What is Virtualization

The PC is about to gain a new capability that will make it easier, safer, and faster to use. This new capability is called virtualization and it will help solve many of the frustrations that computer users face, including waiting for the computer to power up, the risk of viruses and identity theft while using the Internet, and the mysterious “crashes” that many call the “Blue Screen of Death.” Virtualization can even help extend the time a laptop will run off of its battery.


What is Virtualization and Why is it Good for Your Laptop?

Author: Richard A. Quinnell

The PC is about to gain a new capability that will make it easier, safer, and faster to use. This new capability is called virtualization and it will help solve many of the frustrations that computer users face, including waiting for the computer to power up, the risk of viruses and identity theft while using the Internet, and the mysterious “crashes” that many call the “Blue Screen of Death.” Virtualization can even help extend the time a laptop will run off of its battery. The best way to understand virtualization is to realize that computers work in layers. At the bottom layer are the chips, boards, peripherals, and other physical devices collectively known as “hardware.” Just as a bus is not transportation without a driver, however, this hardware is not a computer without software to control it. The software layer most closely connected to the hardware is a program called the Basic Input Output System, or BIOS. This software is so critical to getting the hardware to do anything at all it is built into every computer, stored in a special memory chip. Because this is software stored in hardware it is often called “firmware” to indicate the mix. One of the firmware’s jobs in running the computer is to read from the computer’s disk drive another piece of software called the operating system (OS), which for many users is a version of Windows. The OS, once loaded, works on top of the BIOS and takes over control of the computer’s behavior. The OS then handles all the graphics, sounds, peripheral devices, and Internet connections as well as allowing users to run application programs such as e-mail, web browsers, media players, and the like. This layer of software is what determines how users interact with their computer. A key characteristic of digital computers is that any computer can be programmed to behave like any other computer or even like several independent computers all at once. Virtualization takes advantage of this characteristic by programming a laptop computer so that it can load and run several independent operating systems concurrently. This makes the laptop behave as though it was two or more “virtual” computers in one box. The program that does this is called a virtualization engine (VE) and it fits between the BIOS and the OS. One such VE is the HyperCore™ program from Phoenix Technologies, which runs both Windows® and the HyperSpace™ OS ( www.hyperspace.com ). Advantages of Virtualization Having two “virtual” computers operating concurrently in a laptop is different from running two programs concurrently under Windows. Under a single OS, applications, viruses, and other software can misbehave in a way that wreaks havoc with the rest of the programs, causing the computer to freeze up, crash, or even begin doing harmful something in secret like sending rude messages to everyone on your e-mail list. With virtualization, the behavior of Windows and any of the applications it is running has no effect on the behavior of the second virtual computer. If Windows crashes, the “other” computer keeps running without a hitch. This independent behavior provides a host of benefits to users. For instance, by having one of the virtual computers run a simplified OS with some basic applications such as e-mail and web browsing built in, users can get: Instant-On Operation – The virtual computer running the smaller OS can load and begin running almost immediately, without waiting for Windows. Tests have shown, for example, that this second virtual computer can connect to the Internet and begin downloading e-mail within 30 seconds turning on power. Windows can take several minutes simply to load itself, and then you have to add in the time needed to load and activate the Windows e-mail program. Enhanced Security – The VE can act as a supervisor for all activity within the computer, preventing any action that might cause harm. If a virus asks Windows to erase critical files, for instance, the VE can prevent Windows from carrying out that request. Enhanced Reliability – If Windows crashes, the other virtual computer will continue operating. This allows users to access applications on the second computer even though the first has stopped functioning, giving an opportunity to take action rather than simply facing a blue screen. Useful applications on the second virtual computer might include interactive messaging with technical support, diagnostic routines, or software to save work in progress that might otherwise be lost as a result of the crash. Longer Battery Life – By running the most-used functions under the smaller OS, users can save power and thus extend battery life. All they need to do is put Windows to sleep or even shut it off and work from the simpler OS when they do not need the versatility and performance. By halting Windows the smaller OS is then free to turn off any hardware it is not currently using, such as the hard disk drive, reducing demand on the battery. Simpler Operation – Windows provides tremendous capability and many optional features, but sometimes all you want from your laptop is a basic little function like playing some MP3 files. Virtualization allows the second virtual computer to provide simple functions for such times, while keeping the richness of Windows available when wanted. Conclusion Virtualization, the technology that allows one computer to act like two, opens up a new way of using the laptop computer. All the versatility and performance that users expect are still intact, but a second, friendlier option has been added. Desired activities such as web browsing and media playback become quick and easy instead of ponderous and complex. Viruses and crashes lose their sting, and users can feel secure that no matter what goes wrong with software something will still be working. Two heads are better than one and virtualization gives you just that for your laptop.

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About the Author:
Richard A. Quinnell is a freelance writer.