Understanding the role of virtual machine images

Virtual machines need an operating system and other applications installed to serve their purpose. A virtual machine image is a single file containing a virtual disk with a bootable operating system installed on it. It’s a snapshot of a virtual machine at a particular point in time. This snapshot contains the state of the virtual machine, including the operating system, installed applications, and other settings.

Static virtual machines

When setting up a single virtual machine, or even a group of them with different roles and responsibilities within a solution’s architecture, there is a process of configuration that needs to happen to get each virtual machine into the state required to perform its duties as part of the solution.

This configuration includes the following steps:

1. Installing the operating system
2. Configuring the operating system
3. Installing software updates and security patches
4. Installing...