Which of the following statements is true regarding virtual machines?

Virtual machines are designed to improve hardware utilization by allowing multiple operating systems to run concurrently on a single physical server. This is achieved through virtualization technology, which enables the creation of virtual environments that mimic physical servers. Each virtual machine operates independently and can run its own operating system, applications, and services, all while sharing the resources of the underlying physical hardware. This capability enhances resource efficiency and maximizes the use of available server capacity, as multiple workloads can be consolidated onto fewer machines.

In contrast, the other statements do not accurately describe the primary characteristics of virtual machines. The requirement for multiple physical servers is not inherent to virtual machines since they are often designed to work on a single server. The existence of an underlying operating system is essential because virtual machines rely on a hypervisor, which is itself an application running on a base OS. Lastly, while virtual machines can be used for gaming, their primary applications span a broader range, including development, testing, server consolidation, and cloud computing, making gaming a narrow focus in this context.