VMware GSX Server 3 Administration, Administration Manual

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C H A P T E R 1 Introduction and System Requirements
13
Enterprise-Class Virtual Infrastructure for Intel-Based Servers
VMware products provide a virtualization layer that turns your physical computers
into a pool of logical computing resources. You can then dynamically allocate those
resources to any operating system or application in the way that best meets your
needs. You’ll be able to spend more time delivering tangible value to your business
and less time installing operating systems, rebooting and reconfiguring hardware.
Run the operating systems you need — all at once.
With VMware virtualization technology, you can set up completely independent
installations of operating systems on a single machine. Multiple instances of
Microsoft® Windows® or Linux® can run side by side in virtual machines that you
create with the GSX Server software. Each virtual machine is equivalent to a server
with a unique network address and a full complement of hardware devices. You install
and run a complete, unmodified operating system and application software, just as
you do on a physical server.
Host and Guest
• The physical computer
on which you install
the GSX Server
software is called the
host computer, and its
operating system is
called the host
operating system.
• The operating system
running inside a virtual
machine is called a
guest operating
system.
• For definitions of these
and other special
terms, see the glossary
at the end of this
manual
.