Final answer:
A hypervisor is the software that allows you to define VMs and manage resource allocation and sharing among them on a host computer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The software that allows you to define VMs (Virtual Machines) and manage resource allocation and sharing among them on a host computer is called a Hypervisor. A hypervisor is a type of software that enables the creation, execution, and management of virtual machines.
There are two types of hypervisors:
- Type 1 Hypervisor: This runs directly on the host machine's hardware and manages the virtual machines without the need for an underlying operating system. Examples of Type 1 hypervisors include VMware ESXi and Microsoft Hyper-V.
- Type 2 Hypervisor: This runs on top of an existing operating system and manages the virtual machines as processes. Examples of Type 2 hypervisors include Oracle VirtualBox and VMware Workstation.
By using a hypervisor, you can create and manage multiple virtual machines on a single physical server, allowing for efficient resource utilization and isolation among the VMs.