Virtual Machines
Why Researchers Choose Virtual Machines
As a researcher, you'll encounter situations where your local computer simply isn't enough for your work. Virtual machines provide a powerful solution when your research demands more computing power, specific software environments, or collaborative capabilities than your personal hardware can deliver.
Common Research Scenarios for VMs
Computational Analysis
Running large-scale data analysis, statistical modeling, or simulations that require more processing power and memory than your laptop provides.
Machine Learning & AI
Training neural networks, processing large datasets, or running AI models that need specialised GPU hardware and extensive memory.
Specialised Software
Using research tools that only run on specific operating systems or require software versions incompatible with your local environment.
Team Collaboration
Working with research teams where everyone needs access to the same computing environment, data, and software configurations.
Long-Running Processes
Running analyses that take hours or days to complete without tying up your personal computer or worrying about interruptions.
Key Benefits for Researchers
Virtual machines offer several advantages that directly address common research challenges:
- Scalable Performance: Access powerful hardware configurations that match your computational needs without purchasing expensive equipment
- Cost-Effective: Pay only for the computing time you use, making expensive hardware accessible for short-term projects
- Environment Consistency: Ensure your research is reproducible by capturing and sharing exact software environments
- Collaboration Ready: Share computing environments with research partners regardless of their local hardware or operating system
Real-World Research Examples
When Your Laptop Isn't Enough
Scenario: You're analyzing a large genomics dataset that requires 32GB of RAM and specialized bioinformatics software, but your laptop only has 8GB of memory.
Solution: Deploy a high-memory VM with the necessary computational resources and pre-configured bioinformatics tools, allowing you to complete your analysis efficiently.