What is the primary function of a hypervisor in virtualization?

The primary function of a hypervisor in virtualization is to enable multiple operating systems to run on one hardware platform. This is accomplished by allowing the hypervisor to create and manage virtual machines (VMs) that can run their own operating systems independently, while sharing the underlying physical hardware resources such as CPU, memory, and storage.

A hypervisor acts as an intermediary between the hardware and the virtual machines, efficiently allocating resources to ensure that each VM operates smoothly and efficiently. This function is crucial in data centers and enterprise environments where resource optimization, application isolation, and scalability are essential.

In contrast, managing hardware upgrades, enhancing internet security, or creating backups of virtual machines are not the primary functions of a hypervisor. While these tasks can be important aspects of IT management, they fall outside the core role of virtualization technology.