Cisco Cyber Security Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of a hypervisor in virtualization?

1. To manage storage

2. To monitor network traffic

3. To create multiple virtual machines

4. To secure user passwords

The correct answer is: To create multiple virtual machines

The primary purpose of a hypervisor in virtualization is to create multiple virtual machines. A hypervisor acts as a layer that sits between the physical hardware and the virtual machines, allowing it to efficiently allocate system resources such as CPU, memory, and storage across these virtual machines. This capability enables the simultaneous running of different operating systems on a single physical machine, facilitating better resource utilization, isolation, and management. While managing storage and monitoring network traffic are important aspects of a virtualized environment, those tasks are typically handled by other components within the infrastructure rather than by the hypervisor itself. For instance, storage management can be performed by storage area networks (SANs) or software-defined storage solutions, and network traffic monitoring may involve specialized tools or software. Additionally, securing user passwords falls outside the scope of a hypervisor's functionality, which is focused on resource management and virtualization rather than security of individual user credentials. Thus, the emphasis on creating multiple virtual machines highlights the core functionality provided by a hypervisor.