Virtualization is the process of creating a virtual version of a computing resource, such as a server, an operating system, or a storage device. It involves using software to emulate the functionality of these resources, allowing multiple virtual versions to run on a single physical device. 

Virtualization has become increasingly popular in recent years, as it allows businesses to more efficiently utilize their resources and reduce costs. For example, rather than purchasing and maintaining multiple physical servers, a company can use virtualization to create virtual servers on a single physical device. This can save money on hardware, power, and maintenance costs. 

Virtualization can also be used to create virtual environments for testing and development purposes. This allows developers to test new software or configurations without affecting the live production environment. 

There are several different types of virtualization, including: 

• Server virtualization: This involves creating virtual versions of servers, which can be used to host applications and services. 
• Desktop virtualization: This involves creating virtual versions of desktop environments, allowing users to access their desktops from any device. 
• Network virtualization: This involves creating virtual versions of network resources, such as switches and routers. 
• Storage virtualization: This involves creating virtual versions of storage devices, allowing multiple virtual devices to share a single physical device. 

Overall, virtualization can provide numerous benefits to businesses, including cost savings, improved resource utilization, and increased flexibility. It has become an essential tool for many organizations, and its use is likely to continue growing in the future. 

What is a virtual machine?

A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based emulation of a computer system. It allows a single physical device, such as a server or desktop computer, to host multiple virtual environments, each with its own operating system and applications. 

Virtual machines are often used in situations where it is necessary to run multiple operating systems or applications on a single device. For example, a developer may use a virtual machine to test software on multiple operating systems without the need for multiple physical devices. 

There are several benefits to using virtual machines. One of the main advantages is the ability to run multiple operating systems on a single device. This can be useful for testing and development purposes, as it allows users to easily switch between different environments. 

Virtual machines also offer improved security and isolation. Since each virtual machine operates independently, the failure of one VM does not affect the others. This can be particularly useful in business environments, where multiple virtual machines can be used to host different applications or services. 

In addition, virtual machines can be easily created, configured, and deleted, making them a flexible and cost-effective solution for businesses. They can also be easily migrated to other physical devices, allowing businesses to easily scale their computing resources as needed. 

Below are some examples of virtual machines: 

There are many notable examples of virtual machine software, including: 

1. VMware: This is a popular virtual machine software that is widely used in enterprise environments. It supports a variety of operating systems and allows users to easily create and manage virtual machines. 

2. VirtualBox: This is a free and open-source virtual machine software that is popular among developers and IT professionals. It supports a wide range of operating systems and allows users to easily create and manage virtual machines. 

3. Hyper-V: This is a virtual machine software that is included with the Windows operating system. It allows users to create and manage virtual machines and supports a variety of operating systems. 

4. KVM: This is an open-source virtual machine software that is commonly used on Linux systems. It allows users to create and manage virtual machines and supports a variety of operating systems. 

5. Xen: This is an open-source virtual machine software that is commonly used on Linux systems. It allows users to create and manage virtual machines and supports a variety of operating systems. 

These are just a few examples of virtual machine software. There are many other options available, each with its own unique features and capabilities. 

Overall, virtual machines are a powerful tool that can be used in a variety of settings to improve efficiency, security, and flexibility. They have become an essential part of many businesses and organizations, and their use is likely to continue growing in the future. 

To the final bit; what is a hypervisor?

A hypervisor, also known as a virtual machine manager (VMM), is a piece of software that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical device. It creates and manages virtual machines, each of which can run its own operating system and applications. 

Hypervisors are often used in situations where it is necessary to run multiple operating systems on a single device. For example, a developer may use a hypervisor to test software on multiple operating systems without the need for multiple physical devices. 

There are two main types of hypervisors: Type 1 and Type 2. 

1. Type 1 hypervisors, also known as native or bare-metal hypervisors, run directly on the host’s hardware and manage the virtual machines. These hypervisors are often used in enterprise environments, as they offer improved performance and security. Examples of Type 1 hypervisors include VMware ESXi and Microsoft Hyper-V. 
    

2. Type 2 hypervisors, also known as hosted hypervisors, run on top of a host operating system and manage the virtual machines. These hypervisors are often easier to install and use, but may not offer the same performance and security as Type 1 hypervisors. Examples of Type 2 hypervisors include VMware Workstation and Oracle VirtualBox. 

Hypervisors are useful for a variety of purposes, including testing and development, consolidation of servers, and running multiple applications on a single device. They have become an essential tool for many businesses and organizations, and their use is likely to continue growing in the future. 
I’m sure hypervisor and virtual machine might look like they are the same but they are quite different. 

What are the differences between virtual machines and hypervisors?

A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based emulation of a computer system, while a hypervisor, also known as a virtual machine manager (VMM), is a piece of software that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical device. 

A virtual machine is created and managed by a hypervisor. The hypervisor acts as the intermediary between the physical hardware and the virtual machine, allowing the virtual machine to access the resources of the physical device. 

One key difference between a virtual machine and a hypervisor is their level of abstraction. A virtual machine is a complete emulation of a computer system, including the operating system and applications. A hypervisor, on the other hand, is a layer of software that sits between the physical hardware and the virtual machines, providing the necessary resources and functionality for the virtual machines to operate. 

Another difference is the type of hypervisor used. There are two main types of hypervisors: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 hypervisors, also known as native or bare-metal hypervisors, run directly on the host’s hardware and manage the virtual machines. Type 2 hypervisors, also known as hosted hypervisors, run on top of a host operating system and manage the virtual machines. 

In summary, a virtual machine is a software-based emulation of a computer system that runs on top of a hypervisor, while a hypervisor is a piece of software that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical device. 

Now let’s look at a real-life example to get a full grasp of this topic. 

Suppose there’s a young lady called Prisca who owns a windows computer, what makes up her computer system is hardware, CPU, RAM, storage devices, and on top of that, she has got her windows OS and she also has applications on top of that. Now Prisca needs to perform tasks with a Linux OS. Ideally, she would need a new computer system with hardware and all the other bits then she would need Linux and then whatever application she needs. And that’s like splashing money to buy this new computer to run her Linux OS in an ideal situation. But with virtualization now, Prisca doesn’t need a new computer system because virtualization allows her to have this Linux OS on her original windows machine. Virtualization is not limited to only Windows OS and Linux, with Virtualization, You can have Windows on Mac. Linux on Mac e.t.c. To make this combination achievable for Prisca, she needs a hypervisor like VirtualBox. But, there are other hypervisors out there like VMware Workstation QEMU e.t.c. Oracle VirtualBox is the preferred hypervisor because it works for all operating systems compared to VMware workstations that are only compatible with windows and Linux. Furthermore, Oracle VirtualBox is free and open source. A hypervisor would need to communicate with the original OS or Host OS and request for hardware resources to be used and with that, there is a virtual CPU, Virtual RAM, and Virtual storage. and with virtualization, you share your resources with this new OS. Now with the aid of virtualization, Prisca has access to a new operating system in a very cost-effective way and there is no need to splash out cash for a new computer system. 

Since we would be learning about cybersecurity and penetration testing, we would be needing an OS called Kali Linux. Check out this POST to understand more about Kali Linux. The video below also shows you how to install a virtual machine on your computer system. Kindly watch, share, and subscribe.