Virtualization
Virtualization can refer to a variety of computing concepts, but it usually refers to running multiple operating systems on a single machine. While most computers only have one operating system installed, virtualization software allows a computer to run several operating systems at the same time.
For example, a Windows computer with VMware Workstation installed can run Linux within the Windows interface. Similarly, a Macintosh computer can use Parallels Desktop to run Windows within the Mac OS X interface. When another operating system (OS) is running on top of the main system, it is called a “virtual machine.” This is because it acts like a typical computer but is actually running on top of another operating system.
Windows 11 running in macOS via Parallels virtualization software
Virtualization software acts as a layer between a computer’s primary OS and the virtual OS. It allows the virtual system to access the computer’s hardware, such as the RAM, CPU, and video card, just like the primary OS. This is different than emulation, which actually translates each command into a form that the system’s processor can understand.
When Apple started using the same x86 processor architecture as Windows computers, it became possible to run both macOS and Windows on the same machine via virtualization, rather than emulation. Now that Apple has transitioned to Apple Silicon processors, which use the ARM architecture, only the ARM version of Windows can run “virtualized” in macOS. The x86 version of Windows must be emulated when run on an Apple Silicon machine.
Another type of virtualization involves connecting to a remote computer system and controlling it from your computer. This is commonly referred to as remote access.
Updated January 15, 2025 by Per C.
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