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Solutions Virtualization Cheat Sheet

Some simple decision matrix on Linux virtualization solutions

Virtualization for Developers

Developers use virtualization to quickly spin up systems to test new features. Either you use images build by some CI process or you ad-hoc install machines with your automation/deployment/orchestration solution. Solutions criterias:

  • Testing on laptops/desktop PCs:
    • LXC or Docker containers on average PCs
    • Vagrant+VirtualBox high-end PCs
  • Testing on self-hosted servers:
    • Docker using CI-build images
    • KVM with automation/deployment tool chain
  • Testing in the cloud:
    • Choose a cloud with good self-service
    • Self-service needs to be scriptable
    • Connect CI-build chain with self-service script

Container Virtualization

Which container solution should be used for development purposes?

Name

Pro

Contra

Pricing

  • See LXC
  • Easy image usage with many online repos
  • Widely used with Github

  • Orchestration support

  • See LXC
  • Unclear relation to LXC and systemd
  • Uses cgroups like LXC and systemd
  • Why having LXC and Docker on your laptop?
  • Heavy downloads when using online images

Free

CoreOS Rocket

  • App Container Specification

  • Theoretically Multi-OS Apps

  • Young, uncertain future

  • Not a major distro

  • Light-weight alternative to Vagrant+VirtualBox

  • No HW virtualization needed

  • No image usage
  • Bad template support debootstrap
  • Not really supported by distributions
  • No resource limitations
  • No security

Free

?

  • Less known
  • Custom kernel (before Linux 4.0)
  • Incomplete /proc

Free (Virtuozzo is enterprise)