Containers vs VMs : Knowing the Similarities and Differences

Quick Go-Through: Container is a more agile and lighter-weight approach to maintaining and handling virtualization. Moreover, you can experience more agile accessibility of new applications and speedier resource provisioning as they don't utilize a hypervisor. On the other hand, a virtual machine is a virtual representation, or, you can say, a simulation, of a physical computer. They are usually stated as a guest, while the physical machine they operate on is noted as the host. But which is the best? Hence, this blog will answer all your questions regarding these approaches and decide the best between container vs VM (virtual machines).

Have you ever heard about virtualization? It's a new buzzword in the market. Now, what exactly is virtualization? In the cloud computing era, virtualization is the development of a virtual in contrast to a physical version of computer network resources, storage devices, and hardware platforms. Virtualization produces virtual resources from physical resources, like processing units (GPUs), hard drives, graphics, and central processing units (CPUs). By virtualizing resources, you can integrate a network of different resources into what appears to users as a single component. Fascinating!

Also, on a brighter note, the global virtualization software market is set to expand in the next few years and generate a valuation of between USD 120-USD 149 billion by 2026.

Virtualization is a lock that needs two keys - virtual machines (VMs) and containers. Simply stated, virtualization technology is a keen part and a building block of many prominent development tools, including virtual machine and container technology. Companies worldwide rely on the flexibility, accessibility, and security of virtualization, and it is only possible with the help of these tools.

However, if you've recently started learning about tools used for virtualization, you might be wondering about the constant competition between the two most popular tools – containers vs virtual machines. Containers and containerization are the supreme power in cloud application development, so it's significant to have a basic understanding of this subject.

While containers and virtual machines have unique features, characteristics, and functionalities, they have a few similarities too. They are alike as they help enhance the software development life cycle and DevOps journey, provide application portability, and enhance IT efficiency.

Curious to know more? Allow us to help you.

This article will help you with the container vs VM debate and tell you which can win the match (per your needs and requirements). Here, you'll learn the difference between VM and container, understand their roles in the modern software development era, their advantages, disadvantages, use cases, and many more. And we assure you at the end of this 10-15 mins read; you can choose the ideal service for your business.

So, tighten your seatbelts and enjoy the brainy ride with us.

To begin with, we'll start with the container definition.

What is a Container?

The container is a more agile and lighter-weight way of maintaining and handling virtualization. Moreover, you can experience more agile accessibility of new applications and speedier resource provisioning as they don't utilize a hypervisor.

And what about containerization? So, containerization services help pack together everything you need to run microservices or single applications rather than spin around a virtual machine. The container consists of dependencies, code, and the operating system. This allows applications to operate and execute anywhere — cloud, a desktop computer, or a conventional IT infrastructure.

Container technology uses a kind of operating system (OS) virtualization. Simply put, container services employ the features and functionalities of the host operating system to separate operations and control the processes' approach to memory, desk space, and CPUs. Containers services have been in the talks for decades, but the familiar accordance is that modern containerization in the DevOps era was initiated in 2013 with the intro of Docker. Docker is an open-source platform for creating, implementing, and handling containerized applications.

How does Containerization work?

Docker is the main element of container services architecture. A Docker is an open-source, Linux kernel-based platform accountable for container development in an operating system. At Radixweb, we offer to provide KVM virtualization integrated with virtual managed servers that manage docker containerization.

So, by accessing only the OS kernel, Docker can handle multiple distributed apps simultaneously, which execute in their container. In simple words, containerization in DevOps technologies is based on the software package you need to implement in a single virtual shipment. Thereby, Docker images help to create containers. Though these images are read-only, Docker helps to add a read-write file system to the image-only file system to develop a container.

After the creation of the container, Docker begins with a network interface that conveys the container virtualization with the local host. After that, an IP address is added to the developed container and executes the stated operation to run the application assigned to it.

Moreover, at the time of container deployment, each container consists of all the essential components for program execution, including libraries, files, and all the variables that enable an executable environment.

