220-1201 Virtualization and Cloud Computing Practice Question
A small accounting firm wants to run a legacy Windows XP application that is incompatible with Windows 11. The technician needs to provide the least disruptive solution that allows the application to run on the existing Windows 11 desktop without modifying the host OS or purchasing new hardware. Which of the following should the technician implement?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any hypervisor requires wiping the host OS or that application virtualization can substitute for a full guest OS.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Type 2 hypervisor
A Type 2 hypervisor installs as software on the existing Windows 11 host, letting the technician create a Windows XP VM with minimal disruption. It avoids reimaging the host or buying new hardware, and the VM remains isolated. Type 1 hypervisors replace the host OS, VDI needs server infrastructure, and application virtualization cannot provide a full legacy OS.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Type 1 hypervisor
Why it's wrong here
A Type 1 hypervisor runs directly on bare metal and would replace the Windows 11 host OS, which is highly disruptive and unnecessary for running a single legacy application. It also requires dedicated hardware and reconfiguration, violating the requirement to avoid host OS modifications and new hardware.
- ✓
Type 2 hypervisor
Why this is correct
A Type 2 hypervisor runs as an application on top of the host OS, allowing a legacy OS like Windows XP to run in a VM without altering the Windows 11 host. This is the least disruptive because it requires no hardware changes or host OS modifications, and the VM can be isolated from the host.
- ✗
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
Why it's wrong here
VDI centralizes desktops on servers and streams them to endpoints, which requires significant backend infrastructure and network dependencies. For a small firm needing to run one legacy app locally, VDI is overkill, costly, and does not meet the least-disruptive requirement without new hardware.
- ✗
Application virtualization
Why it's wrong here
Application virtualization packages an app to run in an isolated bubble, but it cannot virtualize an entire OS like Windows XP. Legacy apps that depend on OS-level components often fail under application virtualization, so it would not reliably run the XP application without a full OS environment.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Networking Hardware: Routers, Switches, APs
Key term
Hypervisor
A hypervisor is software that creates and runs virtual machines by allowing multiple operating systems to share a single hardware host.
Key term
Type 2 hypervisor
A Type 2 hypervisor is software that creates and runs virtual machines on top of a host operating system, rather than directly on the hardware.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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