Hardware virtualization allows a processor to act as multiple computers, running different operating systems and allowing multiple users to access the processor. It has logistical and financial benefits but also practical limitations, including the need for dedicated software and dividing the chip’s maximum processing power among users. Both Intel and AMD have their own hardware virtualization configurations.
Hardware virtualization is a system that uses a processor to act as if they were several computers. This has two main purposes. One is to run different operating systems on the same hardware. The other is to allow multiple users to use the processor at the same time. While there are both logistical and financial benefits to hardware virtualization, there are still some practical limitations.
The name hardware virtualization is used to cover a range of similar technologies that perform the same basic function. Strictly speaking, it should be called hardware-assisted virtualization. This is because the processor itself does some of the virtualization work. This is in contrast to techniques that are solely software-based.
Both major processor manufacturers, or “chips,” have their own hardware virtualization configurations. Intel is known as Intel® VT or IVT. Advanced Micro Devices’ system is known as AMD-V. Other names used include accelerated virtualization, hardware virtual machine, or native virtualization.
The primary use of hardware virtualization is to allow multiple users to access the processor. This means that each user can have a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse and run their own operating system independently. As far as the user is concerned, it will actually run their computer. This configuration can significantly reduce costs as multiple users can share the same core hardware.
Someone who accesses a computer through hardware virtualization can be said to be running a virtual desktop. There is a risk that this could lead to confusion. This is because the phrase virtual desktop is also used to describe features in some operating systems that allow the user to effectively expand the on-screen desktop beyond the visible area on the screen.
There are some significant limitations to hardware virtualization. One is that it still requires dedicated software to perform virtualization, which can incur additional costs. Another is that, depending on how virtualization is done, it may not be that easy to add extra processing power later on as and when needed.
Perhaps the biggest drawback is that no matter how efficiently virtualization is performed, the chip’s maximum processing power cannot be exceeded. This means that it must be divided among the different users. Whether this is a problem depends on the type of applications you’re running: the system is better suited to tasks like web browsing and word processing than tasks like video editing that consume more processor power.
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