Hardware Virtualization, also known as server virtualization, is a process that allows for the creation of a virtual version of a physical server, known as a virtual machine. This is a fundamental technology that makes cloud computing possible, as it allows multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical machine, each with its own operating system and applications.

• Hardware virtualization allows for better utilization of resources, as multiple virtual machines can share the resources of a single physical server.
• It provides flexibility and scalability, as new virtual machines can be created quickly and easily, and resources can be allocated and reallocated as needed.

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Hardware Virtualization works by using a software layer, known as a hypervisor, to emulate the underlying hardware. This allows multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a single physical machine.

• The hypervisor manages the physical resources and allocates them to each virtual machine as needed.
• Each virtual machine operates as if it were a separate physical machine, unaware that it is sharing resources with other virtual machines.

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A software development company needs to test its new application on different operating systems. Instead of investing in multiple physical servers, each running a different operating system, the company uses hardware virtualization. They create multiple virtual machines on a single server, each running a different operating system. This allows them to test their application on multiple platforms, while saving on hardware costs.