Virtual Machine Software for Beginners

Virtually Speaking, Your Guide to Virtual Machines

Explaining the technical aspects of complicated software to new users can be a daunting task. We will do our best in this article to tone down the techno-babble and still give a basic understanding while providing links for those of you who may want to delve into the subject with more specificity.
Throughout these articles we will be using the terms Host and Target. Host refers to the Actual Machine and Operating System we are running the VM software on. Target refers to the machine being emulated.

The Topic: Virtual Machines
Most computer users have never heard the term virtual machine and when they do, visions of the "Lawnmower Man" or "The Matrix" flash before their eyes. That perception is only slightly off track. Virtual Machines(VM's) have little in common with Virtual Reality(VR). What they share with VR is that they simulate. Virtual Reality is a simulation of reality, Virtual Machines are a simulation of a particular machine, in most cases the machine you will be simulating/emulating is a standard PC, however they can be used to simulate a host of other computer hardware based on a wide array of target processor architectures.

"Why would I want to simulate a PC when I already have a PC?" I hear from the back row. Excellent Question.

Common uses of VMs:
To test out new Operating Systems. Operating Systems, such that new Linux thingy we keep hearing so much about or even running Windows on a Mac or Linux machine.

To test or run applications designed for other hardware. For example running applications written for a phone or embedded system.

To test out unknown applications that may cause damage to your operating system's stability. Programmers will often use this technique to discover bugs in an application that could bring the whole system down, without um, bringing the whole system down.

To separate the execution of a known program from interfering with the Operating System. For example, In a Corporate environment, it is always best to keep a web server as far removed from the rest of the Server OS as possible.