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.
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Linux Containers: Lightweight OS Virtualization
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.
What is LXC Linux Containers?
LXC (Linux Containers) is an operating-system-level virtualization technology that allows multiple isolated Linux systems to run on a single Linux host. LXC relies on cgroups and namespaces functionality in the Linux kernel to provide strong isolation of resources like CPU, memory, block I/O and network between containers.
Some key characteristics of LXC:
- Very low overhead - Containers share the same Linux kernel, requiring no hypervisor. This allows higher server efficiency and density.
- Application isolation - Each container runs as an isolated system and has its own software, libraries, file system structure etc.
- Resource control - CPU, memory, I/O and network resources can be restricted on a per-container basis.
- Security - Kernel namespaces provide strong isolation between containers and the host system.
- Portability - Images can be easily migrated between different Linux hosts.
With lightweight virtualization, high scalability and carrier-grade security, LXC offers an attractive approach for deploying scalable services on shared infrastructure.
LXC Linux Containers Features
Features
- 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
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
Official Links
The Best LXC Linux Containers Alternatives
Top Os & Utilities and Virtualization and other similar apps like LXC Linux Containers
Here are some alternatives to LXC Linux Containers:
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Docker
Docker is an open platform for developing, shipping, and running applications inside software containers. It provides an additional layer of abstraction and automation of operating-system-level virtualization on Linux, Mac OS and Windows.Docker packages software into standardized units called containers that have everything the software needs to run including libraries, system...
KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)
KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is an open-source virtualization technology built into Linux. It allows you to create and run virtual machines (VMs) on any Linux server or desktop with hardware virtualization capabilities.KVM is implemented as a kernel module that leverages the virtualization extensions of modern CPUs like Intel VT or...
Distrobox
Distrobox is an open-source container-based application that enables users to run various Linux distributions and software natively on their host Linux system without requiring dual booting or virtual machines. It works by leveraging container technology to isolate distros and software into containers that operate using the host's Linux kernel.With Distrobox,...
Containerd
containerd is an open source container runtime that is designed to manage the complete container lifecycle for its host system or server. This includes pulling container images, managing storage and network resources, executing containers, monitoring them, and more.Some key things to know about containerd:It is lightweight, portable and runs on...
OpenVZ
OpenVZ is an open source container-based virtualization platform for Linux operating systems. It provides operating system-level virtualization that allows multiple isolated virtual containers, called Virtual Private Servers (VPSs), to run on a single physical server.With OpenVZ, each VPS runs its own operating system and applications separate from the other VPSs...
Kata Containers
Kata Containers is an open source container runtime that launched in late 2017. It focuses on providing strong workload isolation and security guarantees for containerized applications. Some key aspects of Kata Containers include:Speed - Uses extremely lightweight virtual machines to minimize overhead vs traditional VMsSecurity - Workloads run in hardware...
