What is virtualization?

This is a podcast episode titled, What is virtualization?. The summary for this episode is: <p>This episode of <em>Techsplainers</em> explores virtualization—the foundational technology that enables the creation of multiple virtual environments from a single physical machine. We trace its evolution from IBM's early experiments in 1964 to today's $85 billion industry powering cloud computing worldwide. The episode explains how virtualization works through hypervisors—software that creates and manages virtual machines—and dives into its many benefits, including resource efficiency, easier management, minimal downtime, and cost savings. We also explore the various types of virtualization beyond servers, including desktop, network, storage, and application virtualization, while comparing traditional VM-based virtualization with newer containerization approaches. Whether you're running a massive data center or simply want to run multiple operating systems on your laptop, this episode provides a comprehensive overview of this essential technology that makes modern computing more efficient, flexible, and resilient. </p><p><br></p><p>Find more information at <a href="https://www.ibm.com/think/podcasts/techsplainers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ibm.com/think/podcasts/techsplainers</a>. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Narrated by Daniela Baez</strong></p>