what is it, how to enable it and why is it needed?

The operating principle consists of the following steps:

1. Initially, control is carried out on the server on which a special program is installed – a hypervisor. It creates virtual capacities in a certain sequence, which are needed for further work on hardware virtualization.
2. Next, the virtual machine is installed on the hardware hypervisor.
3. After the hypervisor is installed and “taken root”, the latest operations are installed on the virtual machine — system and software.

Read also: Personal assistant in solving complex problems: how businesses can further train an AI model

Enabling hardware virtualization is necessary to:

• emulate other operating systems in combination with each other, but within the same physical medium (computer), for example, run an outdated version of the software;
• protect the device from errors, disrupting work, for example, when testing new programs;
• improve device performance, distribute the load between all computer components.

Types of virtualization

First, you should learn how to enable hardware virtualization before moving on to its types. Enabling and disabling also has a direct connection with the types of virtualization.

There are two schemes for enabling virtualization, one for Intel, and the second for AMD.

Enabling on Intel:

1. First you need to start the computer and activate the Advanced Mode command, which transfers the request to the appropriate section.

2. Next, in the window that opens, you need to select and activate the CPU Configuration subsection.

3. Then the operating technology parameter is enabled, after which you need to exit the BIOS, but be sure to save all the data before doing so.

For the AMD platform, the inclusion is similar:

1. In the same way, turn on the computer, start the partition using the Advanced Mode command.

2. The window that opens will take the user to the configuration item. Next you need to activate SVM Mode.

3. For activation to be successful, you need to right-click on the command and thus enable virtualization.

How to disable hardware virtualization? The method is universal for both schemes:

1. You need to restart your computer and then go to system settings. To do this, press the “F2” key.

2. Next, you need to go to the system protection tab using a combination on the keyboard or find the Security line.

3. After this, the option to disable hardware virtualization will appear. It will be in the form of either AMD-V or Intel VT-x. After disabling the function, you need to save the changes and restart the device.

A fair question arises – If hardware virtualization is so useful, then why disable it at all?

1. A compatibility issue can cause serious failures in the device, and then hardware virtualization is not needed.

2. To prevent information leakage in cases where confidential data processing is required, it is also advisable to disable virtualization.

3. Reduced performance of an already weak system can lead to major failures or even failure of the device if virtualization is not disabled in time.

4. Elementary system overload.

And now is the time to consider the types of virtualization:

1. Software virtualization. It divides all hardware resources and “packs” them into one system. With this type, all virtual machines are powered by one common core.
2. Hardware virtualization. This type isolates all server resources so that each resource can run individually on a separate operating system.
3. Emulation. This is complete virtualization for the entire underlying platform. Most often, users hear about emulation on game consoles.
4. Operational virtualization. Carries out the work of several instances within the same operating system.
5. Virtualization for applications. This view promotes the smooth operation of applications that are separate from the main operating system.
6. Service virtualization. This is the same emulation, but with system components that are being worked on to launch the applications being tested.

They are similar, but have a sufficient number of significant differences:

1. Hardware virtualization systems do not use hosts for the hypervisor. And the software distributes resources through a layer in the operating system, that is, it creates containers that run on one common core.

2. Unfortunately, hardware virtualization technology does not imply either high speed or ease of settingssince the performance of virtual machines is slightly lower than that of the software version.

3. Hardware virtualization when executing commands, it directly accesses the hardware without involving the operating system.

4. The system with which hardware virtualization works is also features higher productivity for complete sharing of resources between virtual machines.

This is the process of creating virtual machines, as well as certain environments based on processor architecture. It helps to create an unlimited (within one operation) number of guest systems.

To understand what hardware virtualization does, we need to look at an example with hardware support.

It distributes cores between systems and greatly simplifies the work, but for hardware support to work, the following conditions must be met:

• processors must support instruction sets that allow direct access from the machine’s operating system to processor resources;

• In order for hardware support to perform its functionality, a hypervisor is needed, since guest operating systems need to be divided into independent objects, but not separated from the shared resources of one server.

It is used to allocate resources efficiently. This is extremely important for modern production, which is crammed with advanced technologies and computerization.

Specifically in terms of improving performance, hardware virtualization allows you to:

• reduce the cost of maintaining physical equipmentas well as for its actual acquisition and additional purchase of any elements;
• provide flexible and productive work the entire infrastructure;
• increase error protectionresistance to system failures;
• isolate virtual machines from each other to avoid unforeseen situations.

Hardware virtualization is used everywhere, both by large companies whose priority is maintaining stability, and by small and medium-sized businesses who are also interested in ensuring that all information processes are transmitted efficiently and securely.

Hardware virtualization in production is an ideal assistant that builds a flexible infrastructure based on protection from all external threats.

1. The benefits of hardware virtualization cannot be underestimated. It is designed to simplify work activities in modern times.
2. Hardware virtualization greatly reduces the cost of setting up and maintaining physical hardwareconfigures the machine only once without additional tasks, and when the load increases, it raises additional virtual machines to evenly distribute the workforce.
3. Hardware virtualization – a good assistant on the way to simplifying your work.
4. Software and hardware virtualization have many differencesbut the basic principle of their operation is to fix computer resources, simplify work and ensure stability.

Cover photo: Pexels