Choose the Best Virtual Machine

A virtual machine, despite sounding like hardware, almost exclusively leans toward software. The Internet and many software stores are full of virtual machine programs, so it can be hard to find the best virtual machine. To choose the best, decide if you want a system or process virtual machine, what operating systems you want your virtual machine to handle, if you need the operating system’s startup CD, and if the separate operating system can run alongside the one you are using or if it will have to start up by itself.

Virtual machines are split into two main branches: system and process. A system virtual machine refers to software that allows you to install and run a completely different operating system on your computer. This second operating system will run independently, allowing you to install and use software made exclusively for that operating system. A process virtual machine is made for a single process, such as being able to run a program made for an operating system other than the one you are running. To choose the best virtual machine, you have to choose a virtual machine that can either emulate an entire operating system or can just emulate it for a single process.


Some virtual machines can handle your choice of one different operating system or several at once. The best virtual machine software can normally emulate all the major operating systems at once but, if you are never going to use the other operating systems, this may not be worth it. Virtual machines that are only able to handle one operating system are generally cheaper and, if you are downloading a free virtual machine, less memory-heavy.

When you install the separate operating system on your computer, some virtual machines will require the installation disk that comes with that operating system. This type of virtual machine is more expensive to run, because you need to buy an installation disk. Others are able to seamlessly emulate an operating system without the need for an installation disk, but this is normally for process virtual machines and rarely for system virtual machines.

Virtual machines tend to run an operating system in a different way. Some are able to run an operating system in a different window, which allows you to use both operating systems at once; others have to boot up the second operating system and can only run one at a time. The best virtual machine will be able to run different operating systems at the same time in a different window, but ensure your computer has enough random access memory (RAM) to handle this function. This is very memory-heavy and, if you have low RAM, your computer may not be able to run both operating systems at once without lagging.

Virtual Machine Networking

A virtual computer is one that exists only as a part of another computer, utilizing the other computer's physical hardware to perform and function. Although a virtual machine cannot exist independently from a host computer, it still can perform all of the same functionality as a "normal" computer. Virtual machine networking is the process of connecting together either one or many virtual machines to access the resources of a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN).

To establish an effective virtual machine networking connection, one option involves providing the virtual machine in question with access to the network adapter located within its host computer. This means providing it with access to either the modem or the network card. After access to the networking hardware of the computer is granted, the virtual machine will be able to connect with any and all networks that the physical network adapter is authorized to use. If an Internet connection is available on the network adapter, this will provide the virtual computer with working Internet access. If no Internet access is available, the virtual computer will have only local access to other computers plugged into the same network.

A second option for employing virtual machine networking involves selecting no network adapter. In this case, the virtual computer will not have access to external networks, either online or offline. Instead, the virtual computer will be able to connect with other virtual computers on the same host machine using an internet virtual machine network. This facilitates the transfer of data between virtual computers on the same physical host computer, streamlining the transfer of files and data between virtual computers.

One disadvantage to virtual machine networking is lack of portability. The virtual machines and the network are tied to a host computer and its hardware, so relocating a virtual machine network in any meaningful way is largely impractical. Therefore, virtual machine networking is suitable for use only on computers that will not be relocated on a regular basis.

Depending on the operating system in use, certain software might be required to employ virtual machine networking. In some cases, the software might allow for creation of an unlimited number of individual virtual networks. With a virtual network, it is never necessary to add additional hardware to add additional computers to the network, making virtual networking on a large scale more cost efficient than traditional physical networking.

Uninstall a Virtual Machine

The process to uninstall a virtual machine is as simple as initially installing one. For a virtual machine application, some host machines might contain a quick process that can be accessed by any user who wants to uninstall a virtual machine. If the host machine does not contain this process, the application can be removed through its main folder on the host machine’s hard drive. Usually, the main folder of an application will have an uninstall option.

A virtual machine usually comes in the form of an operating system or application. The virtual machine is not a physical entity but exists only in a machine’s primary environment. This primary environment is known as a “host” environment, and the virtual machine is known as a “guest.” A virtual machine usually is made for the purpose of undertaking a task or command that the primary host environment is unable to execute. Several virtual machines can often run simultaneously on a machine’s primary environment.


