Why is kvm better than xen

However, there are very few providers who offer it, due to deployment issues and a lack of supporting tools. Also, since it is a containerization system, OpenVZ has much lower overhead, and thus providers can provision more VPSes out of a single physical server.

Xen is an open-source virtualization platform that originally began as a research project in the University of Cambridge. At present, the Linux Foundation helps with the development of the project. Generally, hypervisors are categorized as Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisors. Type 1 hypervisors run directly on the host, whereas Type 2 hypervisors run on top of an existing operating system.

Xen is a type 1 hypervisor. Because each VM is running a full operating system, you can upgrade the kernel, use additional kernel modules or change low-level kernel settings. Running a virtualization setup carries more overhead since there is the overhead of emulating certain hardware features, as well as that of running the OS. Here, the hypervisor exposes alternate ways to perform the same hardware operations, in a way that is more performant. To use Xen-HVM, hardware assisted virtualization should be provided by the host system.

Since it is a kernel module, KVM reuses many functions of the Linux kernel for its purposes. From an end-user perspective, Xen is similar to KVM, in that it allows you to run any OS and tinker with low-level kernel settings. KVM only runs on hardware that supports hardware-assisted virtualization.

Type-1 vs Type-2 Hypervisors. Top 5 Type-1 Hypervisors. Tag: New technology , virtualization. I am Rashmi Bhardwaj. I am here to share my knowledge and experience in the field of networking with the goal being - "The more you share, the more you learn.

I am a biotechnologist by qualification and a Network Enthusiast by interest. I developed interest in networking being in the company of a passionate Network Professional, my husband. I am a strong believer of the fact that "learning is a constant process of discovering yourself. Your email address will not be published. Rashmi Bhardwaj. April 6, Leave A Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Select your currency. INR Indian rupee.

Because Xen has been around a bit longer, it also has had more time to mature than KVM. KVM does have a slight advantage in the Linux camp of being the anointed mainline hypervisor. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. This is, in part, an endorsement of how far KVM has come technically.

This means extra engineering costs, requiring more effort for ISV certifications, etc. It has matured enough that many organizations feel comfortable deploying it in production. So does that mean Xen is on the way out?

Not so fast. The choice of KVM vs. Xen is as likely to be dictated by your vendors as anything else. The truth is that Xen and KVM are going to co-exist for years to come. About Us.