Mark HoltzerMs. June WestIST 257April 13, 2014Computer VirtualizationMany people and businesses don't have enough money to buy the hardware for every single instance of an operating system they need. It is cheaper to buy high-performance hardware for a computer and then run several operating systems on one machine. To do this you need virtual machines. Virtualization is vital for people and businesses who need to run multiple operating systems cost-effectively. A virtual machine is a simulated computer that runs on a physical computer, the host. For example, a host computer running Windows 7 would be able to open one or more virtual machines that act as its own computers. These virtual machines can run the same operating system or different operating systems, and they can be allocated different amounts of physical computer hardware. Virtual machines still have the same minimum system requirements as physical computers, so it is important to have a powerful host computer (Angeles). Virtual technology is important because it allows users and businesses to efficiently run multiple computers. Virtualization has different benefits for different markets. For home users, virtualization allows you to run a virtual machine as a quasi-sandbox, or contained operating system, of your computer to test new software, different settings, and check its reliability. It's best to do this in a virtual machine because you can take a backup of the machine before testing. This way, if something goes wrong, the user can simply delete the damaged virtual machine and start over. With a physical computer, you would need to format the hard drive and reinstall the operating system. Another advantage for a home user is the ability to use Mac and Android in... half of paper, allowing access to virtually any device that may need it. Horizon's explosive performance offers many useful features such as 3D graphics, high-quality media streaming, touch screen support, ability to use local resources and more (Horizon with View). CONS?! Citrix's XenDesktop is a more customizable solution for desktop virtualization than Horizon with View. It is similar in that it has the ability to virtualize 3D graphics, can be used on desktop or mobile devices, and centralizes management. Beyond that, it provides support for adding contractors and partners to access various XenDesktop features and allows access to devices that users bring from home. Another distinguishing feature of XenDesktop is that it allows offline client virtualization. This means that users can still access their desktops when they are not connected to a network.