How does full virtualization function?

Full virtualization enables a guest operating system to run unmodified and unaware that it is in a virtualized environment. This is achieved by simulating the entire hardware environment, allowing the guest OS to operate as if it is installed on a physical computer. The hypervisor, which is the virtualization layer, effectively translates the operations between the guest OS and the underlying hardware, ensuring that the guest OS remains oblivious to the fact it is virtualized.

This complete simulation allows for greater flexibility and compatibility, as multiple operating systems can run in parallel on the same physical hardware without needing any modifications to the operating systems themselves. This contrasts with other forms of virtualization, such as paravirtualization, where the guest OS must be aware of the virtualization and may need to be specially modified to run effectively.

In essence, the key characteristic of full virtualization is that it provides a transparent environment for the guest OS, allowing it to utilize hardware resources without knowledge of the underlying virtualized setup.