Cloud Infrastructure: Virtualization, Virtual Machines & Bare Metal Servers

Cloud infrastructure powers much of our digital world — from running mobile apps to training AI models. But what makes it all possible behind the scenes?

Three key technologies form the foundation: Virtualization, Virtual Machines (VMs), and Bare Metal Servers. Let’s break them down clearly and simply, so you can understand how they work and when to use each.

Virtualization is the process of creating multiple simulated computing environments on a single physical server. These environments are known as virtual machines (VMs), and they allow one server to do the job of many.

Analogy: Imagine a large cake (your physical server). Instead of serving it to one person, you slice it into several portions. Each guest (VM) gets a piece with enough resources to enjoy independently. The hypervisor manages how the cake is divided.

A virtual machine is a software-based computer running inside a physical host server. It has its own operating system, memory, and storage, just like a real computer, but it’s entirely virtual.

Analogy: Picture a hotel with many rooms. Each guest (VM) stays in a separate room (virtual environment). They can customize the room, but the building (server) and hotel management (hypervisor) handle the shared infrastructure.

• Hosted Virtual Machines (Type 2 Hypervisor): Run on top of a regular OS. Examples: VirtualBox, VMware Workstation. Use case: Personal use, software testing.
• Bare Metal Virtual Machines (Type 1 Hypervisor): Run directly on hardware. Examples: VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V. Use case: Enterprise, cloud providers.

A bare metal server is a physical machine dedicated entirely to one user or organization. It provides direct access to hardware, giving full control over performance, security, and configuration.

Analogy: Owning a house instead of renting a room in an apartment building. You have full control over the space — from foundation to rooftop — with no shared resources.

• Virtualization enables multiple systems on a single server.
• Virtual Machines offer isolated, scalable environments.
• Bare Metal Servers provide unmatched control and performance.
• Use a mix of VM and bare metal based on use case, budget, and technical needs.

Technology, Cloud Computing, Virtual Machine, AWS, DevOps