The word “virtual machines” has been around in the computing text for quite some time. In software, it allows the same firmware to be execute on multiple computing platforms. In hardware, virtual machines essentially allows one to customize a computer such as RAM, disk storage, processing power. There is limitations based on physical available hardware resources, but virtual machines in hardware has numerous advantages over conventional computers. For example, it allows more efficiency in resource usage and resource management. It is true that simply having a virtual machine emulator installed takes computing power but as computing power continues to rise, moving from dual-core to quad-core, to…eighty-core, partitioning computing capacity into multiple, separate virtual machines provide a different perspective of using computers. Computers might no longer be the traditional general purpose device, although it still can operate that way, but rather used for specific tasks for better reliability and security concerns. For example, a computer for basic day-to-day activities such as email and word processors, a computer for gaming and graphics design, and a computer for running web and file servers for information access 24/7. Of course, all of these “computing tasks” can be performed by a single hardware (e.g. laptop, desktop) with the possibility of virtual machines.
