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Managing virtual machines

Each virtual machine (VM) is an independent system with an independent set of virtual hardware. Its main features are the following:

  • A virtual machine resembles and works like a regular computer. It has its own virtual hardware. Software applications can run in virtual machines without any modifications or adjustment.
  • Virtual machine configuration can be changed easily, for example, by adding new virtual disks or memory.
  • Although virtual machines share physical hardware resources, they are fully isolated from each other (file system, processes, sysctl variables) and the compute node.
  • A virtual machine can run any supported guest operating system.

The following table lists the current virtual machine configuration limits:

Supported guest operating systems

Creating virtual machines

Connecting to virtual machines

Managing virtual machine power state

Attaching ISO images to virtual machines

Reconfiguring virtual machines

Monitoring virtual machines

Shelving virtual machines

Rescuing virtual machines

Managing guest tools

Troubleshooting virtual machines

Deleting virtual machines