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Now that we've gone through the container definition and it's working, we're pretty sure that you understand the basics of container services, containerization meaning, and what is container as a service. However, to have a deeper understanding of this subject, we need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of container services.

Keen to learn?

The following section is for you.

What are the Pros and Cons of Containers?

Every story has two sides; the same is valid with container or containerization. So before making a choice, it's essential to know both pros and cons of containerization.

Advantages of Containers

In the hot topic of container vs VM, let's first look at the advantages of containers over virtual machines.

1. Portability - When we use containers as an element of a distributed system, containerization becomes very portable. Furthermore, the mobility of containers is seamless and efficient, and they can quickly move around between different environments like the multi-cloud, hybrid cloud, private cloud, public cloud, and bare-metal environments. Wondering why? As container technology concentrates on container microservices and their dependencies in a tiny-sized package.

2. Easy Maintenance - The whole code is bifurcated into manageable parts that can be managed individually because container services utilize a microservices-based architecture. As an outcome, you need not stress about maintaining or modifying container virtualization impacting other application components. Furthermore, containerization also helps minimize challenges in DevOps adoption.

3. Effective Use of Resources - Most dependencies, such as libraries, frameworks, and operating systems, need to execute containerization in cloud computing, as they are shared by code packaged within containers. Contrary to virtual machines, container technology provides just one copy of each critical file in the hardware, which results in better and more efficient utilization of resources. Moreover, multiple containers in cloud computing can be placed within physical server virtualization. Wondering how? Due to the lighter weight of the container virtualization.

4. Better scalability - There was a need to develop container solutions orchestration platforms to help you manage and maintain your container services. Some container orchestrators, including Docker Swarm or Kubernetes, help automate container deployment, networking, and scaling operations. Applications that use container services are very scalable and can expand up and down speedily by adding new pods and nodes as you require.

Disadvantages of Containers

To understand the difference between VM and containers, it's significant to understand every aspect of containerization and virtualization. So, let's go through the disadvantages of container services.

1. Inadequate Security Measures - Containers provide a minimum division from the host OS and other containers on a similar machine. As an outcome, the safety and security perimeter is less resilient than with virtual devices. As per StackRox, however, experienced container virtualization end-users stress more about security as they function to improve the connection between security and DevOps services and solutions.

2. Operate Single OS - You can benefit from using a single operating system. However, if you need to use it on multiple operating systems, it can be challenging and disadvantageous. On the other hand, you can use virtual machines to operate a prior version of that operating system.

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Best Container Use Cases

The most common approaches in which organizations use containerization are as follows:

• Lift and Shift Existing Apps into Modern Cloud Architectures - Some companies utilize containerization to move existing applications into more modern environments. While this exercise provides some fundamental advantages of operating systems in container virtualization, it does not give the complete advantages of a flexible, container-based app architecture.

• Refactor Existing Apps for Containers - Even though refactoring is much more comprehensive than lift-and-shift migration, it allows the full advantages of a container virtualization environment.

• Produce New Container-Native Apps - Same as refactoring; this methodology opens the doors to complete advantages of containers.

• Better Support for Microservices Architectures - Microservices and distributed applications can be more seamlessly separated, implemented, and scaled utilizing individual container microservices architecture building blocks.

• Deliver DevOps Support for CI/CD - Container technology supports simplified creation, testing, and implementation from the same container images. And yes, as we're discussing DevOps, we suggest you go through our blog – Agile vs DevOps – to better understand the subject.

• Offers Effortless Deployment of Redundant Tasks and Jobs - Developers opt for container deployment to support and manage one or multiple similar operations, which primarily operate in the background, such as batch jobs or ETL functions.

Some Popular Container Providers

1. Docker

We've also encountered the word 'Docker' in the earlier section. Now what exactly is Docker? Docker is prominent runtime environment developers use to build and create container software. It utilizes Docker images (copy-on-write snapshots) for container deployment or software or applications in multiple environments, from production to development and testing. Docker was developed keeping open standards in mind and operates inside most usual operating environments, including Microsoft, Linux, and cloud-based or other on-premises infrastructures.

