Fleet and flexible cgroups and Linux Containers
Virtual Host
The big virtualization tools like KVM and Xen can’t compete on a small scale with resource-spare cgroups and Linux Containers.
Normally when I talk about virtualization in Linux, I go straight to system virtualization using tools like KVM or Xen, to name two. But some interesting options aren’t quite as well known. One such example is cgroups [1] and Linux Containers [2] (LXC), which sits on top of cgroups. In a nutshell, LXC uses cgroups to create a restricted view of the host operating system. Within the LXC guest environment, you can only see what the admin allows you to see of the host system; you can have a separate process space, for example and also create a separate filesystem for the guest.
So why would you want to use a technology like LXC instead of a full system virtualization platform like KVM or Xen? LXC has several advantages: For one thing, it has virtually no overhead, and it provides a degree of flexibility because of its ability to share resources between
different LXC guests. (I know, these seem counterintuitive because the goal is to segregate them from each other,) Also, LXC supports not only virtualizing a running instance of an operating system (more on this later) but also individual applications, for which devoting an entire virtual machine is overkill. To see a good example of this, you can read more about what Google is doing with ChromeOS [3].
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
News
-
Another New Linux Laptop has Arrived
Slimbook has released a monster of a Linux gaming laptop.
-
Mozilla VPN Now Available for Linux
The promised subscription-based VPN service from Mozilla is now available for the Linux platform.
-
Wayland and New App Menu Coming to KDE
The 2021 roadmap for the KDE desktop environment includes some exciting features and improvements.
-
Deepin 20.1 has Arrived
Debian-based Deepin 20.1 has been released with some interesting new features.
-
CloudLinux Commits Over 1 Million Dollars to CentOS Replacement
An open source, drop-in replacement for CentOS is on its way.
-
Linux Mint 20.1 Beta has Been Released
The first beta of Linux Mint, Ulyssa, is now available for downloading.
-
Manjaro Linux 20.2 has Been Unleashed
The latest iteration of Manjaro Linux has been released with a few interesting new features.
-
Patreon Project Looks to Bring Linux to Apple Silicon
Developer Hector Martin has created a patreon page to fund his work on developing a port of Linux for Apple Silicon Macs.
-
A New Chrome OS-Like Ubuntu Remix is Now Available
Ubuntu Web looks to be your Chrome OS alternative.
-
System76 Refreshes the Galago Pro Laptop
Linux hardware maker has revamped one of their most popular laptops.