Virtual Machines

Virtual machines is a software that can run programs and start applications. They are similar to a sandbox environment.  Sandbox, is a simulation of a program that is used in a contained environment. For example, if a developer decides to test out how an app reacts to windows OS, while using a macOs desktop, then installing a virtual machine with windows in their macOs desktop would be ideal. From there, the developer will test how this app acts in their virtual machine or they use the sandbox. Although they are not the same, it is similar to that. Virtual machines are most commonly used to update configurations of a certain network or device for a specific computer function. Instead of having multiple computers with different functions, the admin only needs one computer with access to another computer. As according to How Cybersecurity really works, a virtual machine is “an environment that is isolated from the rest of the physical computer” (How Cybersecurity Really Works, 2021). Each virtual machine has an isolated functionality which makes system configurations easier to manage in a scalable level. A switch in a network has a virtual machine on its own with configurations that can updateable. On top of that, for security purposes, it has its own endpoint which can make most breaches more controllable. Most virtual machines act as the second computer. From the start, most users have a main source of computer. From there, the user determines where it needs to connect. For example, if the user needs to access and try how macOs works while using a windows OS desktop, user will create a macOs virtual machine that it can connect to, to understand the basis of mac without buying a mac computer.

There are many virtual machines vendors out there, but the software I have used are ScreenConnect, VirtualBox, VMware, Azure Virtual Machine and Parallel desktop. I have used all of them and have truly enjoyed their user-friendly interface and flawless connection. Parallel was by far the best with less lag times. Some of the following vendors have different types of hypervisors. A hypervisor is “A program used to run and manage one or more virtual machines on a computer” (Dictionary, 2023). Most virtual machines that the public use are type 2 hypervisors. These hypervisors are basically a software that is installed to create another form of OS (common virtual machines we use). On the other hand, type 1 has direct access to the actual hardware. Meaning these devices do not have a OS installed, the machine itself is already in physical hardware. Many users do not use the type 1 but companies or organizations most likely will.

Type 1 vs Type 2 Hypervisor Between Type 1 and 2 (Linux Handbook, 2021)

References

Amazon. (n/a, n/a n/a). AWS. Retrieved 2023, from What’s the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Hypervisors?: https://aws.amazon.com/compare/the-difference-between-type-1-and-type-2-hypervisors/#:~:text=The%20type%201%20hypervisor%20sits,on%20the%20host%20operating%20system.

Dictionary. (2023, 10 21). Hypervisor. Dictionary. n/a, n/a, n/a.

Google. (n/a, n/a n/a). Google Cloud. Retrieved from What is a Virtual Machine: https://cloud.google.com/learn/what-is-a-virtual-machine#:~:text=A%20virtual%20machine%20(VM)%20is,as%20updates%20and%20system%20monitoring.

How Cybersecurity Really Works. (2021). In S. Grubb, A Hands-on Guide for Total beginners. (p. 145). San Francisco: No Starch Press.

Linux Handbook. (2021, November 17). What is a Hypervisor? What's the Difference Between Type 1 and 2? Retrieved from Linux Handbook: https://linuxhandbook.com/what-is-hypervisor/

VMware. (n/a, n/a n/a). VMware. Retrieved from What is a Virtual Machine: https://www.vmware.com/content/vmware/vmware-published-sites/us/topics/glossary/content/virtual-machine.html.html.html