Platform virtualization allows you to create virtual machines that behave like physical computers, enabling you to install multiple operating systems and programs on a single machine at once. It uses hypervisor software to emulate hardware and allocate resources to guest systems, while the actual hardware resources belong to the host system. Popular virtualization platforms include Xen, Microsoft Virtual PC, Qemu, VirtualBox, and VMWare, and virtualization provides benefits like safe testing of new software and running multiple systems simultaneously on a single server.

1. Platform Virtualization

2. Lets you to create an emulated environment, called a Virtual Machine (VM) that behaves exactly like a normal PC. You can: Install another operating system Install new programs Access the network Use hardware resources Several virtual machines can run on the same physical machine!

3. You need a specific software to create and use VMs. Generally this software is called “the Hypervisor”. Some names: The system that runs on the physical machine is called HOST The system that runs inside the virtual machine is called GUEST The Hypervisor must virtualize hardware resources of the host to make them usable by the guest. Cpu Network Sound …

4. Xen Microsoft Virtual PC Qemu VirtualBox VMWare Here there are some virtualization software: Parallels

5. Four different Linux distributions made running with Xen

6. Advantages of virtualization: You can test new operating systems and/or software without altering your current system, in a safe, separated machine You can run different operating systems at the same time, on the same computer On servers, it allows you to provide very different services with a single machine and save money If you haven’t tried it yet, now it’s your turn!