What type of hypervisor runs directly on the host machine?

A hypervisor that runs directly on the host machine is classified as a Type 1 hypervisor. This type of hypervisor is also known as a bare-metal hypervisor because it does not require a separate operating system to run; instead, it interacts directly with the hardware limitations of the host machine. By having direct access to the physical resources, a Type 1 hypervisor can generally provide better performance, scalability, and security compared to those running on an operating system.

Type 1 hypervisors are commonly used in enterprise environments for server virtualization, allowing multiple virtual machines to operate on the same physical hardware efficiently. Examples of Type 1 hypervisors include VMware vSphere/ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Xen. The design of Type 1 hypervisors optimizes resource management and isolation between the different virtual machines, making them suitable for enterprise applications where performance and security are paramount.