What is the primary function of a hypervisor in a virtualized environment?

The primary function of a hypervisor in a virtualized environment is to create and manage virtual machines. A hypervisor, also known as a virtual machine monitor (VMM), operates between the hardware and the operating systems, allowing multiple operating systems to run concurrently on a single physical machine. It allocates resources such as CPU, memory, and storage to each virtual machine and ensures that they operate independently of each other. This capability enables efficient utilization of server resources, isolation between different environments, and flexibility in managing workloads.

In the context of virtualization, the ability to create and manage these virtual machines is crucial, as it allows organizations to scale their infrastructure dynamically, run multiple applications on the same hardware, and improve resource allocation. This function enhances overall efficiency and reduces costs associated with maintaining physical servers.

While managing network traffic, providing power supply redundancy, and securely storing data are important functions in a typical server environment, they do not directly relate to the core functionality of a hypervisor, which focuses on the operation and management of virtual machines.