In computing, a hypervisor is a program that manages the resources of a virtual machine, often referred to as a virtual machine monitor or VMM. Multiple operating systems can be run simultaneously on one computer using these programs. This can be extremely useful for businesses, as it allows them to run different programs on separate servers without having to purchase multiple computers. In this blog post, we will discuss what a hypervisor is and how it works. We will also explore the benefits of using virtual machines.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Hypervisor?
One of the primary benefits of using a hypervisor is that it can help to consolidate servers and save on hardware costs.
– Achieves high levels of resource usage
– Provides security through isolation
– Enables consolidation of servers
– Facilitates server migration and load balancing.
Hypervisors are used on computers or servers to host multiple virtual machines, or VMs, on a single server. Each VM runs its own copy of the operating system and can be used to host different applications or services. Virtual Machines (VMs) are independent of the host system, so they can be easily moved or migrated between servers.
Type 1 & Type 2 Hypervisors
There are two main types of hypervisors- type one and type two.
– Type One Hypervisors run directly on the computer hardware (native) and are responsible for virtualising the hardware resources. A bare-metal hypervisor is the most secure and efficient option, but it can be more difficult to set up and manage. Some of the most popular type one hypervisors are VMware ESXi and Proxmox.
– Type Two Hypervisors run as a software application (hosted) on top of a host operating system, such as Windows or Linux. This type of hypervisor is less efficient but can be more user-friendly. The most popular type two hypervisors are VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox, and Parallels.
Which Type of Hypervisor Is Best for You?
The answer to this question depends on your needs and preferences. If you need a high level of security and isolation, then a type one hypervisor might be the best option. However, if you want more flexibility and don’t require the same level of security, a type two hypervisor would be a better choice.
What Is the Function of a Hypervisor?
Through hypervisors, a computer’s software can be abstracted from its hardware so that virtual machines can be created and managed. A hypervisor provides a bridge between physical and virtual resources, enabling virtualization to occur. The basic input/output system (BIOS) of the motherboard can include hypervisors embedded into the firmware to provide operating systems on computers with access to virtualization software.
Containerisation vs Virtualisation
Containerisation and virtualisation are two different technologies used to create and run applications in a software environment. Containerisation is the newer of the two, and uses Linux containers to isolate applications from their underlying operating systems. Virtualisation creates a complete virtual computer system, or guest operating system, on top of a physical one. This can be done using software or hardware methods. Please see our post about the differences between virtual machines and Docker containers to learn which one is best for you.
