In computer science, virtualization has become over time one of the best procedures to save resources and to make tests and to take full advantage of the advantages and resources offered by systems and devices that cannot be owned, as well as for a price problem (not all PC and IT models in general can be purchased) also for a space problem. So what does it mean to virtualize in the IT field "> make a Nintendo wii on pc, of virtual cd / dvd players to use the images of cd / dvd downloaded from the internet without having to burn them on a real cd / dvd and virtual lan network by the way of connecting multiple computers in vpn.
In this article, however, we talk about the best programs to create a PC in the PC, or how to install another operating system on your computer and be able to use it together, at the same time, with the one already present.
It is actually a question of creating a computer in itself with its operating system, its programs, with a different IP and so on.
Everything is virtualized, that virtual operating system works thinking of residing on a real physical PC, it will have its drivers, its ram memory, its virtual cd player, its virtual network card.
Not to be confused with the virtual online operating systems covered by another article and which work via internet browser.
The advantages of virtualization are evident: with a performing computer it would be possible to have, for example on a Windows XP pc, also Windows Vista, Linux Ubuntu or other and a Mac OSx and use them simultaneously as if they were 4 separate computers.
The purposes can come from study and curiosity, from work and in the possibility of carrying out tests such as, for example, checking that an email does not contain viruses or that a program does not upset the operating system.
It should therefore be understood that if the virtual operating system catches a virus, however powerful it may be, it cannot infect the real system because, I repeat, the two operating systems, while residing on the same PC, are totally distinct.
Obviously it is not all roses and flowers, there are some disadvantages, first of all that the virtualized system always shows a decrease in performance, the virtual graphics card is worth nothing (the real PC is not used) and the consumption of the Ram ( true) is high.
In another article, however, we illustrated the Wubi program with which to install Linux Ubuntu on Windows as if it were a program in itself, without virtualizing and without partitioning, the PC at boot will ask which operating system to start if Windows or Linux.
Obviously they cannot be used simultaneously but Ubuntu's performance will be excellent.
The best free virtualization programs for pc are listed in another post.
The most famous ones are VirtualBox, Microsoft Virtual Pc and Hyper-V of Windows 10.
VirtualBox is the best because it is absolutely free and opensource and because it allows you to use Seamless mode to have different operating systems on the same desktop.
Generally these are normal programs to be installed on the PC which, after starting them, show a normal window as if it were a video player. They are very intuitive and simple to use: you put the installation CD of Windows or Linux and tell the program to install the operating system with a procedure identical to that which you would do with a new computer.
After installing it you will need to install the virtual drivers (the program itself gives them to you), the system updates and the programs you want.
Once the installation and post-installation procedures have been completed, a new system is available with all normal functions including USB support, even if the performance is always lower.
Browsing the internet and on Emule you will find many virtual operating systems already installed and configured to download and use directly with virtual pc players.
The best program to create a virtual PC is Virtual Box today, absolutely free and opensource, it has all the features of VMware and indeed is used more easily and with guided procedures.
In another article, a guide on VirtualBox to install Linux on Windows.
To emulate a Windows operating system is excellent and free Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 which, at least officially, does not support Linux.
To emulate a Mac system on Windows, there is the Pear Pc program that works well but suffers from an excessive performance drop in the virtual Mac osx system.
To conclude the discussion, it is necessary to distinguish virtualization from having a partition with a new operating system because virtualization allows you to have one or more operating systems operating simultaneously on the PC while if you create a partition, you choose the system when starting up the computer. operating system to use and only that is used.
Each program is accompanied by detailed guides, their use is simple but certainly the first time you will have to waste some time to orient yourself and to install virtual systems exactly.
In 2 other articles:
Download and test Linux operating systems with VirtualBox
Install Windows 7 together with XP or Vista on a virtual PC: step by step guide.
