A virtual machine is essentially a software program that imitates a hardware program. According to the Computer Desktop Encyclopaedia, this is a "traditional virtualization technique that enables different operating systems to run in the same computer as well as to prevent applications from interfering with each other. Each virtual machine is like a 'machine within the machine and functions as if it owned the entire computer. The operating systems in each virtual machine communicate with the hardware via an abstraction layer called a 'virtual machine monitor' (VMM) or 'hypervisor'. The operating systems run without modification unless they use the para-virtualization method."



Virtual machines are very useful for these three applications:

1. Eliminating the need for a whole new computer to run an application that requires a foreign OS.

2. Running development and production programs at the same time so that if the program under development crashes production is not interfered with.

3. Using multiple production virtual machines to protect against interference or corruption from the simultaneous running of allegedly safe and secure commercial applications without the need to run multiple servers.

Restricting a USB flash drive so that it is used as a virtual machine is an ideal way of using a flash memory drive. You would first want to partition your USB flash memory drive so that you can simultaneously run two different applications: one is a software writing application and the other is an already existing application. Once you have your USB flash memory drive partitioned, you can then apply it as a virtual machine for all three of a virtual machine's main functions.This is especially useful if you are a computer tech.

If you are trying to troubleshoot a computer that would require you to access a foreign OS the flash drive can be made use of. If you need to make use of code, that writing program may crash frequently, but that won't affect your other running program. And, you can rest assured that your flash drive's data won't be corrupted by any corrupted data on the computer.

Another great point to keep in mind about using your flash memory drive in this way is that this creates a synchronous operating of multiple operating systems; this is not a mere multiboot or dual-boot system that you effect.

As databases grow and more applications with more diverse operating systems are developed, the use of virtual machines is likely to become ever more important and widespread, and the USB flash memory drive, with its data compression and portability, will likely grow ever more useful as a facilitator for the easy creation of a virtual machine environment.

Knowing how to restrict a USB flash drive to a virtual machine operation enables you to access multiple "streams of consciousness" at once without fear of them causing each other to crash or be corrupted.