An application program is also considered a virtual machine. This is because the application program being utilized is a virtual copy of the program’s physical disk and runs only in a virtual state in the machine’s primary host environment. The information and data contained in the hard disk of the virtual program can be accessed in the virtual program itself. In addition, operating system resources, such as processors, amount of random-access memory (RAM) and hard disks, can be accessed in a virtual machine operating system just as you would access them in a host operating system.

Installing a virtual machine is usually a simple process. After the physical disk of the application or the operating system is inserted in the host machine, an installation dialog box will appear onscreen. This dialog box will contain instructions regarding the virtual machine installation. All that is needed is for the steps to be followed.

Conversely, the process to uninstall a virtual machine is as simple as initially installing one. The same process to uninstall a virtual machine application can be applied to a virtual machine operating system. Access the virtual machine’s main folder on the host machine’s hard drive. This folder will contain the virtual machine operating system or several systems, depending on how many are installed on the machine.

Along with the operating system, the settings and data for the operating system are included in the main folder. Send the operating system and all of the files and settings related to the system to the machine’s trash bin. Delete the virtual machine operating system by cleaning out the contents of the trash bin. Thus, the process to uninstall a virtual machine is complete.

Choose the Best Open Source Virtual Machine

Open source virtual machine software is useful for administrators and users who either need a new coding environment or need to implement a different operating system (OS) on the same computer. Sectioning the hard drive into partitions and then running a separate and isolated environment within that partition does this. To choose the best open source virtual machine, users should look for programs that are able to perform either the OS or program virtualization, depending on what the user needs. The number of different environments and number of operating systems that can run simultaneously also are considerations. How the new environment runs and how much memory will be needed to make the partition are important to choosing the best program.

There are two types of open source virtual machine programs, one type for coding and one type for the OS. Most virtual machines are unable to perform both tasks, so the user must look for the one that suits his or her needs. The more common of the two is the OS version, which allows a user to run a different OS on his or her computer. The coding environment version is for users who make extensive code and need to run it outside the main computer to prevent it from destroying or corrupting the main computer.


Some open source virtual machine software is able to run many environments, while other can only run one environment. Most users who are not professional coders or administrators will benefit from the single environment, which uses much less memory. Running many different environments at once requires a powerful computer that is able to handle all the different processes simultaneously, but it also allows a user to get more work done in less time.

When the open source virtual machine opens a new environment, there are two ways of doing it. The environment may boot by itself, taking over the entire screen, or it may boot in a small window while the primary OS is running. If the environment boots alone, it takes less memory, but it can be difficult to switch between the two systems. Running in a different window takes up a large expanse of memory, but users can move back and forth between environments with ease.

During the creation of a new environment, the open source virtual machine will ask the user how much memory should be used for the environment. The user can easily use most of the hard drive for the task, but the minimal amount of memory for the partition is different from one virtual machine to the next. Choosing a virtual machine that has a low minimal memory requirement will be better, in case a small environment is ever needed.

Different Types of Virtual Machine Downloads

The term “virtual machine” is an umbrella term referring to a range of downloads that can emulate software and operating systems and run various operating systems and virtual servers. Each of the virtual machine downloads has a separate and distinct purpose, and some are used every day without the user knowing he or she is using a virtual machine.

Virtual machine downloads that emulate software are commonly made for those who run operating systems that do not see many software releases. The virtual machine is able to emulate another operating system’s environment, one for which adequate software is released, and allows the user to run the program. These are generally process virtual machines, or machines made to perform a single function, and typically do not force the user to purchase or use an installation CD for the operating system the software is emulating.

System virtual machine downloads are made to emulate entire operating systems. This is done by making a partition on the computer’s hard drive and storing data for the extra operating system on that partition. Some of these programs run the separate operating system in a different window, while others have to start up the other operating system separately. Depending on the program, these virtual machine downloads may be able to emulate one or several different operating systems. An installation CD generally will be needed for this virtual machine to emulate the operating system.


A virtual PC is similar to a system virtual machine in that it emulates operating systems. The difference here is that a virtual PC does not emulate different operating systems but allows the user to open the same operating system several times at once on the same window. This is used primarily by programmers to provide testing environments for new codes or programs without the chance of ruining the computer.

