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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/aplus-type1-hypervisor

A hypervisor that runs directly on the hardware with no host OS is called which type?

Type 1, also called bare metal.

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  1. Type 1 (bare metal) ✔
  2. Type 2 (hosted)
  3. A container engine

Why: A Type 1 hypervisor runs straight on the hardware, with no host operating system under it. A Type 2 hypervisor runs on top of a host OS. NIST calls these bare metal and hosted virtualization.

Huh, didn't know that: NIST says a bare metal hypervisor can even be built into the computer's firmware.

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References

Answer: Type 1 (bare metal). A Type 1 hypervisor runs straight on the hardware, with no host operating system under it. A Type 2 hypervisor runs on top of a host OS. NIST calls these bare metal and hosted virtualization.

  1. NIST SP 800-125, Guide to Security for Full Virtualization Technologies nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nistspecialpublication800-125.pdf
    In bare metal virtualization, also known as native virtualization, the hypervisor runs directly on the underlying hardware, without a host OS
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. NIST SP 800-125, Guide to Security for Full Virtualization Technologies nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nistspecialpublication800-125.pdf
    known as hosted virtualization, the hypervisor runs on top of the host OS
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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