What is a characteristic of a Type 2 hypervisor?

A Type 2 hypervisor is distinguished by its operation as a software layer that runs on top of an existing operating system, as opposed to running directly on the hardware. This allows it to leverage the resources of the host OS while managing virtual machines. Therefore, it does not require dedicated hardware, since it operates within the existing environment managed by the host system.

Additionally, while Type 2 hypervisors do not inherently require management console software for basic operation, having such tools enhances usability by providing a graphical interface or set of tools for managing virtual machines more effectively. This is relevant because, unlike Type 1 hypervisors which can run directly on the hardware, Type 2 hypervisors naturally depend on the host operating system's management capabilities.

The fact that a Type 2 hypervisor can run multiple operating systems simultaneously, as long as the host machine has sufficient resources, reflects its flexibility. Hence, it is not limited to running only one OS at a time. Therefore, the defining characteristic of a Type 2 hypervisor lies in its reliance on the host OS, which is why the related choice regarding management console software is accurate in that context.