what is a virtual server

A virtual server is a partitioned space inside a physical server that mimics the functionality of a dedicated physical server. It is created by dividing a physical server into multiple unique and isolated virtual servers using virtualization software. Each virtual server can run its own operating system, applications, and workloads independently. Virtual servers are located in the cloud or in an offsite data center and share hardware and software resources with other virtual servers. Customers may have superuser-level access to the operating system instance of a virtual server, so they can install almost any software that runs on that OS. Virtual servers are functionally equivalent to dedicated physical servers and can be created and configured more easily. They are an effective way to save on physical hardware costs and use comparatively less energy for additional cost savings and environmental benefits. Some benefits of virtual servers include higher server ability, cheaper operating costs, and the elimination of server complexity.