What is virtualization?

[Default User]

On Mon, 2007-10-22 at 13:22 -0700, vxburg-pur at yahoo.com wrote:
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Vincent Trouilliez <vincent.trouilliez at modulonet.fr>
> To: ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 1:05:55 PM
> Subject: Re: What is virtualization?
> 
> On Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:54:15 -0500
> Default User <xyzzyx at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
> > I have been hearing virtualization being mentioned more and more
> > recently.  I don't really know much about it.  Would someone please
> give
> > a simple "Cliff's Notes" (TM) version of what it is, how it works,
> and
> > why anyone would bother to use it at all.  
> > 
> > Please resist the urge to answer that "I if you don't know what it
> is,
> > you don't need it".  
> > 
> > Thanks.
> 
> 
> A starting point:
> 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtualization
> 
> To give you an example, for me, virtualization is useful to run
> Windows
> XP from within Linux/Ubuntu, this allows me to run Windows
> applications
> when required, while still staying in my Linux environnement, my
> platform of choice. 
> I also use virtualization to install and test the
> developement version of upcoming Ubuntu releases, without risking my
> "real"/host machine data. I can do any number of massively stupid
> mistakes in the virtual machine, with the full confidence that
> absolutely nothing can happen to my "real" machine/environement, total
> peace of mind.... that's priceless.
> I also use virtualization to evaluate other Linux
> distributions evey now and then.
> Virtualization is just sooo useful, it's magic :-)
> 
> HTH 
> 
> --
> Vince
> 
> -- 
> ubuntu-users mailing list
> ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
> =======
> 
> I agree that virtualization is very useful. I have been running Ubuntu
> 6.06 under a virtualpc 2007 under WXP. The  one problem I have run
> into is that 6.06 works great but 7.04, and 7.10 will not install.
> 7.04 installs but the screen resolution is unusable and I have not
> been able to convert it to 1024x768. I had the same problem when I
> installed 6.06  but was successful when I used the safe mode. For 7.10
> it installs in safe mode but the mouse won't work. If I install 7.10
> in standard mode I get the unusable resolution. I was able to get into
> the command menus with Alt F1 but I can't change any settings. 
> 
> After all this any thoughts? 
> Vic
> 

Wow, thanks to all who replied!  

I had (tried to) read the aforementioned
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtualization article.  Let's just say it
was "information rich".  That's why I asked if anyone had a simple
synopsis. 

I can tell that a number of people seem to really like virtualization.
For them, I'm glad that it exists and that they find it (mostly) useful.  
For me though, I guess I'm just old fashioned.  I think I'll skip the extra 
overhead and complexity.  If I want to run multiple OSes, I'll just enter 
them in GRUB and reboot as needed.  

Thanks for the info.