VMM, an acronym for Virtual Machine Monitor, refers to software that creates and manages virtual machines (VMs). A VMM acts as an intermediary layer between the computer's hardware and the virtual machines running on it. It enables the sharing of physical resources by multiple VMs, allowing them to run concurrently and independently, as if they were running on separate physical computers.
The primary function of a VMM is to abstract and emulate the physical hardware, creating a virtual environment in which each VM operates. It provides a set of virtual resources to each VM, including virtual processors, memory, storage, and network interfaces. This allows multiple operating systems and applications to run simultaneously on a single physical machine, enabling more efficient utilization of computing resources.
VMMs employ various techniques such as hardware-assisted virtualization, full virtualization, or paravirtualization to achieve efficient and secure virtualization. They handle the scheduling and execution of individual VMs, ensuring that each VM receives a fair share of the physical resources. VMMs also provide isolation between VMs, preventing one VM from interfering with others and ensuring that they operate independently.
In addition to resource management and isolation, VMMs offer features like live migration, which allows moving a running VM from one physical host to another without disruption. They also enable the creation, deletion, and management of VMs, providing administrative control over the virtual environment.
Overall, VMMs play a crucial role in virtualization technology, enabling the creation and operation of virtual machines to optimize resource utilization, enhance flexibility, and facilitate efficient management of computing resources.
