Virtual machine: technology that is changing computer infrastructure

Introduction: why has VM become irreplaceable?

Have you ever wondered how you can run different operating systems on one device? Or how decentralized networks keep tens of thousands of nodes running the same code? The answer is a virtual machine (VM) – a technology that creates isolated computing environments regardless of the underlying hardware. Today, VMs are a foundational technology from computer testing to blockchain ecosystems.

What is VM really?

A virtual machine is like a computer that you can set up with just a few clicks, without the need for additional physical hardware. If you want to run Windows on a MacBook or a Linux system without changing the main operating system, a VM allows you to do that. The main computer is called the host, and the VM creates an isolated environment where a separate operating system, files, and applications can run, but they all operate within the memory of your existing device.

The main system handles the difficulty in the background, with the VM providing its RAM memory, CPU processing power, and storage. This is particularly useful if you need working software that is only available on another system.

How VM Works from the Inside: Hypervisor and Resource Allocation

All VM magic happens through a hypervisor – a software that takes your computer's physical resources and allocates them so that multiple VMs can use them at the same time. There are two main hypervisor models:

Type 1 hypervisors (bare metal) – installed directly on the hardware, without expecting any other operating system. These hypervisors are standard in cloud infrastructure and data centers, thus they are optimized for performance and energy efficiency.

Type 2 hypervisors (hosted) – operate like standard software on the host operating system. They are identical for development and testing, allowing developers and testers to easily experiment using familiar tools.

Once the VM is set up, you can run it like a real computer: install programs, browse the internet, create code, and do almost anything.

Practical Use Cases of VM

Operating Systems Testing and Compatibility

VM provides a safe space to test new operating systems without taking away any from the main computer. It's like a testing lab where you can experiment without risk.

Security through isolation

If you open a suspicious file or an unknown program by running it in a VM, you protect your main system. Malware or system failure inside the VM will not affect your real computer.

Outdated and inaccessible programs

Some software packages only work on older systems, such as Windows XP. A VM can recreate that environment, allowing you to use software that is no longer supported.

Developer Productivity: Code Across Different Platforms

Developers can quickly test code on multiple operating systems using VMs. This reduces the time needed to verify the operation of new applications on various systems.

Cloud infrastructure and scale

AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud are built on virtual machines. When you launch a cloud instance, you are actually launching a VM in a remote data center prepared to host websites, applications, or databases.

VM revolution in blockchains: low details

While traditional VMs are isolated sandboxes, blockchain VMs operate like a globe that executes smart contracts in a decentralized network. The EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) allows developers to write smart contracts in Solidity, Vyper, and Yul languages, and then deploy them on Ethereum and other EVM-compatible networks.

EVM ensures that every network node working with smart contracts adheres to the same rules. This guarantees uniform code execution and results across all network nodes.

Different blockchain networks use different types of VMs depending on their design priorities:

• NEAR and Cosmos use VM built on WebAssembly (WASM), which supports smart contracts in multiple programming languages, making them flexible.
• Sui uses MoveVM, written in the Move language, for efficiency and security.
• Solana uses a custom execution environment (SVM), optimized for parallel processing and handling a high volume of network activity.

The operation of VM during daily DApp usage

Although you may not notice it, VM operates in the background every time you interact with a decentralized application:

• DeFi operations (Uniswap and similar): your token exchange operations are handled by smart contracts operating within the EVM. The VM calculates prices, checks balances, and updates the processing status.

• NFT operations: The VM executes code that tracks NFT ownership and transfers. When purchasing or transferring an NFT, the VM updates the ledger to maintain an accurate ownership history.

• Level 2 solutions (Layer 2 or zkEVM): specialized VMs, such as zkEVM, execute smart contracts in a rollup environment using zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP), thereby speeding up operations and reducing fees.

VM restrictions and their real effects

Efficiency price

VM adds an additional layer between the physical hardware and the code. This means less labor and more computing resources consumed compared to a program running directly on a physical computer.

Complexity in operation

VM monitoring, especially in cloud infrastructure or blockchain networks, requires significant effort and specialized tools. Updates, security attacks, and system parameter adjustments require time and knowledge.

Compatibility limits

Smart contracts written for one VM environment often cannot operate directly in another. The code written for Ethereum needs to be rewritten for Solana. This means additional developer work and time investment for cross-platform deployment.

Final thought

A virtual machine is a fundamental technology that creates opportunities in both the traditional computing world and the blockchain infrastructure. A VM enables multiple operating systems and applications to run on the same device, safely test unfamiliar software, and run old, inaccessible code.

In the world of blockchains, the VM is the brain that gives life to smart contracts and allows decentralized applications to operate securely and consistently. Even if you are not a technology expert, understanding how the VM works will provide you with deeper insights into the infrastructure that underpins today's decentralized market.