2. Kubernetes

Kubernetes assists in orchestrating the functionality of multiple containers in unity together. It also manages areas like the utilization of essential infrastructure resources for application containerization, including the requirement of storage, network, and computer resources. To know more about it, you can also opt for Radixweb's Kubernetes consulting services; our experts are well-versed with A-Z of different containerization tools. Kubernetes is an orchestration tool that makes automation more accessible. It also helps to clamber up container-based workloads for live production ecosystems.

Here's a brownie point for you – to know more about Docker and Kubernetes and find out which is the best for you can also go through our blog – Kubernetes vs Docker. Sure, sure, you can thank us later!

3. Linux Containers (LXC)

This prominent tool is an open-source Linux container runtime device. Developers use LXC to separate operating, system-grade approaches from each other. We will tell you something interesting - Docker utilizes Linux Containers behind the curtains. Linux Containers focus on providing an unbiased open-source container runtime.

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That's all for container technology and containerization. One part of our story ends here. And we're so grateful to you for being with us till here and hope you'll be with us till the end. Because that is the only way you can easily decide on your perfect winner when deciding between containers vs virtual machines.

Let's move to the next part of our story and discuss virtual machines (our other important topic, yes!).

Ready?

Come on, then! We'll start with some basics.

What is a Virtual Machine?

If you have a technical background, you probably would've heard the term virtual machine occasionally. So, what exactly is a virtual machine? A virtual machine is a simulation or, you can say, a virtual representation of a physical computer. They are usually stated as guests, while the physical device they operate on is the host.

And only virtualization makes it feasible to develop multiple virtual machines, each having its own applications and operating system (OS), on an individual physical device. Also, a virtual machine cannot directly communicate with a physical computer. Then, how does it interact? So, for the interaction, the virtual machine requires a lighter-weight software layer known as a hypervisor. And what exactly does it mean? It helps to harmonize the virtual machine and the virtual physical device. The hypervisor assigns different physical computing resources to the individual virtual machine, including storage, memory, and processors. It helps to keep each VM detached from others so that there is no interference within each other.

While virtualization technology has many different names, some are virtual private server (VPS), virtual server, and virtual server instance (VSI). However, in this article, we'll refer to them as virtual machines.

How does Virtualization work?

Okay, so commonly, virtual machines are of two types:

1. Process Virtual Machines - They help to isolate a single process. Their example includes the .NET framework, Parrot virtual machine, and Java virtual machine.

2. System Virtual Machines - They completely isolate the apps from physical computers and operating systems.

It's important to understand that System VMs depend on hypervisors (we're pretty sure by now you know what hypervisors are) as a mediator that provides software access to the hardware resources. The hypervisor develops a pool of resources that helps allocate different resources to each VM per their specific needs, simulating the computer's network, hard disk, memory, CPU (central processing units), and other hardware resources.

The hypervisor also manages and supports different virtual hardware platforms that are separated from each other, allowing virtual machines to run Windows Server and Linux operating systems on a similar physical host. And this is how virtualization works. We understand it is a bit overwhelming, but software developers at Radixweb help to make the virtualization as seamless as possible.

Some prominent names in the hypervisor realm include Intel/Linux Foundation (Xen), VMware (ESX/ESXi), Microsoft (Hyper-V), Oracle VM Server for x86), and Oracle (MV Server for SPARC.

Moreover, desktop computer systems can also use virtual machines. Yes, they can!

Okay, let's understand this with a teeny tiny example - a Mac user can efficiently operate a virtual Windows directly on their physical Mac hardware.

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To recognize and choose the best from container vs VM, let us provide you with a fair deal on behalf of both containerization and virtualization. The above sections discussed the pros and cons of container services and containerization. Now, it's the virtual machine's turn.

Here's a great deal - it will also help you to understand the fundamentals of containerization vs virtualization. Which is best for your software solutions, and which is not?

Therefore, understanding the pros and cons of containers and virtual machines will help you immensely with decision-making.

