Virtualization means:

Virtualization primarily refers to the concept where a single physical host can be divided into multiple virtual “guests” or virtual machines. Each guest operates as if it were a standalone machine, capable of running its own operating system and applications independently of the others. This concept extends beyond just operating systems to include resources like networks and storage. Therefore, the statement that best describes virtualization is:

• A single host can be split up into multiple guests.

Here’s why the other options do not accurately describe virtualization:

• Many users can share one hard drive: This describes shared storage or a networked file system, which is not specific to virtualization. While virtual machines might use shared storage, the concept of sharing a hard drive does not inherently involve virtualization.
• A machine can swap memory to disk: This is a description of how operating systems manage memory, often through a process called paging or swapping. This is a memory management feature and is not specific to virtualization.
• A user can connect to a server over the network and use a virtual console: While this could be part of managing virtual environments or remote servers, the virtual console itself is not an example of virtualization. It’s more about remote management.
• Two users get different memory spaces on the same machine: This refers to memory isolation typically provided by modern operating systems, not specifically to virtualization. It ensures that processes do not interfere with each other’s memory.

The essence of virtualization is the ability to run multiple, isolated virtual environments on a single physical machine, thereby maximizing the utilization of the underlying hardware.