====== Virtual Machine ======

[[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:start|Go to Terms and Definitions]]

===== Discussion =====

A Virtual Machine is a software-defined computing subject that operates through virtualized processor, memory, storage, network, and other computing resources supplied by a virtualization platform.

A Virtual Machine may include:

  * Virtual processors
  * Virtual memory
  * Virtual storage devices
  * Virtual network interfaces
  * Firmware or boot configuration
  * An operating system
  * Installed software
  * Runtime configuration
  * Attached persistent storage
  * Security and identity configuration

A virtualization platform creates a Virtual Machine from an applicable configuration and may use a [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:m:machine_image|Machine Image]] to initialize its software and filesystem content.

A Virtual Machine differs from a Machine Image:

  * A Machine Image is an [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:i:image|Image]] used to instantiate a Virtual Machine
  * A Virtual Machine is the instantiated computing subject

Multiple Virtual Machines may be instantiated from the same Machine Image while maintaining separate runtime state.

A Virtual Machine differs from a physical machine:

  * A Virtual Machine uses virtualized computing resources
  * A physical machine uses directly associated physical computing resources

A Virtual Machine differs from a container:

  * A Virtual Machine generally includes or executes its own guest operating system
  * A container generally shares operating-system kernel capabilities supplied by its host environment

The exact boundary depends on the virtualization and container technologies used.

===== Definition =====

//software-defined computing subject that operates through virtualized computing resources supplied by a virtualization platform//

===== Source =====

Dido Solutions, Inc. and Jackrabbit Consulting, Inc.

===== Note =====

A Virtual Machine may be:

  * Created
  * Started
  * Stopped
  * Suspended
  * Resumed
  * Reconfigured
  * Replaced
  * Migrated
  * Snapshotted
  * Retired

A Virtual Machine does not by itself establish that the subject is:

  * Authorized for operation
  * Compliant with an applicable [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:b:baseline|Baseline]]
  * Securely configured
  * Free from vulnerabilities
  * Connected to a network
  * Persistent
  * Suitable for a specified purpose

Separate requirements govern those determinations.

The term does not prescribe a particular hypervisor, virtualization platform, processor architecture, operating system, cloud provider, or [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:p:provider_implementation|Provider Implementation]].

===== Example =====

[[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:c:crucible|Crucible]] deploys a Virtual Machine by selecting a Machine Image, allocating virtual processors, memory, storage, and network interfaces, and instructing the target virtualization platform to instantiate the computing subject.

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