virtualization layer
nounUK /ˌvɜːtʃuəlaɪˈzeɪʃən ˈleɪə/
US /ˌvɜːrtʃuələˈzeɪʃən ˈleɪər/
A special in-between part of a computer that lets many pretend computers share one real computer.
The virtualization layer lets the school run ten practice computers on a single machine.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A software layer that hides the real hardware so programs can run as if on their own separate machine.
The virtualization layer tricks each program into thinking it owns the whole computer.
3. A layer in networking that creates separate pretend networks on top of one physical network.
The network virtualization layer keeps each company's traffic apart.
4. A storage layer that combines many drives into one pool that computers can divide up.
The storage virtualization layer made the many disks look like one big drive.