What technology allows for the creation of virtual machines on a server?

The hypervisor is the technology that enables the creation of virtual machines on a server. It acts as a layer between the physical hardware of the server and the virtual machines, allowing multiple operating systems to run concurrently on a single physical machine.

By managing the resources of the physical server—CPU, memory, and storage—the hypervisor allocates these resources to each virtual machine, making it possible for them to operate independently as if they were running on their own dedicated hardware. This capability is fundamental for virtualization, facilitating advantages such as resource optimization, easier deployment and management of systems, and the ability to run different operating systems and applications in isolation from one another.

In contrast, other options do not directly facilitate the creation of virtual machines. A virtual networking switch relates to network connectivity for virtual machines but does not create them. A storage area network is focused on managing data storage, while a network operating system manages network resources but is not involved in virtual machine creation.