What ensures that resource usage is prioritized among VMs in a VMware environment?

The option associated with ensuring that resource usage is prioritized among VMs in a VMware environment is Storage I/O Control. This feature is specifically designed to manage and prioritize storage resources among virtual machines to prevent any single VM from monopolizing storage I/O, which could lead to performance degradation for other VMs.

Storage I/O Control works by allowing administrators to set storage I/O limits and shares per VM, enabling an equitable distribution of resources. This ensures that during periods of high demand, VMs are allocated storage bandwidth based on their prioritization and needs, thus preventing a scenario where one workload adversely affects the performance of others.

Dynamic Resource Scheduling, although related to resource management, primarily addresses CPU and memory allocation among VMs rather than focusing on storage. VMware Tools provides essential support and drivers for VMs to enhance their performance but does not directly manage resource prioritization. Manual configuration can set resource limits and shares but lacks the automated and dynamic capabilities provided by Storage I/O Control that intelligently optimizes performance based on real-time needs and usage patterns.