Let's start, then.

What are the Pros and Cons of Virtual Machines?

Let's look at the virtual machine's pros and cons.

Advantages of Virtual Machines

The global virtual machine market is anticipated to reach USD 30.3 billion by 2030, rising at a market growth of 15.8% CAGR. Let's now go through some of the reasons behind its increasing growth.

1. Additional Sources - Unlike containerization, a virtual machine has easy access to several different resources. Therefore, developers prefer virtual machines for resource-intensive operations. When considering cloud computing in mind for the container vs VM debate, VM is preferable for functions that include lengthy lifecycles and significant file volumes.

Containers help to execute resource-intensive tasks. Although, you must first consider the expense of utilizing container services rather than virtualization technology. You need to determine your needs and requirements well and conduct in-depth research to choose which will be more cost-effective for your application.

2. Emulate Different OS - In the case of the virtual machine, there is no need to buy new hardware whenever there's a requirement for different operating. And why so? Since you can operate whichever operating system, you decide within a virtual machine. Moreover, utilizing this virtualization technology keeps you from buying different hardware components when you require to imitate and test your software applications across other operating systems to acknowledge their competencies in a better way.

3. Robust Security Perimeters - Because you run a different operating system from the other devices on the similar physical server virtualization, virtual machines boost the separation standards between close by systems. On the other hand, running within a single OS while utilizing container technology in cloud computing enables several vulnerabilities and loopholes to harm the complete software system.

There's an improvement in safety and security, and minimal loopholes exist as virtual machines provide complete isolation. Therefore, if you do not have proper control or management of your environment, your top choice should be the virtual machine for virtualization technology, as they provide a more emphatic boundary.

4. Better Hosting - It is an ideal approach for hosting container services or supporting and managing client-server applications.

Disadvantages of Virtual Machines

Let's now go through some disadvantages of virtual machines.

1. Inefficient Resource Utilization - Virtual machines often provide excessive resources to operate a single application. Although, once you allocate a virtual machine to a resource, it will occupy a complete room, even if it needs less space. Also, when your planning has flaws, the outcome will be a jobless power you can implement in several other ways.

2. Harder OS Upgradation - You need to update, modify and maintain each operating system by itself. Why? Because a single virtual machine contains several operating systems, making the upgradation process time-consuming and laborious. Imagine what will happen in the case where you have various virtual machines. Tiring, right?

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Best Virtual Machine Use Cases

Virtual machines provide different use cases, and they help both the end users and IT administrators.

• Support DevOps - VMs provide the best approach to support enterprise app development. The developers can easily configure virtual machine templates with different settings for complete software development and testing processes. They can develop virtual machines for specific operations and tasks, including static software tests, consisting of additional steps in an automated development roadmap. This all helps with DevOps implementation services and simplifies the DevOps toolkit.

• Examining Malware - Virtual machines are beneficial for investigating malware that often requires new and fresh devices to test malicious software programs.

• Testing New OS - This virtualization technology lets you try any new operating system on your desktop without impacting your operating system.

• Safe and Secure Browsing - Utilizing a virtual machine for browsing allows you to visit websites without stressing about any vulnerabilities and harm. You can take a portrait of your device and then cut back to it after every browsing period. This is something that any end user could organize themselves, utilizing a Type 2 desktop hypervisor.

Some Popular Virtual Machine Providers

1. VMware

VMware is a public trading organization that has developed its business on one of the leading x86 virtualization technologies. VMware also comes with a hypervisor that provides capabilities that help implement and manage and maintain different virtual machines. It also has a resilient user interface for managing VMs. Therefore, VMware is the best enterprise virtual machine choice providing support.

2. QEMU

QEMU is the best choice for the most robust hardware emulation virtual machine. It provides good support for any general hardware architecture. It is also a command line-only service and does not provide a graphical user interface for execution or configuration. This quid pro quo set QEMU as one of the most agile virtual machine alternatives.

