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Virtualization
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<p>In computing, virtualization (abbreviated v12n) is a series of technologies that allows dividing of physical computing resources into a series of <a href="/facts/Virtual_machine/BLevU3sx">virtual machines</a>, <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating systems</a>, processes or containers. Virtualization began in the 1960s with IBM <a href="/facts/CP%2fCMS/zzHA1Rzz">CP/CMS</a>. The control program CP provided each user with a simulated stand-alone System/360 computer. </p><p>In <a href="/facts/Hardware_virtualization/6e2Bhhz2">hardware virtualization</a>, the <i><a href="/facts/Host_machine/3gX9fKlH">host machine</a></i> is the machine that is used by the virtualization and the <i>guest machine</i> is the virtual machine. The words <i>host</i> and <i>guest</i> are used to distinguish the software that runs on the physical machine from the software that runs on the virtual machine. The software or <a href="/facts/Firmware/62UVKIUK">firmware</a> that creates a virtual machine on the host hardware is called a <i><a href="/facts/Hypervisor/3gX9fKlH">hypervisor</a></i> or <i>virtual machine monitor</i>. Hardware virtualization is not the same as <a href="/facts/Hardware_emulation/EhDA3xRG">hardware emulation</a>. Hardware-assisted virtualization facilitates building a virtual machine monitor and allows guest OSes to be run in isolation. </p><p>Desktop virtualization is the concept of separating the <a href="/facts/Desktop_environment/VXBpMWnG">logical desktop</a> from the physical machine. </p><p>Operating-system-level virtualization, also known as <a href="/facts/Containerization_(computing)/IWhdSYm3">containerization</a>, refers to an <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> feature in which the <a href="/facts/Kernel_(computer_science)/uEj4U3Rz">kernel</a> allows the existence of multiple isolated <a href="/facts/User-space/0yIzMY8t">user-space</a> instances. </p><p>The usual goal of virtualization is to centralize administrative tasks while improving <a href="/facts/Scalability/jh7JomPa">scalability</a> and overall hardware-resource utilization. </p>