What is another term for a virtual machine manager?

A virtual machine manager is also known as a hypervisor because it creates and manages virtual machines (VMs) by allocating system resources like CPU, memory, and storage to each VM on a physical host. The hypervisor abstracts the hardware components, allowing multiple operating systems to run concurrently on the same physical machine. This virtual abstraction enables better resource utilization, isolation between different VMs, and simplified management and deployment of software environments.

Hypervisors can be categorized into two types: Type 1, which runs directly on the hardware, and Type 2, which runs on top of a host operating system. Regardless of the type, the fundamental role remains the same: to manage virtual machines effectively. Understanding the role of a hypervisor is critical in the study of computer architecture and virtualization technology, as it underpins cloud computing, server consolidation, and more efficient utilization of hardware resources.