Hypervisor
Hypervisor
Software that allows multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a single computer.
In Simple Terms
A hypervisor serves as the foundation for making a single server behave as if it were multiple separate machines. For example, it lets you run multiple instances of Windows or Linux simultaneously on one computer, or divide a large server into smaller segments to lease out to many different users. It plays a key role in efficiently distributing the resources of a single piece of hardware.
Behind the Name
The name 'Hypervisor' combines 'hyper-' (meaning 'beyond' or 'above') with 'supervisor' (meaning 'manager'). It describes something that operates above the operating system level — managing and controlling multiple OSes from an even higher position of authority. The hypervisor serves as the foundation that makes virtualization technology possible.
Take a Closer Look!
A hypervisor is software that virtually partitions a computer's hardware resources to run multiple operating systems in parallel.
Simply put, it creates multiple independent environments called 'virtual machines' within a single physical computer.
For example, on one powerful server you can launch multiple operating systems with different roles — one dedicated to a website, another to email, and so on.
Tasks that would normally require separate physical machines can instead share the resources of a single machine efficiently, thanks to the hypervisor.
There are two main types of hypervisors.
The first type interfaces directly with the hardware, resulting in minimal overhead and faster performance.
The second type runs on top of an existing operating system like a regular application, making it easy to try out a virtual environment without any specialized setup.
In the past, each system required its own dedicated computer, consuming significant space and electricity.
Hypervisor technology made it possible to distribute the resources of a single large machine efficiently, and it now plays a crucial role in powering server virtualization and cloud infrastructure.