220-1101 Question 357
Single answerRequirementsA technician is preparing to install a virtualization workstation for a developer who needs to run several 64-bit virtual machines at the same time on a desktop PC. The developer reports that a previous system could not start some VMs and often became unresponsive when multiple VMs were open. Which of the following hardware changes would BEST meet the requirements for this use case?
- A
Install a CPU that supports hardware virtualization extensions and increase system RAM
- B
Replace the motherboard with one that has more USB ports and install a larger monitor
- C
Add a dedicated sound card and upgrade to higher-wattage speakers
- D
Install a Blu-ray drive and increase the system's optical media cache
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
For virtualization workloads, the best answer is the option that meets both functional and performance requirements. In A+ Core 1, candidates are expected to match hardware to a specific scenario. Running several 64-bit VMs requires CPU virtualization support and sufficient RAM. Without virtualization extensions, some hypervisors cannot run 64-bit guest operating systems correctly. Without enough memory, the host system will slow significantly or become unstable under load. This aligns with common vendor guidance from virtualization platform documentation, which typically lists supported 64-bit CPUs with hardware virtualization features and minimum or recommended RAM based on the number of guest systems.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Running multiple 64-bit virtual machines requires a processor with virtualization support such as Intel VT-x or AMD-V, and practical performance depends heavily on having enough RAM for the host OS and each guest OS. In real deployments, insufficient memory is one of the most common reasons a system becomes slow or unresponsive when several VMs are active. This option directly addresses both the compatibility issue and the performance bottleneck.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. More USB ports and a larger monitor may improve peripheral connectivity or usability, but they do not address the core requirements for running multiple 64-bit virtual machines. A candidate might choose this if they confuse user convenience features with workload requirements.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Audio hardware has no meaningful impact on the ability to run 64-bit VMs. This distractor reflects a common mistake of upgrading unrelated components rather than matching hardware to the actual application workload.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. An optical drive and so-called optical media cache do not solve virtualization compatibility or performance problems. Someone might pick this if they are thinking about software installation media rather than the compute and memory requirements needed for virtual machines.