3. Virtualbox

Oracle is the owner of this open-source and free x86 architecture emulation system. Virtualbox tends to be one of the most well-known and accomplished virtual machine platforms with an additional tools environment to assist in building and distributing virtual machine images.

In the above sections, we discussed both containers and virtual machines individually. Let's now see what wonders their integration can do.

We promise the following sections will be much more enjoyable.

When to Use Containers or Virtual Machines?

So, here we've enlisted some factors you need to consider when deciding between containers and virtual machines for application development and deployment.

• Better Scalability - Virtual machines consume more storage space and need you to supply more hardware in your centralized data centers. Swapping to the cloud minimizes expenses. However, migration comes with its challenges and complications. On the other hand, containers consume less storage space and are effortless to scale.

• Software Development Agility - VMs are full-stack systems, which can be backbreaking to develop and regenerate. The alterations are time-consuming as they need to renew the whole environment. On the contrary, container services are an excellent choice if you want to consistently develop, test, and publish new features and functionalities. Their modifications are faster, as they only consist of high-level software.

Till now, you must've understood the significant difference between VM and container. However, there are also some points of similarity between containers and virtual machines.

In the debate of container vs virtual machines, it's also essential to understand the similarities between both. You should have at least some basic knowledge.

"Knowledge isn't power; applied knowledge is power." – Eric Thomas

So, let's now talk about the similarities between containers and virtual machines.

Similarities Between Containers and Virtual Machines

Containers and virtual machines enable the complete isolation of applications. Wondering why? So that you can operate your applications in multiple environments. They visualize or outline the fundamental groundwork so end users remain stress-free about them. Both containers and virtual machines also enable you to package your software fundamentals into a single file known as an image file. You can use the image file to establish and operate your application anywhere and anytime rapidly.

You can also utilize different software operations to simultaneously scale hundreds and thousands of applications and manage and maintain system configurations. However, the extent and responsibility of containerization and virtualization can differ depending on the application deployment.

A Pro Tip - You can also opt for AWS DevOps consulting, as AWS provides diverse services that help containers and virtual machines to support all your application deployment requirements and specifications.

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Now comes the heart and soul of our blog, container vs VM. This section is about the difference between VM and container. Moreover, it will also help you understand the basics of containerization vs virtualization.

So, to make the perfect choice between containers vs virtual machines, this section is like sunshine on a cloudy day.

Also, this is the perfect time to put an end to this buzzing feud of container vs VM.

Container vs VM: Perfect Time to Decide

Using Containers and Virtual Machines Together in CI/CD

As discussed in the above sections, end users can utilize containers to build a CI/CD pipeline in their program.

In CI/CD process, standardization is one of the best advantages you can experience using containerization and virtualization. When multiple software developers are helping write code for a single program, there is less likelihood of encountering any issues if they opt to write it in similar environments.

Development teams can also go for container deployment within virtual machines, allowing them to create a similar environment while maintaining command of resources beneath the OS level. Furthermore, cloned build environments make it feasible to incorporate higher automation, assisting your CI/CD pipeline in functioning more seamlessly.

On a brighter note, development teams at Radixweb help you build CI/CD pipelines by integrating containers and virtual machines without any stress. Moreover, they'll also help you with the best CI/CD consulting.

So, there's nothing to stress about!

ConclusionWe've reached the end of our blog, and we're sure you've had a basic understanding of containers (containerization) and virtual machines (virtualization), their pros and cons when they can be used, their similarities, and so on. Now, you can easily decide between container vs VM for your application deployment.Whatever you choose, choose wisely!However, if you are still confused regarding containers vs virtual machines and which to choose, don't stress. Experts at Radixweb are always happy to help.You must be wondering – why, Radixweb?Radixweb is the most trusted software development company, and our experts will help you to make a smooth decision between container vs VM. Our expert developers are well-versed in all the technologies and frameworks and assist you in developing state-of-the-art software solutions. They'll help you with the A-Z process, from deciding the best virtualization technology to implementing it. You can rely on our services and expert developers.So, contact us immediately regarding any confusion between containers and virtual machines or their implementation. We're here to help!