Which setting allows an administrator to restrict network bandwidth while allowing bursts of traffic in a vSphere Distributed Switch?

Traffic shaping is the correct choice because it specifically manages the flow of network traffic to enforce bandwidth limits while still allowing for bursts of traffic as network conditions warrant. This setting can be configured on a vSphere Distributed Switch to define both average and peak bandwidth limits for a port group, meaning that while there is a defined bandwidth allocation for regular use, the system can accommodate higher traffic levels temporarily without dropping packets.

This feature is beneficial in maintaining overall network performance and ensuring a fair distribution of resources among workloads. By utilizing traffic shaping, administrators can effectively balance network load, prioritize critical applications, and prevent any single workload from overwhelming network resources.

In contrast, the other settings do not provide the capability to directly manage bandwidth in this manner. Teaming and failover is about network redundancy and failsafe measures, monitoring refers to observing traffic without directly influencing it, while security settings focus on controlling access and permissions rather than bandwidth management.