2.2 Virtual machines or containers ?
| Virtualisation | Containerisation (aka lightweight virtualisation) |
|---|---|
| Abstraction of physical hardware | Abstraction of application layer |
| Depends on hypervisor (software) | Depends on host kernel (OS) |
| Do not confuse with hardware emulator | Application and dependencies bundled all together |
| Enable virtual machines: Every virtual machine with an OS (Operating System) |
2.2.1 Virtualisation
- Abstraction of physical hardware
- Depends on hypervisor (software)
- Do not confuse with hardware emulator
- Enable virtual machines:
- Every virtual machine with an OS (Operating System)
2.2.2 Containerisation (aka lightweight virtualisation)
- Abstraction of application layer
- Depends on host kernel (OS)
- Application and dependencies bundled all together
2.2.3 Virtual machines vs containers
Pros and cons
| Virtualisation | Containerisation | |
|---|---|---|
| PROS | Very similar to a full OS. With current solutions, high OS diversity. |
No need of full OS installation (less space). Faster than virtual machines. Easier automation. Current solutions allow easier distribution of recipes. Better portability. |
| CONS | Need more space and resources. Slower than containers. Not that good automation. |
Some cases might not be exactly the same as a full OS. Still less OS diversity, even with current solutions. |