# The Evolution of Virtualization from Process Isolation to Cloud Computing

DevFeed: [The Evolution of Virtualization from Process Isolation to Cloud Computing](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/turtles-all-the-way-down-38942.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://idea.popcount.org/2015-08-16-turtles-all-the-way-down>)

Author: Marek

Published: 2015-08-15T22:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Marek Majkowski](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/marek-majkowski.md>)

Topics: [virtualization](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/virtualization.md>), [virtual machines](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/virtual-machines.md>), [Operating system](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/operating-system.md>), [Processes](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/processes.md>), [cpu](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cpu.md>), [Amazon EC2](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/amazon-ec2.md>), [Linux](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/linux.md>), [Xen](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/xen.md>)

Tags: [cpu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cpu.md>), [ec2](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ec2.md>), [industry](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/industry.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [mainframes](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mainframes.md>), [processes](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/processes.md>), [virtual](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/virtual.md>), [virtual-machines](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/virtual-machines.md>), [virtualization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/virtualization.md>)

## AI overview

The article presents virtualization as a broad computing concept encompassing fault isolation, resource isolation, process separation, and virtual machines. It traces this evolution from flat memory layouts and early CPUs through memory management, process separation, operating-system virtualization, and cloud computing, including Amazon EC2.

## Source excerpt

Turtles all the way down I've realized that "virtualization" is a major driving force in the computer industry. I know, this sounds pretty obvious, but previously I didn't realize just how strong the virtualization force is. By "virtualization" I don't only mean virtual machines. I mean a wider concept of fault isolation, resource isolation, process separation and so on.