Hypervisors vs Containers: What is the Difference?

Although there are many aspects where hypervisors and containers are similar, there are also some clear distinctions between the two technologies.

The main distinction between them and containers is how hypervisors boot up and use resources.

What is a Hypervisor?

Hypervisor is software that enables us to house several virtual machines on a single machine.

It allows multiple operating systems to share a single hardware host.

It creates virtual machines (VMs) on a physical host.

Each VM can run its own operating system and applications as if it were a physical machine.

In essence, the hypervisor will distribute the host physical machine’s resources—like RAM, CPU, etc.—among the virtual machines.

This hypervisor, often known as a virtualization hypervisor, offers hardware partitioning and isolation while generating virtual machines.

Therefore, we can only create a certain number of virtual machines, depending on the host machine’s resource capacity.

The virtual computers’ own OS will be used.

Examples of popular hypervisors include VMware and Hyper-V.

Read: How Does a Virtual Machine Work?

Benefits of Hypervisors

Some of the key benefits of using hypervisors include:

• Multiple operating systems: Hypervisors allow multiple operating systems to be run on a single physical host, which can save on hardware and maintenance costs.
  
  
• Isolation: Hypervisors provide isolation between each virtual machine (VM) and the physical host, ensuring that each VM runs in its own isolated environment. This can help to prevent conflicts and errors that can occur when multiple VMs share the same resources.
  
  
• Compatibility: Hypervisors can run legacy applications that may only be compatible with specific operating systems.
  
  
• Testing and development: Hypervisors can be used to create isolated environments for testing and development purposes.
  
  
• Resource allocation: Hypervisors allow resources such as CPU, memory, and storage to be easily allocated and resized between VMs as needed.

Drawbacks of Hypervisors

Hypervisors, also known as virtual machine monitors, allow multiple operating systems to share a single hardware host.

They offer several benefits for organizations looking to save on hardware costs.

And at the same time, improve the flexibility and utilization of their IT infrastructure.

However, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider.

One key drawback of hypervisors is their resource overhead compared to other virtualization technologies, such as containers.

VMs require their operating system, leading to greater resource overhead and slower performance.

Managing a hypervisor environment can also be more complex than other virtualization technologies.

This is because it requires coordination and integration between the different VMs and the physical host.

Some applications may not be compatible with a hypervisor environment or require additional configuration to work correctly.

Finally, some hypervisor software and operating systems may require additional licensing costs.

This can impact the overall cost of the solution.

Overall, it is important to carefully consider the potential drawbacks of hypervisors and ensure that they are suitable for an organisation’s specific needs.

Read: What is a Hypervisor in Cloud Computing?

What is a Container?

Although not solely, the Linux OS is the one that is most frequently used with containers.

They offer an abstraction layer between one or more processes (i.e., an application) and the OS on which they execute.

These processes and their supporting dependencies are packaged together in a container for simple implementation on any OS that supports container technology.

Of course, a container has a certain range of capabilities.

The OS, which operates on a particular hardware architecture, is used by the programme in the container along with any dependencies.

Moreover, the programme must be created for the OS and compiled for the underlying hardware architecture.

The programme wrapped in the container uses the underlying system’s instruction set; the container is not an interpreter or simulator.

Examples of popular container platforms include Docker and Kubernetes.

Benefits of Containers

Key benefits of containers include:

• Portability: Containers allow applications to be packaged with all of their dependencies, making it easy to run them in any environment, regardless of the underlying operating system or infrastructure.
  
  
• Isolation: Containers provide isolation between applications and the host operating system, ensuring that each application runs in its own isolated environment. This can help to prevent conflicts and errors that can occur when multiple applications share the same resources.
  
  
• Efficiency: Containers are lightweight and require fewer resources than traditional virtualization approaches, such as hypervisors. This can lead to cost savings and improved performance.
  
  
• Scalability: Containers are easy to scale horizontally, as they can be quickly spawned on different hosts without the overhead of a full operating system. This makes it easier to scale applications as demand changes.
  
  
• Speed: Containers are faster to deploy and boot up than traditional virtualization approaches, making it easier to develop, test, and deploy applications quickly.

Drawbacks of Containers

Containers offer several benefits for organizations looking to deploy and manage applications in a portable and isolated environment.

However, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider.

One key drawback of containers is their limited isolation compared to virtual machines.

While containers provide isolation between applications, they do not offer the same isolation level as VMs.

This means that they may not be suitable for certain applications requiring a higher level of isolation.

Another potential drawback of containers is their dependence on the host operating system.

Containers rely on the host operating system for certain resources and libraries.

This means that they may not be fully portable across all environments.

Also, containers may pose security concerns as they share the host operating system.

And a vulnerability in the host operating system could potentially affect all of the containers running on it.

Finally, some applications may not be compatible with a container environment or require additional configuration to work correctly.

This can be a limitation for organizations looking to use containers.

Overall, it is important to carefully consider the potential drawbacks of containers and ensure that they are suitable for an organization’s specific needs.

Read: What is Container as a Service (CaaS)?

Comparison of Hypervisors and Containers Use Cases

Use cases for hypervisors

• Running multiple operating systems on a single host: Hypervisors are well-suited for environments where multiple operating systems are required on a single physical host.
  
  
• Testing and development environments: Hypervisors can create isolated environments for testing and development purposes.
  
  
• Legacy applications: Some older applications may only be compatible with specific operating systems, and using a hypervisor allows them to be run on modern hardware.

Use cases for containers

• Packaging and deploying applications in a portable and isolated environment: Containers are ideal for packaging and deploying applications in a consistent and portable manner.
  
  
• Microservices architecture: Containers are often used in microservices architectures, as they allow for the easy deployment and management of individual services.
  
  
• Continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD): Containers can be used in CI/CD pipelines to build, test, and deploy applications in an automated and consistent manner.

Read: What is Virtualization in Cloud Computing? 

Conclusion

Hypervisors and containers are two technologies that are commonly used in the world of cloud computing and virtualization.

Hypervisors allow multiple operating systems to be run on a single physical host.

On the other hand, containers provide a way to package and distribute applications in a portable and isolated environment.

The choice between using hypervisors or containers depends on an organization’s specific requirements and goals.

While both technologies have their unique benefits and use cases, it is essential to carefully consider the trade-offs before making a decision.

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