Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · Automation software engineering and architecture

Virtualization

German: Virtualisierung

In computing, virtualization is the abstraction of physical resources such as processors, memory, storage or networks, so that several isolated virtual instances can share one physical system or one virtual resource can span several physical ones.

  • Software engineering

In one sentence

Virtualization abstracts physical computing resources so several isolated virtual instances can share one physical system.

Example

By virtualizing the control room servers, the plant reduced ten physical machines to a two-host cluster with failover.

How it applies

  • Engineering: In automation, virtualization moved from IT into the control room (SCADA, MES, engineering servers) and increasingly toward control itself, with virtual PLCs on real-time capable hypervisors.
  • Operation: Virtualization simplifies backup, restore and hardware replacement, but adds a layer that operators must understand and maintain.
  • Documentation: Documentation must state supported virtualization platforms and configuration requirements, including any real-time constraints. Commissioning guides should cover VM deployment as well as installation on physical hardware.

Virtualization vs. emulation

Virtualization runs instructions natively on the same processor architecture with isolation. Emulation imitates a different architecture in software, which is slower but lets software for older hardware run on new systems.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: AI TechDoc Knowledge editorial definition, based on virtualization practice

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Knowledge and are not part of any standard.

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