Section 4.2 Client Side Virtualization

What is client-side virtualization?

Running virtual machines locally on a user's computer

What is a virtual machine (VM)?

A software-based emulation of a physical computer

What is one purpose of using a VM as a sandbox?

To safely test software without affecting the host system

Why use a VM for software development?

To create isolated environments for testing code

What is application virtualization?

Running apps in a virtual environment instead of installing them on the OS

How does virtualization help run legacy software?

Allows old OS environments to run within modern systems

What is cross-platform virtualization?

Running one OS on top of another, e.g., Linux on Windows

What is the main benefit of a sandboxed VM?

Protection against malware or unstable software

What is a hypervisor?

Software that manages virtual machines

What are the two types of hypervisors?

Type 1 (bare metal) and Type 2 (hosted)

Which hypervisor type is used in client-side virtualization?

Type 2

What are common Type 2 hypervisors?

VMware Workstation, VirtualBox, Hyper-V

Why might you use a VM for browser testing?

To test compatibility across different OS/browser combos

What CPU feature supports virtualization?

Intel VT-x or AMD-V

What BIOS setting must be enabled for virtualization?

Virtualization Technology (VT)

What hardware is most important for VM performance?

RAM and CPU

What happens if a VM is allocated too much RAM?

Host system may slow down or crash

What storage type is commonly used for VMs?

Virtual disk image files (e.g., VDI, VMDK)

Why is disk space important for VMs?

Each VM requires significant storage for OS and data

What is snapshotting in virtualization?

Saving the current VM state to return to it later

How do VMs help with cross-platform software testing?

Allow running multiple OSes on a single device

What is an advantage of application virtualization?

Reduced conflicts and easy app management

What resource can be a bottleneck in VM use?

RAM

What is nested virtualization?

Running a VM inside another VM

Why are security updates still needed in VMs?

VMs are vulnerable to the same threats as physical systems

What is a key security risk with VMs?

VM escape, where malware breaks out of the VM

Why isolate VMs on the network?

To prevent compromised VMs from accessing the host

What firewall setting might be needed for VM use?

Allow VM network interfaces

What network mode connects a VM directly to the LAN?

Bridged mode

What network mode shares the host's IP address?

NAT mode

What is a benefit of using NAT mode for VMs?

Easy setup and improved isolation

What is one challenge of legacy OS virtualization?

Driver and compatibility issues

Why use a VM instead of dual-booting?

No reboot required; can run both OSes simultaneously

What is a thin client in virtualization?

A minimal device used to access virtual desktops

What type of file typically stores VM configuration?

VMX or similar config file

What is the benefit of hardware acceleration for VMs?

Improved performance of graphics and processing

What does it mean to clone a VM?

Create an exact copy of an existing VM

What is a use case for multiple VMs on one client?

Simulate a network environment for testing

What permissions should a VM user have?

Limited access to avoid host compromise

Why use encrypted virtual disks?

To protect VM data if the host is compromised

What happens during VM provisioning?

Allocating resources and setting up the VM

What is the purpose of guest additions or tools?

Improve VM performance and integration with the host

What is one benefit of storing VMs on SSDs?

Faster boot and load times

Why might a developer use a VM snapshot?

To quickly restore a test environment

What is hypervisor overhead?

Resource usage by the hypervisor itself

Can a VM access the host file system?

Yes, if shared folders or drives are configured

What helps protect VM environments from data leaks?

Isolated network and storage settings