What is the difference between a physical server and a virtual server?

The distinction between a physical server and a virtual server primarily revolves around their nature and deployment. A physical server refers to a tangible, actual hardware device that runs directly on physical components such as CPUs, memory, and storage solutions. It requires a physical footprint, meaning it occupies space in a data center or server room.

In contrast, a virtual server operates as a software-based emulation of a server, created through virtualization technology. This means that multiple virtual servers can run on a single physical server, allowing for efficient resource allocation and utilization. Virtual servers rely on a hypervisor to manage the operating systems and resources allocated to them, which provides flexibility and scalability in managing workloads.

Understanding this difference is crucial as it impacts factors like deployment, resource management, and infrastructure cost, but doesn't inherently relate to the cost or power consumption, which are influenced by various factors such as configuration and workload requirements.