20 Hypervisor Interview Questions and Answers

A hypervisor is a type of software that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical computer. This can be useful for developers who want to test applications on different platforms or for businesses that want to use multiple operating systems for different tasks. If you’re interviewing for a position that involves working with a hypervisor, you’ll need to be prepared to answer questions about your experience and skills. In this article, we review some common hypervisor interview questions and provide tips on how to answer them.

Hypervisor Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Hypervisor interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is Hypervisor?

A hypervisor is a type of virtualization software that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical server. By abstracting the hardware away from the operating system, a hypervisor allows for multiple virtual machines to run on a single server, each with its own operating system and applications.

2. Can you explain the difference between a Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisor?

A Type 1 hypervisor is a bare-metal hypervisor that is installed directly on top of a physical server. A Type 2 hypervisor, on the other hand, is installed on top of an operating system, which in turn is installed on top of a physical server.

3. How does a type 1 hypervisor differ from a type 2 hypervisor?

A type 1 hypervisor is a bare-metal hypervisor that runs directly on the hardware, while a type 2 hypervisor runs on top of an operating system. This means that type 1 hypervisors have better performance and more control over the hardware, while type 2 hypervisors are easier to install and manage.

4. What are some examples of popular hypervisors?

Some popular hypervisors include VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Citrix XenServer.

5. Can you explain what paravirtualization is?

Paravirtualization is a technique for achieving better performance from a virtual machine by modifying the guest operating system to remove the need for certain instructions that are expensive to emulate. This typically involves modifying the kernel of the guest operating system to replace certain instructions with calls into a hypervisor API.

6. Can you give me an example of how to set up networking on a hypervisor?

In order to set up networking on a hypervisor, you will need to create a virtual network switch. This can be done using the Hyper-V Manager console or by using PowerShell. Once the virtual network switch has been created, you will then need to create virtual adapters for each virtual machine that will be using the network. The virtual adapters can be created using the Hyper-V Manager console or by using PowerShell. Finally, you will need to configure the virtual adapters to use the virtual network switch that you created.

7. Can you explain what Nested Virtualization means?

Nested virtualization is a term used to describe the ability to run a virtual machine inside of another virtual machine. This can be useful for a number of reasons, such as being able to test different configurations of a virtual machine without affecting the host machine, or being able to run multiple virtual machines on a single physical machine.

8. Why do you think it’s important for your virtual machines to have unique IP addresses?

There are a few reasons why it’s important for virtual machines to have unique IP addresses. First, it helps to prevent collisions if two virtual machines happen to be trying to use the same IP address. Second, it makes it easier to identify each virtual machine on a network. And finally, it can help to improve security by making it more difficult for attackers to target a specific machine.

9. Can you tell me about some common mistakes made by people when creating virtual machines?

One common mistake is not allocating enough resources to the virtual machine. This can lead to the virtual machine running slowly or becoming unresponsive. Another mistake is not properly configuring the networking for the virtual machine, which can lead to communication problems between the virtual machine and the host or other virtual machines.

10. What happens if two or more VMs try to use the same hardware resources at the same time?

If two or more VMs try to use the same hardware resources at the same time, the hypervisor will arbitrate between them and determine which VM gets to use the resources. This can lead to contention and performance issues, so it’s important to try to avoid having VMs that are competing for the same resources.

11. How can over-committing be used as a strategy in managing virtual resources?

Over-committing is a strategy that can be used in managing virtual resources where more virtual resources are allocated than there are physical resources available. This can be done by using techniques such as memory compression and disk caching. The idea is that by over-committing resources, the system can make better use of the physical resources that are available and improve performance.

12. Are there any security implications involved with using a hypervisor? If yes, then what are they?

Yes, there are security implications involved with using a hypervisor. One of the biggest dangers is that if the hypervisor is compromised, then the attacker can gain access to all of the virtual machines running on that hypervisor. This could lead to a serious data breach if sensitive information is stored on those virtual machines. Additionally, attackers could use the hypervisor to launch attacks on other systems, or to create new virtual machines for malicious purposes.

13. Is it possible to move a VM from one hypervisor to another without impacting its performance?

Yes, it is possible to move a VM from one hypervisor to another without impacting its performance, provided that the target hypervisor is compatible with the VM. This can be accomplished by using a tool like VMware vCenter Converter.

14. What are some tips that should be followed when migrating virtual machines?

Some tips to follow when migrating virtual machines include:

– Make sure to have a backup of the VM before starting the migration process
– Ensure that the target host has enough resources to run the VM
– Use a migration tool that is compatible with the source and target hosts
– Follow the instructions provided by the migration tool carefully

15. How does Cloud Computing relate to hypervisors?

Cloud computing is a model for delivering IT services in which resources are provided as a service over the Internet. A hypervisor is a type of software that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical server. In the context of cloud computing, a hypervisor can be used to provide a cloud service, such as a virtual private server.

16. How do you determine which network adapter will be used by a given VM?

The network adapter that will be used by a given VM is determined by the hypervisor. The hypervisor will select the network adapter that is best suited for the VM, based on factors such as performance and compatibility.

17. What are the main differences among Windows Server 2016, VMware vSphere 6.0, and XenServer 7?

The main difference between Windows Server 2016 and the other two is that Windows Server 2016 is a Type 1 hypervisor while VMware vSphere 6.0 and XenServer 7 are Type 2 hypervisors. This means that Windows Server 2016 can be installed directly on top of hardware while VMware vSphere 6.0 and XenServer 7 must be installed on top of an existing operating system. Additionally, Windows Server 2016 uses Hyper-V while VMware vSphere 6.0 uses ESXi and XenServer 7 uses Xen.

18. What are some ways to create a new VM on a host?

There are a few ways to create a new VM on a host. One way is to use a hypervisor, which is a piece of software that allows you to create and manage virtual machines. Another way is to use a virtual machine manager, which is a software application that helps you create and manage virtual machines.

19. What are some types of hypervisors?

Some types of hypervisors include bare-metal hypervisors, hosted hypervisors, and paravirtualized hypervisors.

20. What kind of management tools are available for hypervisors?

There are a few different types of management tools available for hypervisors. One type is a graphical user interface (GUI), which provides a visual way to manage and monitor your hypervisor and virtual machines (VMs). Another type is a command-line interface (CLI), which allows you to manage and monitor your hypervisor and VMs using text-based commands. Finally, there are also APIs, which allow you to programmatically manage and monitor your hypervisor and VMs.