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
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.
-
Linux Kernel 6.14 Released
The latest Linux kernel has arrived with extra Rust support and more.
-
EndeavorOS Mercury Neo Available
A new release from the EndeavorOS team ships with Plasma 6.3 and other goodies.
-
Fedora 42 Beta Has Arrived
The Fedora Project has announced the availability of the first beta release for version 42 of the open-source distribution.
-
Dash to Panel Maintainer Quits
Charles Gagnon has stepped away as maintainer of the popular Dash to Panel Gnome extension.
-
CIQ Releases Security-Hardened Version of Rocky Linux
If you're looking for an enterprise-grade Linux distribution that is hardened for business use, there's a new version of Rocky Linux that's sure to make you and your company happy.