To configure a VM to connect to a virtual switch, what is needed on the VM?

To connect a virtual machine (VM) to a virtual switch, the VM must have a virtual network interface card (vNIC). The vNIC acts as the network adapter for the VM, allowing it to communicate with other VMs, the host machine, and potentially external networks. Just like a physical machine requires a network card to connect to a network, a VM requires a vNIC to leverage network functionalities.

The other components mentioned are essential for the overall operation of a VM but do not facilitate network connectivity. For instance, virtual storage pertains to the disks that store the VM's operating system and data, while a virtual hard disk is specifically used to hold the VM's data, and virtual memory relates to the allocation of system memory for the processes running in the VM. None of these elements directly provide the necessary connection to a virtual switch, which is critical for networking.