You install Oracle VirtualBox on a Windows 11 workstation so that you can run several guest operating systems for software-testing without modifying the host OS. VirtualBox operates as a normal desktop application that relies on Windows for hardware access.
Which type of hypervisor does VirtualBox exemplify?
Oracle VirtualBox is a hosted, or Type 2, hypervisor because it runs on top of an existing host operating system (Windows 11). The host OS handles all hardware interactions, while the hypervisor provides virtual hardware to each guest VM. Type 1 (bare-metal) hypervisors, such as VMware ESXi or Microsoft Hyper-V Server, install directly on hardware without a general-purpose host OS. Containers share the host OS kernel rather than virtualizing hardware, and VDI is a centralized desktop delivery model rather than a hypervisor classification.
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What is the main difference between a Type 1 (bare-metal) hypervisor and a Type 2 (hosted) hypervisor?
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How does VirtualBox provide virtual hardware to guest operating systems?
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What are typical use cases for a Type 2 hypervisor like VirtualBox?