Identifying the Functionality of Virtual Machines

C

The correct answer is C: The hypervisor virtualizes physical components including CPU, memory, and storage.

Explanation:

Virtual machines (VMs) are essentially software-defined instances of a computer system that run within a physical host server. The hypervisor is the software layer that allows multiple VMs to share the resources of a single physical server.

The functionality of virtual machines is defined by the hypervisor, which virtualizes physical components such as CPU, memory, and storage. This allows multiple VMs to share these resources, while remaining isolated from one another and the underlying physical server. By virtualizing these components, the hypervisor is able to create a set of virtual hardware that each VM can use as if it were physical.

Option A is incorrect because while the hypervisor does communicate on Layer 3, it does require additional resources such as virtual switches and network adapters to enable communication between VMs and the physical network.

Option B is incorrect because each hypervisor can support multiple VMs, rather than just a single one.

Option D is incorrect because virtualized servers can run efficiently even when connected to the same physical switch as the hypervisor, and there is no need for a separate switch for this purpose.

Therefore, option C is the correct answer, as it correctly identifies the functionality of virtual machines by highlighting the hypervisor's ability to virtualize physical components such as CPU, memory, and storage.