the guest
      • The emulator translates the instructions of the guest computer so that the host computer can understand them.
    • Virtual Machine software must:
      • Create the virtual machine
      • Delete the virtual machine
      • Existing hardware made available to guest OS
      • Hardware emulation
        • Making the guest OS believe certain hardware is there, or, provide translation from that hardware to the actual physical hardware
      • Ensure each virtual machine is protected from the actions of another virtual machine
  • VMs in Programming
    • Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
    • Command Language Runtime (CLR)