Twelve analysts, one strong box
A training team needs twelve workstations for a data course. Each one needs its own system, and a shared store of class data. There is no money for twelve PCs.
It buys one strong computer and makes twelve pretend computers inside it. Each pretend computer works like a real one.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual machine | a software computer that runs inside a real one | a virtual PC |
| Hypervisor | software that makes and runs virtual machines | |
| Host | the real computer that runs the virtual machines | |
| Guest | a virtual machine running on a host | |
| Type 1 hypervisor | a hypervisor that runs straight on the hardware | |
| Type 2 hypervisor | a hypervisor that runs as a program on an operating system | |
| Operating system | the main program that runs a computer | |
| Network | devices joined so they can share things | |
| Router | a device that joins networks and passes data on | |
| Virtualisation | making a software copy of something real | |
| CPU | the main processor of a computer | |
| Database | an organised store of data that many people can use |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can name the parts of a virtual environment and tell a type 1 from a type 2 hypervisor.
Starter
Have a go
Starter
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
A virtual machine is a software computer
A virtual machine (VM) acts like a real computer. It has a virtual CPU, memory, disk and network card. These are slices of the real computer, called the host. The VM itself is the guest.
You install an operating system in a VM just as on a real PC. The VM is saved as files on the host.
Kinds of virtual machine
| Kind | What it stands for | Example use |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual PC (client) | A desktop or laptop | An analyst workstation in a training room |
| Virtual server | A computer that gives a service | A database server shared by the whole class |
| Virtual switch | A switch made of software | Joins the virtual PCs in one virtual network |
| Virtual router | A router made of software | Joins the virtual network to other networks |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Extra: How many virtual cores does this machine see?
nprocA command for the lesson’s lab terminal. It is shown here and not run.
Extra: How much memory does it see?
free -m | head -2A command for the lesson’s lab terminal. It is shown here and not run.
Check
Have a go
Check
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.