In this blog we will Learn the Advantages and Disadvantage of Virtual Machine and explore their types, including system and process VMs, for better insights.
What is a virtual machine?
Virtual machines (VMs) are digital copies of real computers. Virtual machines store data, connect to networks, run OSes and apps, and do other computer operations. But instead of using actual components, a virtual machine (VM) employs only virtual resources.
With virtual machines (VMs), companies can set up isolated environments on host hardware that function as distinct machines. Thinking of a virtual machine as a computer inside a computer is a simpler approach to comprehend what it is. However, a virtual machine (VM) is defined by software rather than a physical computer like a server, laptop, or smartphone.
The idea of the virtual machine, which enables operating systems and software to be isolated from a physical machine, is the foundation of much of the technology it use, including cloud computing and artificial intelligence. In cloud computing, for example, virtual machines (VMs) are used to virtualise the resources of cloud service providers’ servers, allowing for resource sharing among clients through multi-tenant cloud architecture.
Virtual machine definition
A virtualised environment of a real computer is called a virtual machine (VM). It is capable of carrying out nearly all of the same tasks, such as executing operating systems and programs.
How do virtual machines work?
Virtual machines use virtualisation to create a virtual computer or hardware on a physical machine. The host computer runs the virtual machines, whereas the guests are the virtual machines.
Every guest virtual machine operates on a distinct host partition, totally isolated from other guests. Using a software layer called a hypervisor, you can run several virtual machines (VMs) on a single host computer, which is frequently a server.
In order to give guest virtual machines (VMs) greater flexibility and efficiency, the hypervisor isolates the host machine’s physical resources, like computation, memory, and storage, into a pool that can be supplied and dynamically allocated to guest VMs as needed.
Types of Virtual Machines
Process virtual machines and system virtual machines are the two main categories of virtual machines.
Process virtual machines
Application virtual machines (VMs) or managed runtime environments (MREs) are other names for process virtual machines (VMs), which generate an OS virtual environment when an application or single process is running and delete it as soon as you quit. Process virtual machines (VMs) make it possible to create a platform-independent environment that allows a process or application to function consistently across all platforms.
System virtual machines
System VM also known as hardware virtual machines, a system VM allows several operating systems to run on a single computer by simulating an entire operating system. This is the kind of VM that is usually meant when the term “virtual machines” is used. A hypervisor keeps an eye on and allocates the resources of the physical host machine across system virtual machines (VMs), which are capable of running their own operating system and applications.
In more recent times, you could have also heard individuals talk about cloud virtual machines, or cloud VMs. Simply said, cloud virtual machines are virtual machines that operate on cloud-based virtual servers. Utilising their robust servers as host computers and other software-defined services like memory and network storage, numerous cloud service providers enable you to build and operate cloud virtual machines on their infrastructure.
To find out more about what a virtual machine (VM) is in cloud computing and what your company can do with a cloud VM, watch the VM End to End video episode below.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of virtual machines
Advantages of virtual Machine in cloud computing
The following are only a few advantages of virtual machines, especially if you use a cloud virtual machine:
Scalability
Scaling your apps is made easier using cloud-based virtual machines (VMs), which improve performance and availability. You don’t have to buy your own physical servers to expand your capacity in response to demand.
Portability
An operating system, all of its apps, and hardware resources are all included in a single software package called a virtual machine. Moving virtual machines (VMs) across servers or even from on-premises hardware to cloud settings is simple.
Reduced footprint and costs
By enabling you to run several virtual environments from a single computer, virtual machines (VMs) can help you lower your electricity expenditures, maintenance and management expenses, and physical infrastructure footprint.
Faster provisioning
Because virtual machines (VMs) are so easily replicable, companies may create fresh, identical environments without having to start from zero.
Reliability
Virtual computers and their constituent parts are segregated from other guest virtual machines and live only in a virtual environment. The actual host computer won’t be impacted if one of the guest virtual machines crashes; the other guest virtual machines will continue to function.
Better security
You can run different operating systems on virtual machines without affecting the host operating system. With virtual machines (VMs), you can build secure, virtual environments to test apps or even research security flaws without putting the host computer at significant risk.
Disadvantage of Virtual Machine
Performance Overhead
Because of the abstraction layer that separates the guest operating systems from the hardware, virtual machines result in performance overheads. Virtual machines (VMs) rely on a hypervisor, which provides an extra layer of computation, in contrast to real servers, where applications communicate directly with the hardware. For resource-intensive applications like massive databases, video rendering, or game simulations, this leads to decreased efficiency, higher latency, and slower processing rates.
For example, when running on virtual machines (VMs), memory-intensive programs and intensive disc I/O operations may experience observable performance reduction. Virtual machines (VMs) still fall short of dedicated physical servers in terms of performance and responsiveness, even with advancements in hypervisor technology.
Resource Consumption
Resource contention can become a serious problem in settings where several virtual machines use the same real hardware. Performance for other virtual machines on the same host may suffer if one VM uses more CPU, RAM, or disc space than it is allotted.
This is particularly troublesome when managing several workloads or shared hosting situations. Although over-commitment and other resource allocation strategies increase utilisation, they can also worsen contention issues, resulting in erratic application behaviour or system breakdowns during periods of high usage.
Complex Management
Although virtual machines (VMs) streamline the use of hardware, overseeing a sizable virtualised system adds a unique set of challenges. To make sure virtual machines run well, administrators must constantly check, set up, and improve them.
Significant preparation and resources are needed for tasks like patch management, virtual machine snapshots, backups, and recovery protocols. Furthermore, VM sprawl, which occurs when a company installs more virtual machines than is required, can result in resource waste, higher license fees, and inefficient operations.
Licensing and Software Costs
Additional software and licensing fees are frequently incurred when using virtual machines. The licensing costs for well-known hypervisors, such Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware vSphere, may mount up quickly, particularly in business settings.
Additionally, different operating system and application licenses could be needed for every virtual machine. Costs can skyrocket as a result, especially for businesses using expensive software and running multiple virtual machines.
Security Concerns
Special security issues are brought about by virtualisation. One of the main targets of cyberattacks is the hypervisor, which serves as the control layer for controlling virtual machines. A single point of failure can be created by exploits at the hypervisor level that give attackers access to every virtual machine (VM) running on the same hardware.
Furthermore, sensitive data may be made available to unauthorised users due to configuration errors in virtualised systems, such as inadequate isolation between virtual machines. To reduce these threats, organisations need to put strict security measures in place, such as frequent updates, strong access controls, and hypervisor hardening.
Dependency on Host Hardware
Virtual machine dependability and performance are intrinsically linked to the host system. Every virtual machine running on the host hardware is impacted if it malfunctions. This puts mission-critical services and applications at serious danger.
High availability and failover clustering reduce downtime but are expensive and complicated. Recovery from virtualised hardware failures may need specific knowledge, making disaster recovery harder.