Developers often debate using containers or virtual machines (VMs) to host cloud applications. This article clearly explains the key differences in plain language. It covers major evaluation criteria. It makes the two approaches easy to grasp for informed decision making.
Table of Contents
Containers package together just the files an application requires to run. They include libraries, settings, dependencies, and more, and are a standardized building block. This containment provides portability by bundling necessary runtime elements.
Think of it as storing application ingredients in a shipping container. This makes transportation smooth. This allows for reliable migration across environments. It includes on-premise data centers and major cloud platforms. It minimizes compatibility disruptions during transitions.
Additional container benefits include:
The downsides center on orchestration complexity. It’s to manage large container fleets. Windows support is immature compared to Linux. There’s less visibility vs VMs. But overall an excellent approach for cloud-native applications focusing on portability.
Unlike containers holding applications alone, virtual machines take conceptual encapsulation further. VMs run an entire simulated guest operating system. This includes virtualized CPU, memory, storage, networking, operating system, and more.
This provides a neatly bundled package appearing just like a real server. The virtual OS boots up and functions identically as a physical device. The underlying host efficiently manages and supplies hardware resources on-demand as workloads change.
Standout VM capabilities:
Downsides are mostly around scalability complexity and somewhat limited agility depending on implementation. Overall, an excellent approach for modeled stability, security, and mimicking standalone on-premise servers.
This signals what environment makes the most sense.
Assesses organizational readiness for container demands.
Evaluate information security needs.
There are clear infrastructure implications.
Containers suit:
Virtual Machines suit:
Start by understanding the differences in isolation approaches when choosing containers or VMs. Consider the use cases each excels at. Also consider security considerations, efficiency goals, and integration needs. Technology leaders can use insight into these dynamics to pick ideal application platforms. They should align these platforms to business priorities across modern or legacy apps.
Containers excel at portable microservices. They also benefit cloud-native apps through rapid iteration. Stateless web apps need scalability. VMs are suitable for monolithic apps, legacy software, and stateful data-intensive apps. They are also suitable when total isolation is required.
Legacy monoliths prove challenging for containerization without refactoring first. Retooling grants portability, while still maintaining VMs suits these apps well today. Strategies like lifting and shifting VM workloads prevent change requirements.
Linux containers have broader functionality and compatibility vs Windows options still emerging. But Windows containers make progress with native support in latest OS versions. Evaluate tradeoffs – a mix of Linux and Windows often makes sense.
Analyze application architectures, security needs, efficiency goals, integration requirements and organizational skills. Weigh pros and cons for each solution. The right size choices are based on workload types. Often, a combination works best instead of an either/or binary choice.
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