Virtual machines are software-based emulations of physical computers that allow users to run multiple operating systems on a single physical machine. They provide a way to create isolated environments for running different applications or testing different software configurations without affecting the host system.
Virtual machines are commonly used in cloud computing environments to allocate resources efficiently and provide flexibility in managing infrastructure. They can be easily created, duplicated, and moved between physical servers, making them a versatile solution for virtualization needs.
Some popular virtual machine software includes VMware, VirtualBox, and Hyper-V. These tools provide a platform for creating and managing virtual machines, as well as configuring settings such as memory, storage, and network connectivity.