A virtual processor is a process that the operating system
schedules for processing.
Database server processes are called virtual processors because
the way they function is similar to the way that a CPU functions in
a computer. Just as a CPU runs multiple operating-system processes
to service multiple users, a database server virtual processor runs
multiple threads to service multiple SQL client applications.
The following figure illustrates the relationship of client applications to virtual procFigure 1: Virtual processors essors. A small number of virtual processors serve a much larger number of client applications
or queries.