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[a1s]

This is clearly going nowhere. How about a hint?

[A_Curious_Cat]

This is clearly going nowhere. How about a hint?

I think I’ll just tell you that writing these kinds of programs for x86 processors was so difficult historically, that both Intel and AMD eventually ended up creating processor extensions specifically to make writing these programs easier.

(Bonus points if you can identify the specific Intel and AMD processor extensions.  Double if you can identify at least one instance not involving a modern microprocessor where a computer architecture had to be physically modified to allow it to run one of these programs.)

[King Zultan]

Is the program used only by the computer itself?

[A_Curious_Cat]

Is the program used only by the computer itself?

What do you mean by “used only by the computer itself”?

[King Zultan]

Is the program used only by the computer itself?

What do you mean by “used only by the computer itself”?

The ones the computer needs to keep going that you don't have to do anything to and they just start on their own when the computer turns on.

[A_Curious_Cat]

Is the program used only by the computer itself?

What do you mean by “used only by the computer itself”?

The ones the computer needs to keep going that you don't have to do anything to and they just start on their own when the computer turns on.

Well, it isn’t strictly necessary to have it installed for the computer to be usable. The computer can do just fine without it.  It’s just that many organizations/companies see it as necessary to get the most out of certain of their machines.  As for not needing to do anything to, it depends on the subtype.  In one of the subtypes, it’s typically loaded manually and the user works with it actively.  In the other, it’s one of the first things loaded when the computer boots up and mostly runs in the background (the administrator can still send commands to it, though), possibly without the users even knowing it’s there.

[King Zultan]

Well I'm running out of ideas.

Does the user need to interact with this program to use it beyond starting it?

[A_Curious_Cat]

Well I'm running out of ideas.

Does the user need to interact with this program to use it beyond starting it?

Constantly, no.  In one subtype the user occasionally has to interact with it.  In the other, they have to ask the administrator to interact with it.  Usually just when something goes wrong.

[King Zultan]

Is it a diagnostic program?

[A_Curious_Cat]

Is it a diagnostic program?

No.

[a1s]

Some kind of virtual machine?

[Superdorf]

Is it a GUI?

[a1s]

Is it a graphical user interface?

No.

[A_Curious_Cat]

Some kind of virtual machine?

Depends on what you call a “virtual machine”.  Technically, no, but it’s very closely related and many people erroneously call it one.

You’re on the right track though…

[Iris]

Is it a hypervisor?

(Disclaimer: I saw this thread, had absolutely zero context, and decided to go for a longshot guess. I'm probably wrong and will be forced to have this thread in my unread replies for all time as punishment.)