| The difference between VMware and Virtuozzo | | | | does not and cannot offer—virtual memory. |
| Containers is more than just the name. Only hosting | | | | Virtual memory, called swap in Unix or page file in |
| companies using VMware can offer complete | | | | Windows, allows your applications to use an assigned |
| flexibility, security and capacity, as well as options for | | | | piece of disk space as working memory when |
| high availability, load balancing and disaster recovery. | | | | necessary to avoid crashing. Because all container |
| Operating System Flexibility | | | | environments share an operating system core, |
| A basic difference between VMware and Virtuozzo is | | | | containers don’t have independent access to |
| that VMware creates individual virtual servers directly | | | | swap. Using VMware, your hosting provider can give |
| on the hardware, at a bare metal level, while | | | | you swap space or a paging file as large as that |
| Virtuozzo’s containers run at the operating | | | | available on a physical server. |
| system (OS) level. | | | | Security |
| All container environments running on the same | | | | Virtual environments that all run the same operating |
| physical hardware must share the same host | | | | system are more vulnerable to both security |
| operating system. This means that while each | | | | breaches and simultaneous code faults. If the virtual |
| environment can run its own client OS, the one you | | | | servers on a hosting physical server are all running |
| can run on your virtual environment will be limited to | | | | one operating system, and any of the operating |
| those that are compatible with the host. Virtuozzo is | | | | systems are hacked, then they all are; if the host |
| limited to Linux or Windows at both the host and | | | | operating system experiences a failure due to a bug |
| client level, and can only run a client OS on a physical | | | | in the software, then they all do. This is not the kind |
| server that uses the same host OS; in other words, | | | | of virtual server environment you can depend on to |
| a Linux client on a Linux host, and a Windows client | | | | failover gracefully or recover quickly. |
| on a Windows host. Of course, limiting the operating | | | | In a Virtuozzo environment, security is complicated |
| system also limits your choice of software to that | | | | by the need for OS patches to be certified by the |
| available for Linux and Windows. | | | | company. That means that when a critical operating |
| Running at the hardware level, VMware accomplishes | | | | system patch is released, the patch must go through |
| virtualization by using a physical machine’s | | | | another layer of complexity and time before it is |
| hardware resources to serve multiple virtual servers, | | | | applied—time in which your virtual server could be |
| each of which can run an independent operating | | | | vulnerable. If your servers are hosted on VMware, |
| system. In this way, VMware virtualization supports | | | | you can apply patches as soon as they are released. |
| many diverse operating systems on any server | | | | On-Demand Capacity |
| system. This allows VMware to support a variety of | | | | Because a VMware virtual server can operate on any |
| Windows versions and many different flavors of | | | | physical server in the network, and because VMware |
| Linux, including Ubuntu, SuSE, and Red Hat, as well as | | | | supports live migration or vMotion, your whole virtual |
| non-Windows and Linux operating systems such as | | | | server can be moved as needed to another piece of |
| Solaris and Netware. | | | | hardware—with no downtime. This saves your |
| With Virtuozzo, because your virtual environment | | | | company data and time, and it could save you |
| must run the same OS as the host, you don’t | | | | customers and money. It also means that when your |
| have the option to manage and modify your own | | | | hosting company needs to take a physical server |
| operating system. The need for uniformity extends | | | | down for maintenance or replacement, you never |
| to updates—all environments must run at the | | | | need to know. Unlike in an OS virtual environment, |
| same patch level. That means that if your virtual | | | | live migration will allow your virtual server to continue |
| environment’s software has not been optimized | | | | running on the hosting company’s other servers. |
| for the latest Windows or Linux update, and your | | | | This is a feature that Virtuozzo still does not have. |
| hosting company installs it (on the host system and | | | | High Availability, Load Balancing and Disaster |
| across all virtual environments), your software may | | | | Recovery Options |
| function poorly, or not at all. | | | | VMware virtual server lets your hosting company |
| With VMware, you can manage and modify your | | | | offer high availability, load balancing, and disaster |
| own operating system, as well as run different patch | | | | recovery, unlike OS virtual environments. With |
| levels than the host system. This offers your | | | | VMware, your hosting company can offer load |
| company installation and update control on your | | | | balancing, so your workload can run on the physical |
| virtual servers, and the freedom to use an extended | | | | server that suits your needs during peak times. |
| range of software, software releases, and even | | | | With an OS-level environment, it might be impossible |
| multiple software flavors on the same OS, such as | | | | to move live data from one server to another. Even |
| SQL Standard, Web and Express editions. | | | | with compatible operating systems, the server might |
| In Virtuozzo’s containers, when you need to | | | | require a reboot. |
| reboot your virtual environment, such as during a | | | | When You’re Looking for Virtual Server Hosting, |
| test phase, you’ll have to wait for a scheduled | | | | Think Infinitely Virtual |
| system outage for the entire physical server, chaining | | | | Virtual Server platforms aren’t all the same, and |
| you to your hosting company’s calendar. Using | | | | your hosting company needs to use the most |
| VMware, you can reboot your operating system | | | | flexible, secure and available virtualization technology. |
| when and as often as your situation requires. | | | | VMware, which runs virtual servers at the hardware |
| Finally, a hardware-based virtual server like VMware | | | | level, is that technology. |
| offers something an OS-based virtual environment | | | | |