20 Virtualization Interview Questions and Answers

Virtualization is a process of creating a virtual version of something, such as a server, a desktop, an operating system, a file, or a network resource. With virtualization, businesses can reduce IT costs and increase operational efficiency. If you are interviewing for a position that involves virtualization, it is important to be prepared to answer questions about your experience and knowledge. In this article, we will review some common virtualization interview questions and provide tips on how to answer them.

Virtualization Interview Questions and Answers

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

1. What is virtualization?

Virtualization is the process of creating a virtual version of something, such as a server, a desktop, a storage device, or an operating system. This can be done in order to consolidate resources, improve efficiency, or enable a user to run multiple versions of a software program at the same time.

2. Can you explain what a hypervisor does?

A hypervisor is a type of software that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical computer at the same time. This is done by creating virtual machines, which are essentially software simulations of physical computers. The hypervisor manages the resources of the physical computer and allocates them to the various virtual machines as needed.

3. What are the benefits of using a hypervisor for an organization?

The benefits of using a hypervisor are many, but the most notable are increased security, flexibility, and efficiency. By using a hypervisor, organizations can keep their systems more secure by isolating them from one another. This also allows for greater flexibility, as different systems can be run on the same hardware without affecting one another. Finally, hypervisors can help to increase the efficiency of an organization’s IT infrastructure by allowing multiple systems to be run on the same hardware.

4. How many types of virtualizations are there? Which one do you think is best suited for your use case?

There are two main types of virtualization: full virtualization and paravirtualization. Full virtualization is when a hypervisor presents a guest operating system with a virtual machine that is identical to the underlying hardware. Paravirtualization is when a hypervisor presents a guest operating system with a virtual machine that is similar, but not identical, to the underlying hardware.

For my use case, I would prefer full virtualization because it would allow me to run any operating system I want on my virtual machine, without having to worry about compatibility issues.

5. What is cloud computing? How does it relate to virtualization?

Cloud computing is a type of computing where resources, such as applications and data, are provided over the internet. Virtualization is a technology that can be used to create a cloud computing environment. Virtualization allows for the creation of virtual machines, which are essentially software-based versions of computers. These virtual machines can be used to run applications and store data.

6. What are the differences between public, private and hybrid clouds?

Public clouds are owned and operated by a third-party service provider, which delivers computing resources over the Internet. Private clouds are owned and operated by a single organization, which has complete control over the infrastructure. Hybrid clouds are a combination of public and private clouds, which are connected together to create a single, unified platform.

7. Explain the difference between IaaS and PaaS. Which one would you recommend in certain situations?

IaaS, or Infrastructure as a Service, is a cloud computing model in which users can access and use infrastructure resources on demand. This can include anything from virtual machines and storage to networking and security. PaaS, or Platform as a Service, is a cloud computing model in which users can access and use platform resources on demand. This can include anything from development platforms and databases to messaging and business intelligence. In general, IaaS is more flexible and can be used for a wider range of applications, while PaaS is more opinionated and can be used for more specific applications.

8. What’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisors?

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.

9. Can you give me some examples of commercial hypervisors available today?

There are a few commercial hypervisors available today, such as VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Citrix XenServer.

10. Can you name some free or open source hypervisors?

There are a few different free and open source hypervisors available, such as Xen, KVM, and VirtualBox.

11. Is it possible to run multiple instances of an OS on more than one physical machine? If yes, how?

Yes, it is possible to run multiple instances of an OS on more than one physical machine. This can be done through virtualization, which is a process of creating a virtual version of a physical machine. This virtual machine can then be used to run multiple instances of an OS.

12. Is it possible to create backups of running VMs? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to create backups of running VMs. This can be done by using a tool like VMware vSphere Data Protection or by taking a snapshot of the VM.

13. Are there tools that can help with VM provisioning across heterogeneous environments?

Yes, there are a few tools that can help with VM provisioning across heterogeneous environments. One example is the VMware vCenter Converter, which can help with the conversion of physical machines to virtual machines. Another example is Microsoft’s System Center Virtual Machine Manager, which can help with the provisioning and management of virtual machines across a variety of environments.

14. How much effort is usually involved when migrating workloads from vSphere to HyperV?

The amount of effort required to migrate workloads from vSphere to HyperV can vary depending on the size and complexity of the workloads. In general, it is recommended to use a tool to automate the process as much as possible to minimize the amount of manual effort required.

15. Can you give me some examples of real-time scenarios where virtualization makes sense?

Virtualization can be a great way to save on resources, especially when it comes to server hardware. If you have multiple servers that are running at less than full capacity, you can consolidate them onto a single server using virtualization. This can save on space, power, and cooling costs.

Another common use case for virtualization is testing and development. Rather than setting up a separate physical test environment, you can create virtual machines that can be used for testing purposes. This can be a great way to save time and money.

16. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using third-party software like Puppet or Ansible over native virtualization solutions provided by VMware or Microsoft?

The main advantage of using third-party software like Puppet or Ansible is that it can provide a more consistent and reliable experience when managing multiple virtual machines. This is because these tools can automate many of the tasks that are required to keep a virtual machine running smoothly, such as patching, configuration management, and software deployments. The downside is that these tools can be more expensive than native solutions, and they may require a higher level of technical expertise to set up and maintain.

17. What are the security issues associated with virtualization?

One of the key security issues associated with virtualization is the potential for a hypervisor escape. This is where a malicious actor is able to gain access to the underlying host system that is running the virtualized environment. This can be a serious issue as it can give the attacker access to all of the virtual machines that are running on that host system. Another security issue to be aware of is the potential for denial of service attacks. If an attacker is able to bring down the host system, then all of the virtual machines running on that system will be unavailable.

18. What are some ways to ensure high availability of virtual machines?

There are a few key ways to ensure high availability of virtual machines. One is to use a hypervisor that supports live migration, so that if one host goes down, the VM can be quickly moved to another host. Another is to use clustering, so that if one host goes down, the other hosts in the cluster can take over its workload. Finally, it is important to have good backups in place so that if a VM is lost, it can be quickly restored from a backup.

19. How does virtualization affect performance?

The performance of virtualized systems can be affected by a number of factors, including the number of virtual machines running on a single physical host, the amount of memory and CPU resources allocated to each virtual machine, and the I/O performance of the storage system. In general, however, virtualization can help to improve performance by allowing multiple workloads to be run on a single physical server, and by providing a more efficient use of resources.

20. Why should companies be interested in server consolidation?

Server consolidation is a key interest for companies because it can lead to significant reductions in both hardware and operational costs. When you consolidate multiple servers onto a single platform, you need fewer physical machines, which reduces your upfront costs. You also need fewer staff to manage and maintain the servers, which reduces your operational costs.