Which of the following best defines a virtual server?

• A. A software-based server instance that runs on a physical host
• B. A dedicated physical server with no virtualization
• C. A network router emulating a server
• D. A placeholder with no compute capabilities

Answer: (A)

A virtual server is a software-based server instance that runs on a physical host using virtualization. By employing a hypervisor, the hardware is partitioned into separate, isolated virtual servers, each with its own operating system and allocated resources like CPU, memory, and storage. This lets you run multiple server environments on one physical machine, providing flexibility, scalability, and isolation without needing a separate physical box.

The other descriptions describe different concepts: a dedicated physical server with no virtualization is not virtual, a network router emulating a server describes a different device function, and a placeholder with no compute capabilities isn’t a server at all.