FC0-U71 Infrastructure Practice Question
A technician is setting up a server that will host multiple virtual machines. Which type of hypervisor runs directly on the physical hardware without an underlying operating system?
⚠ Common exam trap
FC0-U71 often tests the misconception that Hyper-V is a Type 2 hypervisor because it's installed as a 'role' on Windows Server — in reality it's Type 1, and the management OS runs as a parent partition above the hypervisor.
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
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Type 1 hypervisor
A Type 1 hypervisor (also called bare-metal) runs directly on the host's physical hardware, with no underlying general-purpose OS between it and the hardware. Examples include VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V (when installed as the Hyper-V role on Server Core), and Citrix XenServer. This architecture provides lower latency and better performance for production virtualization workloads.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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VirtualBox
Why it's wrong here
VirtualBox is a Type 2 hosted hypervisor that installs atop a host operating system, so it cannot run directly on bare metal. It is tempting because VirtualBox is a familiar tool for running VMs on laptops; it would be correct for desktop testing, not bare-metal server virtualisation.
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Hosted hypervisor
Why it's wrong here
A hosted hypervisor is synonymous with Type 2, sitting above a host OS rather than on bare metal, so it fails the direct-hardware requirement. It is tempting because hosted tools are easy to install on existing systems; it would be correct for running VMs on a workstation, not a dedicated server.
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Type 2 hypervisor
Why it's wrong here
A Type 2 hypervisor runs on top of a host operating system, so it does not execute directly on the physical hardware as the scenario demands. It is tempting because Type 2 products are common on workstations; it would be correct for desktop virtualisation, whereas Type 1 satisfies bare-metal hosting.
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Type 1 hypervisor
Why this is correct
A Type 1 hypervisor installs directly on bare metal, controlling hardware itself and hosting guest VMs without a host OS. This matches the stem's requirement precisely, unlike Type 2, which runs as an application atop an existing operating system.
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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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