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Virtual Machine

Intermediate
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What Is a Virtual Machine?

A virtual machine (VM) is a program that emulates a computer system, complete with a virtual CPU, memory, and storage. From an external standpoint, it appears no different than a physical machine with the same hardware.

How a Virtual Machine Works

A virtual machine is equipped with an operating system, files, and applications, and functions similarly to a physical computer. It can host websites, run programs, and operate within a network alongside other systems. When displayed on a screen, the virtual machine is seen as a window running within the host computer's operating system.

In addition, it possesses virtual CPU, memory, and storage, which are simulated rather than physical. Consequently, multiple virtual machines can coexist on a single server, managed by a piece of software called a hypervisor. The hypervisor maps the virtual hardware of the VM to the physical components of the server.

In this setup, a single physical server can support multiple virtual machines, the number of which is constrained by the server's resources. Excessive VMs can result in decreased performance.

Why Are Virtual Machines Used?

Virtual machines serve as isolated environments or sandboxes in which code can be run independently from the system. Consequently, they are ideal for testing new software or running potentially malicious code.

VMs can also run a different or older operating system to enable the execution of software that may not be compatible with the host system's operating system. For instance, a user might utilize a VM to run Windows software on a Linux device by running a virtual machine with a Windows operating system on their Linux system.

Key Example: The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)

All nodes on the Ethereum network utilize the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to execute smart contracts, operating within a separate sandbox. This configuration provides significant security advantages for the Ethereum platform, rendering it resilient to DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks, which are commonly employed by hackers.

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