The 7-Layer Virtualization Model

My Virtualization Review colleague, Tom Fenton, just published a tongue-in-cheek article that's a wonderful springboard to a deeper and fuller discussion of virtualization as a whole.Tom's article humorously discusses how to describe what virtualization is and does to someone -- his Mom, in this case -- who's not all that familiar with technology. It could leave the impression, however, that virtualization is just the use of virtual machine (VM) software. VM software is just one of five things found in the virtual processing layer of my model of virtualization. There are seven layers in this model. The model is described in greater detail in my 2011 O'Reilly Media book, "Virtualization: A Manager's Guide," if you care to read more.