Refers to a condition without boundaries or constraints. It is often used to define a feature or state that is simulated in some manner. The term has a very high-tech ring and may be used with "virtually" any hardware or software product or Internet-related service that has expanded beyond the norm. At the end of this explanation are most of the "virtual" terms in this encyclopedia.
It Started with Virtual Memory
One of the first uses of the term was "virtual memory," in which memory is saved to disk and swapped back and forth as needed; thus, memory is simulated on disk (see virtual memory).
Another major technology is the "virtual machine," which is like a machine within a machine. The operating system works as if it was in control of the computer, except that several operating systems are running simultaneously, and the computer they communicate with is not the hardware, but another control program: the "virtual machine monitor." The hardware is said to be "virtualized" (see virtual machine).
It Started with Virtual Memory
One of the first uses of the term was "virtual memory," in which memory is saved to disk and swapped back and forth as needed; thus, memory is simulated on disk (see virtual memory).
Another major technology is the "virtual machine," which is like a machine within a machine. The operating system works as if it was in control of the computer, except that several operating systems are running simultaneously, and the computer they communicate with is not the hardware, but another control program: the "virtual machine monitor." The hardware is said to be "virtualized" (see virtual machine).
Major Virtual Technologies virtual memory virtual machine and virtual machine monitor virtual desktop virtual appliance network virtualization OS virtualization server virtualization storage virtualization Java Virtual Machine virtual private network (see VPN) Other Virtual Terms virtual 8086 Mode virtual autopsy virtual circuit virtual community virtual companion virtual company virtual connection virtual database virtual datacenter (see datacenter container) virtual desktop services virtual device driver (see VxD) Virtual Device Interface (see VDI) virtual directory virtual disk Virtual DOS Machine virtual drive virtual environment Virtual Execution System (see VES) virtual folder virtual function virtual greeting card (see e-card) virtual headphones virtual host virtual hypertext virtual image virtual IP address virtual ISP virtual keyboard virtual LAN virtual library Virtual Machine Manager virtual mentoring virtual monitor Virtual network virtual network computing (see VNC) virtual newscaster Virtual PC Virtual PC for Mac virtual peripheral virtual phone number virtual printer virtual printer port virtual processor virtual reality virtual root virtual routing virtual screen virtual server virtual storage virtual store virtual supercomputer virtual surround sound (see 3D audio) virtual tape virtual tape library virtual tape system virtual terminal virtual toolkit virtual voice mail virtual workgroup virtual world virtualization virtualize AMD Virtualization (see AMD-V) application virtualization desktop virtualization full virtualization hardware virtualization paravirtualization hardware virtual memory augmented virtuality (see mixed reality) computer automatic virtual environment (see CAVE) Global Virtual Private Network (see GVPN) Intel Virtualization Technology (see VT) K Virtual Machine (see KVM) Microsoft Virtual Machine Microsoft Virtual Server permanent virtual circuit (see PVC) switched virtual circuit (see SVC)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
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