How does the OS manage resources in virtualised environments?

The OS manages resources in virtualised environments by allocating and controlling access to hardware resources for each virtual machine.

In a virtualised environment, the operating system (OS) plays a crucial role in managing the resources. The OS is responsible for allocating and controlling access to the hardware resources for each virtual machine (VM). This includes managing the CPU, memory, storage, and network resources. The OS ensures that each VM has the necessary resources to function effectively, while also maintaining the overall performance and stability of the system.

The OS uses a component known as the hypervisor to manage the resources in a virtualised environment. The hypervisor is a piece of software that creates and runs virtual machines. It sits between the hardware and the virtual machines and is responsible for distributing the resources of the physical host machine to the VMs. The hypervisor ensures that each VM has a fair share of the resources, and it also isolates the VMs from each other to prevent any interference.

The OS manages the CPU resources by scheduling the CPU time for each VM. It uses algorithms to determine which VM should get the CPU time and when. This ensures that all VMs get a fair share of the CPU resources and that the system remains responsive.

Memory management in a virtualised environment is also a critical task for the OS. The OS allocates a certain amount of memory to each VM and ensures that the VM does not exceed its allocated memory. If a VM needs more memory, the OS can allocate more memory to it, provided that the physical host machine has enough free memory.

Storage and network resources are also managed by the OS in a virtualised environment. The OS allocates storage space to each VM and manages the data flow between the VMs and the storage devices. It also controls the network traffic between the VMs and the network devices to ensure smooth communication.

In conclusion, the OS plays a crucial role in managing resources in a virtualised environment. It ensures that each VM has the necessary resources to function effectively, while also maintaining the overall performance and stability of the system.