What is a primary characteristic of a Type 2 hypervisor?

A primary characteristic of a Type 2 hypervisor is that it requires a host operating system to function. This means that it operates as an application within an existing operating system, which manages the hardware resources and provides the necessary environment for the hypervisor to run virtual machines. Because it relies on the underlying host OS, Type 2 hypervisors are generally easier to install and more user-friendly, making them appealing for desktop virtualization and development purposes.

In contrast, Type 1 hypervisors run directly on the hardware without the need for a host operating system, which often results in better performance and efficiency. Though Type 2 hypervisors can run multiple operating system instances concurrently, this feature is not exclusive to them; Type 1 hypervisors can do this as well. While some may assume that Type 2 hypervisors are more efficient, they typically exhibit overhead due to relying on a host system, making Type 1 hypervisors generally more efficient in resource usage and performance.