What is the Difference Between Virtual Machine and Server?

The main difference between a virtual machine (VM) and a server lies in their structure, physical hardware, and the environment they operate in. Here are the key differences:

1. Structure: A server is a physical device with its own hardware, including memory, processor, network connection, and hard drive. In contrast, a virtual machine is a software computer used as an emulation of an actual physical computer. It operates in a "multi-tenant" environment, meaning that multiple VMs run on the same physical hardware, sharing the computing resources of a physical server.
2. Environment: A server operates independently and has its own operating system (OS) for running programs and applications. A virtual machine, on the other hand, relies on virtualization software, such as a hypervisor, which is installed on top of physical hardware to create and manage VMs. Each VM has its own virtual devices, such as a virtual CPU, virtual memory, virtual network interface cards, and virtual disk.
3. Portability and Scalability: Virtual machines offer benefits such as portability, manageability, and security, which are not available with physical servers. They can be easily migrated to different locations, backed up, and restored on other servers, or even run on a workstation or home lab. This makes VMs more flexible and scalable compared to physical servers.
4. Cost and Resource Utilization: Physical servers can be expensive to maintain and difficult to scale. Virtual machines, on the other hand, offer cost savings compared to physical servers and are easier to scale, as they can be created and deleted as needed. This makes VMs a more cost-effective option, especially when the organization's workload requirements change frequently.

In summary, a server is a standalone physical device, while a virtual machine is a software emulation of a computer that relies on virtualization software and shares the resources of a physical server. Virtual machines offer more flexibility, scalability, and cost savings compared to physical servers, making them a popular choice for organizations with changing workload requirements.

Comparative Table: Virtual Machine vs Server

Here is a table comparing the differences between virtual machines (VMs) and physical servers:

In summary, virtual machines offer better mobility, flexibility, and hardware independence compared to physical servers, making them more suitable for multi-tenant environments and easier to manage and migrate.