What is the requirement to deploy virtual machines on a Windows 10 desktop?

To deploy virtual machines on a Windows 10 desktop, it is essential to install a Type-2 hypervisor. A Type-2 hypervisor is a software layer that enables the running of multiple operating systems (virtual machines) concurrently on a host operating system, in this case, Windows 10. Popular examples of Type-2 hypervisors include VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox, and Microsoft Hyper-V (when installed in Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise editions).

Without this hypervisor, Windows 10 would not have the necessary infrastructure to manage and allocate resources to virtual machines. Thus, the hypervisor acts as an intermediary, facilitating the virtualization of the hardware for the VMs, which allows them to run applications and services in isolation from each other and the host OS.

The other options do not directly relate to the core requirement of deploying virtual machines. For instance, while installing Windows patches ensures the system is updated and secure, it does not enable virtualization. Similarly, adding additional CD-ROMs or network interfaces may enhance the capabilities of the virtual machines or the host, but they do not fulfill the fundamental requirement of having a hypervisor to create and manage the VMs in the first place.