Definition of the word virtual machine

The term "virtual machine" originated in the late 1960s, during the rapidly evolving era of computing when mainframe computers dominated the industry. Unlike today's personal computers or servers, mainframes could run multiple users simultaneously, but each user required their own dedicated hardware resources, such as CPU, memory, and input/output devices. To increase efficiency, IBM introduced a concept called virtualization, allowing multiple users to share the same physical resources. Virtualization software created logical partitions, known as virtual machines (VMs), inside the mainframe, each with its own operating system and applications as if it were a separate physical machine. The concept of virtual machines evolved to accommodate the emergence of smaller, more capable microprocessors that enabled the creation of smaller, less expensive computers to replace mainframes. Virtualization technology allowed multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical computer. This innovation offered several benefits, including reduced hardware costs, increased resource utilization, and improved system reliability through easier replication and backup. Today, VM technology is prevalent in data centers and cloud computing environments, helping organizations to achieve optimal resource utilization, flexibility, and agility. Virtual machines run as guests on a host computer, enabling efficient management of multiple operating systems and applications on a single physical machine, making virtualization a critical component of modern IT infrastructure.