Database Virtual Machines
Database Virtual Machines are pre-configured virtual machine images that include a database management system (DBMS) and its dependencies, optimized for running in cloud or on-premises virtualized environments. They provide a way to deploy and manage database servers as virtualized instances, offering flexibility, scalability, and simplified administration compared to bare-metal setups. This approach allows developers and administrators to quickly spin up database instances with minimal configuration overhead.
Developers should use Database Virtual Machines when they need to deploy database servers in cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) or virtualized data centers, as they offer rapid provisioning, easy scaling, and integration with infrastructure-as-code tools. They are ideal for development, testing, and production scenarios where consistency, portability, and cost-efficiency are priorities, such as in microservices architectures or hybrid cloud deployments. This is particularly useful for teams leveraging DevOps practices, as it streamlines database management alongside application deployment.