To convert a physical machine to a virtual one, software is needed to run and maintain the virtual machine. A complete copy of the current operating system and programs is also required. There are many software options available, with varying levels of control and features. The next step depends on the software used, but it may involve creating a disk image of the operating system. Once the virtualization software is installed, the operating system and programs can be installed in the virtual environment. The last step is to reinstall disks with images containing the operating system or reinstall from original disks. Virtual machines don’t always have direct access to hardware and may require advanced hardware and networking knowledge.
There are several ways to convert a physical machine into a virtual machine. All involve acquiring software that runs and maintains the virtual machine on the host system. In most cases, you also need to make a complete copy of your computer’s current operating system and programs. The new virtual machine software is installed and running. The disk image of the original operating system is mounted in the virtual machine and the computer is ready to run the original operating system in virtual mode.
There are many software packages available that can help turn a physical machine into a virtual machine. Some of these are very simple to use and can turn the process into a series of simple clicks. Other versions offer more control and options and can help establish rules for the new virtual machine during installation. They are available both free and for retail sale. The first step is to select the software with the necessary features and technical level for the user.
The next step is not always the same and depends on the software used. For some programs, it will be necessary to create a disk image of the operating system and other programs so that they can be used immediately by the virtual machine without having to be reinstalled from the original disks. Some virtualization software will do this process through special partition functions and others don’t require any movement at all. While this step isn’t strictly necessary, it’s still recommended.
With your computer programs and operating system ready to install in your virtualized environment, it’s time to install and use your virtualization software. The software does not need to run on the same computer from which the operating system was imaged; instead, it can be run on another computer, providing software emulation to run the operating system on a different physical machine. Each program will have a different installation process, depending on the end use for the virtualized computer.
The last step is to reinstall the disks with images containing the operating system or reinstall from the original disks. This step completes the basic process for moving a physical machine to a virtual machine. In this setup, an entire computer can be transferred to another computer to work exactly as it was. It can be used to create backups, run diagnostics, or under certain circumstances to have parallel systems running in tandem.
There is a special kind of virtual software creator that does not require installation on the computer and can work while the computer is running. This can create a virtual personal computer (PC) without the need for many of the normal virtualization steps. It requires more system resources but provides an almost fully automated virtualization process.
One reason to convert a physical machine to a virtual machine might be to run several individual web servers from one computer via virtual servers. This may require additional steps to configure load sharing and hardware port access. In this scenario, it’s important to understand that virtual machines don’t always have direct access to hardware and may instead step through virtual versions of the hardware, which can impact performance and require more advanced hardware and networking knowledge.
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