
On the network, each server would appear as a unique system. For instance, one computer might run a Linux server, two Windows servers, and three other Linux servers - for a total of six servers (five guests and one host) accessible at once. Once the virtualization software is running, each subsequent operating system you install on your PC will act like a new computer. In virtualization parlance, the main operating system is called the "host" operating system, and the secondary operating systems the "guest" operating system. To get started, you power up your computer, load the virtualization program, and install an operating system from its install CD, DVD, or. Virtualization software runs like any other application. What makes virtualization software different is that it's a much simpler and straightforward process, and you can run multiple operating systems simultaneously. Mac OS X includes Boot Camp which allows for a Windows operating system to be installed on an Apple machine. Since the early days of desktop computing, software engineers have found ways to do this using boot managers or boot loaders. Running multiple operating systems is not a new concept. Virtualizing can allow you to turn one computer into many, saving time, money, energy, and space.

The technology is now mainstream enough that it is a built-in feature in Windows 7 Professional (and above) and in Windows Server 2008 R2.īelow, we'll show you how virtualization software works, what it can be used for, and a few virtual software packages your nonprofit or library may wish to consider. Using virtualization software, you can run multiple operating systems on one physical machine. Virtualization software - programs that allow you to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single computer - allows you to do just that. While we take for granted that we can use more than one software application at a time, we seldom consider running more than one operating system at once.

What if, in order to check your email, you had to turn off your office application? What if you had to close your PDF reader in order to use the Internet? Imagine only being able to run one software program at a time on your computer.
