Types of Hypervisors: In-Depth Examples and
Comparison
Prepared by Claude
September 13, 2024
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September 13, 2024 1 / 13
Overview
1 Introduction to Hypervisors
2 Type 1 Hypervisors
3 Type 2 Hypervisors
4 Choosing the Right Hypervisor
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What is a Hypervisor?
A hypervisor is software that creates and runs virtual machines (VMs)
It allows multiple operating systems to share a single hardware host
Acts as a layer between hardware and virtual machines
Manages resource allocation and isolation between VMs
Two main types: Type 1 (Bare-metal) and Type 2 (Hosted)
Hypervisor Concept
Image source: https://www.nakivo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hypervisor-types.png
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Type 1 Hypervisors (Bare-metal)
Run directly on the host’s hardware
More efficient and secure than Type 2
Commonly used in enterprise and data center environments
Provide better performance and scalability
Examples: VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix Hypervisor, KVM
Type 1 Hypervisor Architecture
Image source: https://www.parallels.com/blogs/ras/content/images/2019/06/type-1-hypervisor.png
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VMware vSphere with ESX/ESXi
Industry-leading virtualization
technology
Used in many large data centers
Offers free and commercial editions
Advanced features in paid versions: VMware vSphere Logo
vMotion: Live migration of VMs
Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS)
High Availability (HA)
Fault Tolerance (FT)
Supports up to 768 logical CPUs per
host
Image source:
https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/images/company/vmware-logo-black.svg
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KVM (Kernel-Based Virtual Machine)
Built into Linux kernel since version
2.6.20
Open-source solution
Features:
Live migration
Scheduling and resource control
Higher prioritization KVM Architecture
Memory overcommitment
Disk I/O throttling
Popular choice for enterprise
environments
Supports various guest operating
systems
Image source: https://www.redhat.com/cms/managed-files/styles/wysiwyg_full_width/s3/kvm-architecture.png
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Microsoft Hyper-V
Strong competitor to VMware vSphere
Free edition available (Hyper-V Server)
Commercial versions offer GUI and
additional features
Key features:
Live migration Microsoft Hyper-V Logo
Replication of virtual machines
Dynamic memory
Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV)
Storage migration
Integrates well with other Microsoft
products
Image source: https://www.altaro.com/hyper-v/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Hyper-V-logo.png
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Type 2 Hypervisors (Hosted)
Run on top of a host operating system
Easier to set up and manage
Suitable for personal use and smaller deployments
Performance overhead due to host OS layer
Examples: VirtualBox, VMware Workstation, Parallels Desktop
Type 2 Hypervisor Architecture
Image source: https://www.parallels.com/blogs/ras/content/images/2019/06/type-2-hypervisor.png
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Oracle VM VirtualBox
Free and open-source product
Cross-platform compatibility (Windows,
Linux, macOS)
Suitable for personal use and smaller
businesses
Features:
Support for up to 32 vCPUs per VM
VirtualBox Logo
PXE Network boot
Snapshot trees
3D virtualization
Seamless mode for running guest
applications
Large community support and
extensions
Image source: https://www.virtualbox.org/graphics/vbox_logo2_gradient.png
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VMware Workstation Pro/Fusion
Workstation Pro for Windows and Linux
Fusion for macOS
Advanced features:
Seamless integration with vSphere
Snapshot and cloning capabilities
Virtual network simulation VMware Workstation Pro
Unity mode for seamless app
integration
Paid product, no free version (except
Workstation Player)
Supports a wide range of guest
operating systems
Image source: https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/images/products/workstation-pro/
vmw-workstation-16pro-product-icon.png
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Factors to Consider
Size of the virtual environment
Budget and licensing costs
Required features and functionalities
Performance requirements
Scalability needs
Existing infrastructure and compatibility
Support and community resources
Security requirements
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Recommendations
Personal use and small Enterprise environments:
deployments: Type 1 hypervisors
Type 2 hypervisors Examples:
Examples: VMware vSphere (market
leader)
VirtualBox (free,
Microsoft Hyper-V (Windows
cross-platform)
integration)
VMware Workstation (paid,
KVM (open-source,
feature-rich)
Linux-based)
Consider creating a list of requirements before deciding
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Conclusion
Both Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisors have their place in modern IT
infrastructure
Choice depends on specific needs and use cases
Consider factors like scale, budget, required features, and existing
infrastructure
Type 1 hypervisors are preferred for enterprise-level virtualization
Type 2 hypervisors are ideal for personal use, testing, and
development environments
Always test before committing to a solution
Stay informed about new developments in virtualization technology
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