Virtualization is the formation of a virtual version of something as opposed to a physical version. Examples of virtual versions of things could include operating systems, storage devices, and network resources. Virtualization is a trend that is occurring in enterprise IT worldwide. Virtualization makes possible the centralization of administrative tasks and also improve hardware-resource utilization and scalability.

When one partakes in desktop virtualization, one is separating the physical machine from the logical desktop. For example, virtual desktop infrastructure can be seen as hardware virtualization. In place of a direct interaction with the host computer through a mouse, keyboard, and monitor that are all connected to the host computer, the user instead interacts with that host computer through a network connection! Fascinating stuff! When the host computer is used in such a way, it becomes a server computer that is capable of hosting not just one virtual machine, but various virtual machines simultaneously for many users. How intelligent! Who would have anticipated how far the Internet would come along in such little time! I remember when the Internet still had yet to be invented!