Which hypervisor is classified as a type-1 hypervisor?

A type-1 hypervisor, also known as a native or bare-metal hypervisor, runs directly on the host's hardware to control the hardware and manage guest operating systems. This design allows for greater efficiency and performance because it does not require an underlying operating system. VMware ESXi is classified as a type-1 hypervisor because it installs directly on server hardware, enabling it to manage virtual machines effectively and use system resources more efficiently.

In contrast, VMware Fusion, VMware Workstation, and Oracle VM VirtualBox are classified as type-2 hypervisors. These hypervisors run on top of an operating system, which means they rely on the host OS for resource management and can introduce additional overhead. This is why they do not meet the criteria for type-1 hypervisors. The distinction is important for organizations looking to optimize their virtualization environments, as type-1 hypervisors are often preferred for enterprise-level deployments due to their performance and scalability advantages.