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220-1201 Practice Question: A user has a laptop with 8 GB of RAM and runs a…
A user has a laptop with 8 GB of RAM and runs a Type 2 hypervisor to test a Linux VM. The VM is configured with 4 GB of RAM, but the user notices the host OS becomes sluggish whenever the VM is running. The technician checks resource usage and finds the host is using 6 GB of RAM before starting the VM. What should the technician adjust to improve performance?
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
✓
Reduce the VM's RAM allocation to 2 GB
The host only has 2 GB free, but the VM requests 4 GB, causing the host to use swap memory. Reducing the VM's RAM allocation to 2 GB will allow both the host and VM to run within physical memory, avoiding swapping.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase the host's virtual memory page file size
Why it's wrong here
While increasing the host's virtual memory page file size can prevent system crashes due to out-of-memory errors, it does not resolve the fundamental problem of insufficient physical RAM. Relying heavily on the page file, which uses slower disk storage, leads to excessive "paging" or "swapping," significantly degrading overall system performance and responsiveness. This only mitigates symptoms rather than addressing the root cause of memory contention.
- ✓
Reduce the VM's RAM allocation to 2 GB
Why this is correct
Reducing the virtual machine's RAM allocation to 2 GB is the most effective solution when the host system has only 8 GB of physical RAM. This adjustment ensures that the host operating system retains sufficient free RAM for its own operations and other background processes, preventing excessive swapping to the page file. By optimizing the memory distribution, both the host and the VM can operate more efficiently, improving overall system responsiveness and stability.
- ✗
Enable hyper-threading on the host CPU
Why it's wrong here
Enabling hyper-threading on the host CPU allows a single physical CPU core to function as two logical processors, improving CPU utilization and throughput for multi-threaded applications. However, this technology primarily addresses CPU processing bottlenecks, not memory limitations. It has no direct impact on the amount of available physical RAM or the system's ability to manage memory resources, making it ineffective for resolving a RAM shortage.
- ✗
Switch the VM's network adapter from NAT to bridged
Why it's wrong here
Switching the virtual machine's network adapter from Network Address Translation (NAT) to bridged mode alters how the VM communicates with the external network, making it appear as a separate device on the physical network. While this change impacts network configuration and accessibility, it has no bearing on the host's physical RAM availability or the VM's memory consumption. Therefore, it offers no solution to a memory shortage issue.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Hardware and Components
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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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 220-1201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A user reports that their virtual machine is running very slowly. The host system has 16 GB of RAM, and the VM is configured with 8 GB. The host is running a Type 2 hypervisor on Windows 10. The technician checks Task Manager and sees that the host is using 14 GB of RAM. What is the most likely cause of the VM's poor performance?
easy- A.The VM's virtual CPU is overclocked
- B.The hypervisor is not compatible with Windows 10
- ✓ C.The host does not have enough free RAM to support the VM's needs
- D.The VM's network adapter is set to NAT instead of bridged
Why C: The host is running low on available RAM because the VM's allocated memory is not being released efficiently, or other host processes are consuming memory. In a Type 2 hypervisor, the host OS manages memory, and if it is oversubscribed, the VM will experience swapping and slowdowns.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.