In a virtualized environment, which component is responsible for managing virtual machines?

The hypervisor is the core component responsible for managing virtual machines in a virtualized environment. It acts as a layer between the hardware and the virtual machines, enabling the creation, management, and execution of multiple virtual machines on a single physical server. The hypervisor allocates resources such as CPU, memory, and disk space to each VM, ensuring that they can operate independently and efficiently on shared physical hardware.

The hypervisor can be categorized into two types: Type 1 (bare-metal), which runs directly on the physical hardware, and Type 2 (hosted), which runs on an operating system. In either case, its primary function remains the same: to create a virtual environment where multiple operating systems can co-exist and function without interfering with each other.

While the virtual machine monitor also refers to a type of hypervisor, it is less commonly used and might not always capture the full range of functionalities associated with hypervisors in general. The guest operating system runs inside the virtual machine and is managed by the hypervisor but does not control the VM itself. A management console is a tool used to interact with hypervisors but does not take on the role of management at the hypervisor level. Hence, the hypervisor stands out as