KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) vs LXC Linux Containers

Struggling to choose between KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) and LXC Linux Containers? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a System & Hardware solution with tags like virtualization, vm, linux, open-source.

It boasts features such as Kernel-level virtualization, Supports live migration of VMs between hosts, Built into Linux kernel, Leverages hardware-assisted virtualization, Open source and free and pros including Good performance, Leverages hardware virtualization, Integrated into Linux, Active development community, Free and open source.

On the other hand, LXC Linux Containers is a Os & Utilities product tagged with containers, virtualization, linux.

Its standout features include OS-level virtualization for running multiple isolated Linux systems on a single host, Resource isolation of CPU, memory, block I/O, network, etc, Near-native performance with minimal overhead, Live migration of containers between hosts, Snapshots and cloning of containers, Support for different Linux distributions, Integration with common orchestration tools like Kubernetes, and it shines with pros like Lightweight and efficient resource utilization, Near-native performance compared to full virtualization, Easy to deploy and manage at scale, Allows consolidating services on fewer servers, Enables portable workloads across environments, Integrates well with automation and orchestration tools.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is an open-source virtualization technology that allows you to create and run virtual machines (VMs) on Linux. It makes use of hardware virtualization capabilities of modern CPUs for efficient virtualization.

Categories:
virtualization vm linux open-source

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) Features

  1. Kernel-level virtualization
  2. Supports live migration of VMs between hosts
  3. Built into Linux kernel
  4. Leverages hardware-assisted virtualization
  5. Open source and free

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Good performance

Leverages hardware virtualization

Integrated into Linux

Active development community

Free and open source

Cons

Linux-only

Less features than proprietary solutions

Steeper learning curve than alternatives

No centralized management


LXC Linux Containers

LXC Linux Containers

LXC Linux Containers (LXC) provides lightweight, operating system-level virtualization on Linux. It allows running multiple isolated Linux systems on a single host with minimal resource overhead.

Categories:
containers virtualization linux

LXC Linux Containers Features

  1. OS-level virtualization for running multiple isolated Linux systems on a single host
  2. Resource isolation of CPU, memory, block I/O, network, etc
  3. Near-native performance with minimal overhead
  4. Live migration of containers between hosts
  5. Snapshots and cloning of containers
  6. Support for different Linux distributions
  7. Integration with common orchestration tools like Kubernetes

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and efficient resource utilization

Near-native performance compared to full virtualization

Easy to deploy and manage at scale

Allows consolidating services on fewer servers

Enables portable workloads across environments

Integrates well with automation and orchestration tools

Cons

Less isolation than full virtualization

Shared kernel so host security issues can affect containers

Limitations around running non-Linux or mix of Linux distros

Less support for Windows services/tools

Steeper learning curve than full virtualization