What networking trend is indicated by a data center hosting multiple operating systems on a single CPU?

The correct choice, virtualization, refers to the technology that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical CPU by creating virtual machines (VMs). This is significant because virtualization enables efficient resource utilization, as multiple workloads can coexist on one server rather than requiring separate hardware for each operating system. This leads to cost savings, easier management, and improved scalability in data centers.

In the context of modern networking environments, virtualization plays a pivotal role in enabling features such as server consolidation, where fewer physical servers handle more tasks, and disaster recovery, where VMs can be easily moved between hosts for redundancy and resilience. Virtualization technologies, such as VMware, Hyper-V, and others, are fundamental to cloud computing infrastructures, allowing for the dynamic allocation of resources and rapid deployment of services.

While cloud computing is related and often utilizes virtualization, it refers more broadly to the delivery of computing services over the internet. Load balancing pertains to distributing workloads across multiple resources, enhancing system responsiveness and uptime, and networking convergence describes the integration of various networking types, such as voice, video, and data, over a single network. Each of these concepts is distinct and complements virtualization but does not specifically describe the hosting of multiple operating systems on a single CPU.