Which method is commonly used for managing a large number of VMs in a cloud environment?

Centralized management via an interface is indeed the commonly used method for managing a large number of virtual machines (VMs) in a cloud environment. This approach allows administrators to control and configure multiple VMs from a single management console or dashboard, which greatly simplifies tasks such as deployment, monitoring, scaling, and maintenance.

Using a centralized management interface enhances efficiency because it provides a holistic view of all the VMs, making it easier to perform updates, apply patches, or manage resource allocation across the infrastructure. Moreover, it often includes automation features that can execute batch tasks for multiple VMs at once, further streamlining operations.

In contrast, directly logging into each VM would be time-consuming and impractical for a large number of instances, as it creates operational overhead and increases the risk of human error. Similarly, while batch processing through the command-line interface (CLI) can be powerful, it requires specific technical knowledge and may not be user-friendly for everyone. Manual adjustments of individual settings would not only be inefficient in terms of time and effort but could also lead to inconsistencies across VMs, complicating management processes.