Virtualization : Servers, VMs, and Hypervisors
Virtualization Fundamentals: Servers, VMs, and Hypervisors
An extensive comparison between a physical server, also known as a bare-metal server, and a Virtual Machine (VM), which is a software emulation of a physical machine. A physical server is single-tenant and utilizes dedicated hardware resources, while a VM is a file that runs on a piece of software called a hypervisor. The hypervisor acts as a virtual machine manager that allocates physical resources and enables multiple VMs to run concurrently. The document distinguishes between two types of hypervisors: Type 1, or "bare metal," which runs directly on the hardware, and Type 2, which runs on top of an existing operating system. Finally, the text outlines the numerous benefits of using VMs, such as increased deployment flexibility, high availability, and reduced need for physical equipment.