What is the primary function of the 'hypervisor' in virtualization?a)T...
A hypervisor, also known as a virtual machine monitor, is responsible for managing and allocating resources such as CPU, memory, and storage to virtual machines, allowing multiple operating systems to run concurrently on a single physical machine.
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What is the primary function of the 'hypervisor' in virtualization?a)T...
Understanding the Hypervisor in Virtualization
The hypervisor is a crucial component in virtualization technology, primarily responsible for managing and allocating resources to virtual machines (VMs). Let's delve into its main functions.
Resource Management
- The hypervisor acts as a manager for the physical resources of the host machine, such as CPU, memory, and storage.
- It ensures that each VM gets the necessary resources to operate efficiently, preventing any single VM from monopolizing these resources.
Isolation of Virtual Machines
- By managing resources, the hypervisor maintains isolation between VMs, ensuring that they operate independently without interference.
- This isolation is critical for security and stability, allowing multiple operating systems to run on the same physical hardware.
Virtual Hardware Abstraction
- The hypervisor provides a layer of abstraction over the physical hardware, allowing VMs to interact with virtualized hardware rather than the actual physical components.
- This abstraction simplifies the process of creating and managing VMs, as users can deploy different operating systems without worrying about hardware compatibility.
Types of Hypervisors
- There are two main types of hypervisors: Type 1 (bare-metal) and Type 2 (hosted).
- Type 1 hypervisors run directly on the hardware, while Type 2 hypervisors operate on top of an existing operating system. Each type has its own advantages, depending on the use case.
Conclusion
In summary, the hypervisor's primary function is to manage and allocate resources to virtual machines effectively. This capability is essential for enabling virtualization, allowing multiple VMs to run on a single physical machine while ensuring performance, security, and stability.