A Type 2 hypervisor is defined as a hypervisor that runs on top of a host operating system, rather than directly on the system’s hardware. According to CompTIA Core 1 (220-1201) virtualization concepts, Type 2 hypervisors are also referred to as hosted hypervisors and are commonly used in desktop, lab, and testing environments.
In this model, the host operating system (such as Windows, macOS, or Linux) is installed first, and the hypervisor runs as an application within that OS. The hypervisor then manages virtual machines by requesting hardware resources through the host OS. Examples of Type 2 hypervisors include VirtualBox, VMware Workstation, and Parallels Desktop.
Option B describes a Type 1 (bare-metal) hypervisor, which runs directly on the hardware without a host OS. Type 1 hypervisors are typically used in enterprise environments and offer higher performance and isolation. Option A is unrelated to virtualization, as firewall functionality controls network traffic. Option D is incorrect because hypervisors do not inherently increase CPU capabilities; they allocate existing resources.
CompTIA emphasizes understanding the distinction between Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisors, particularly that Type 2 hypervisors rely on a host operating system, making option C the correct answer.
[References:CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Official Study Guide – Virtualization Concepts, Hypervisor Types, and Cloud Computing, , , , , ]
