What is a benefit of specifying a limit for a VM's resource usage?

Specifying a limit for a VM's resource usage effectively helps in managing and optimizing resource allocation within a virtualized environment. By setting a limit, you can ensure that the resources allocated to that VM do not exceed a defined threshold. This is particularly beneficial because it helps prevent situations where one VM might hog resources at the expense of others. As a result, idle resources that could be used by other VMs are not wasted. This practice contributes to more equitable resource distribution across all VMs running on the host, improving overall efficiency.

While the other choices may seem relevant, they do not accurately capture the primary benefit of setting a limit. For instance, maximizing performance is typically associated with resource reservations or guaranteed CPU allocations rather than limits. Additionally, limits do not guarantee CPU access, as they can intentionally restrict the amount of CPU available to the VM under certain conditions. Furthermore, while limits do help manage resource contention, they do not prevent other VMs from exceeding their resource allocations—they merely regulate the usage of the specified VM.