Virtual servers are unlike the other categories of virtual machines. When someone purchases a domain and hosts a website, a server is necessary to place the website on the Internet. Web hosting companies use a virtual server that allows them to make a partition on the server and place the website information in that partition. This allows the website owner to run and operate a website without having to purchase an entire server. The website owner does not have a physical server he or she can control, but he or she also doesn't have the high costs associated with running a physical server.

Virtual Machine Monitor

A virtual machine monitor is a program which controls the behavior of multiple virtual machines on a system, allowing each user to have a fully-functioning system. Moreover, each user on a virtual machine monitored network will think of their computer as an autonomous entity, completely separate from the rest of the computing environment. However, the computer hosting all of the virtual machines — and the virtual machine monitor program — is really in control. Through this illusion of autocracy, a single computer with powerful hardware can allow multiple weaker-hardware "drone" systems to utilize its resources in a fairly non-transparent manner. The downside of this is that all computers running the virtual machines are reliant on the host computer; if anything happens to the host, all virtual machines will immediately crash.

Virtual computing enables end-users to run a "system within their system," providing the ability to utilize separate operating systems and iterations of a computer concurrently. A virtual computer user could have their primary computer running Windows Vista and a virtual computer running Windows XP at the same time. On a network, other network users can access these virtual computers for their own use. This is where a virtual machine monitor comes into play.


While each virtual machine on the network operates ostensibly on its own, each machine is really using the same hardware, which is located in the host machine. The virtual machine monitor is the "traffic signal" that keeps everything on the system running smoothly. It tells each virtual computer when it can have access to the video card, memory, hard drive, processor, and other hardware components in the system, preventing crashes and other anomalies from occurring.

The advantage to this is that it allows weaker computers to "borrow" the processing power of stronger computers. By hosting virtual machines on the stronger computer and allowing the weaker computers to access them as though they actually owned the more powerful hardware, the overall performance of those weaker machines is buttressed. All of the idle CPU cycles on the stronger machine can be dedicated to running virtual computers, maximizing the efficiency of that powerful hardware.

This is a tenuous solution, however, as it is tied to the health of the computer network. If the network fails, every virtual machine being used by computers other than the host-PC will become inactive, as it will no longer be connected to the virtual machine monitor. Over-reliance on this solution can therefore result in large periods of downtime if the network is subject to reliability concerns.

Virtual Machine

A virtual machine is a type of computer application used to create a virtual environment, which is referred to as "virtualization." Some types of virtualization let a user run multiple operating systems on one computer at the same time. A virtual machine can also function for a single program, allowing that one application to function in an isolated way. Users can setup multiple computers to function as one through virtualization, allowing the system to draw on greater resources than might otherwise be available.

Hardware Emulation

There are several different types of virtual machines. Commonly, the term is used to refer to hardware virtual machine software, also known as a "hypervisor" or "virtual machine monitor." This type of software makes it possible to perform multiple identical executions on one computer. In turn, each of these executions runs its own operating system. This allows multiple applications to be run on different operating systems, even those they were not originally intended for.

Through the use of the hardware virtual machine software, the user has a seemingly private machine with fully functional hardware that is separate from other users. Such software also makes it possible for users to boot and restart their machines quickly, since tasks such as hardware initialization are not necessary. The name for this type of virtualization can be confusing, but it is a software application, not a particular piece of hardware.


Software-Specific Applications

A "virtual machine" can also refer to software that focuses on one particular application. With this software, the application is isolated from the rest of the computer. Programmers often design such software for use on a number of computer platforms, rather than designing it to focus on only one type of computer or system. This makes it unnecessary to create separate versions of the same software for different operating systems and computers.

Systems that Use Hardware And Software

Virtual environments can also be created through a virtual machine system, which are also known as "virtual private servers." This type of environment is used for running programs at the user level. Therefore, it is used solely for applications and not for drivers or operating systems. The system itself functions like a server, even though only a single computer might be used.

Some users set up a virtual machine as a group of computers that work together to create a more powerful machine. In this type of setup, the software makes it possible for one environment to be formed through several computers. This makes it appear to the end user as if he or she uses only a single computer, while there are actually numerous machines at work. The memory and other resources of each of these systems work together to create a more powerful machine than just one computer.