what is Hypervisor?


 A hypervisor is software that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical computer. It creates a virtual machine (VM) for each operating system, which provides an isolated environment for the operating system to run in. The hypervisor also manages the allocation of hardware resources to the VMs.

There are two main types of hypervisors:

  1. Type 1 hypervisors (also known as bare metal hypervisors) run directly on the physical hardware of the computer. This means that the hypervisor has direct access to the hardware resources, such as the CPU, memory, and storage. This makes type 1 hypervisors very efficient and performant, as they do not have to share hardware resources with an operating system.
  2. Type 2 hypervisors (also known as hosted hypervisors) run on top of an operating system. This means that the hypervisor shares the hardware resources of the operating system. This makes type 2 hypervisors less efficient than type 1 hypervisors, but they are easier to install and manage.

Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between type 1 and type 2 hypervisors:

Feature Type 1 Hypervisor Type 2 Hypervisor

Installation Installed directly on the hardware Installed on top of an operating system

Access to hardware resources Direct access Shares hardware resources with the operating system

Performance Very efficient Less efficient

Ease of installation and management More difficult to install and manage Easier to install and manage

Here are some examples of type 1 hypervisors:

  • VMware ESXi
  • Microsoft Hyper-V
  • Xen
  • KVM

Here are some examples of type 2 hypervisors:

  • Oracle VirtualBox
  • VMWare Player
  • Virtual PC
  • Parallels Desktop

The type of hypervisor that you choose will depend on your specific needs. If you need the most performance and efficiency, then you should choose a type 1 hypervisor. If you need an easier-to-use hypervisor, then you should choose a type 2 hypervisor.

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