Hypervisors Guide 2023 (2024)

Hypervisors Guide

A hypervisor is a specialized piece of software, firmware, or hardware that creates and runs virtual machines. It is the technology responsible for running multipleoperating systemson a single physical host computer. A hypervisor allows several guest virtual machines to run concurrently on a single host machine by isolating their operating system environments from each other and sharing the underlying resources of the hardware platform.

Hypervisors are often divided into two categories: Type 1 (native or bare-metal) and Type 2 (hosted). Type 1 is installed directly on top of the physical server’s hardware and provides direct access to all server components such as memory, storage, and CPU. In other words, this type of hypervisor "owns" the entire stack including its own operating system allowing it to provide better performance than a hosted hypervisor. Some popular examples of this type include VMware ESX/ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V Server, Citrix XenServer, Oracle VM Server for SPARC (LDoms), IBM PowerVM (LPARs), KVM, etc.

Type 2 hypervisors are essentially applications that are installed over an existing operating system like Windows or Linux as "guests." This type requires fewer resources such as CPU cycles but usually provides less performance than native solutions due to increased overhead required by the existing OS infrastructure needed to communicate with guest VMs running on it. Popular examples of this type include VMware Workstation Player/Pro/Enterprise, Oracle VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition, etc.

Apart from these two main types there exist also some advanced variants like embedded hypervisors (or microkernels) where only minimalistic libraries are used in order to create more secure virtualized environments inside small devices like routers or IoT gateways which can be beneficial when dealing with malware threats or cyber-attacks from outside sources. Examples here could include Intel TXT (Trusted Execution Technology), AMD SVM (Secure Virtual Machine), etc.

In addition to creatingvirtual machines, modern hypervisors are also capable of providing additional features such as live migration between different hosts without any interruption in service - meaning that if one machine fails another one can take its place immediately without any downtime - resource pooling across multiple servers thus allowing greater utilization rates - improved security via isolation between guest VMs running atop them - support for hot swapping of devices - snapshotting capabilities so that users can quickly revert back any changes they make while testing something new in their environment, etc.

Features of Hypervisors

• Resource Allocation:Hypervisors provide a way to allocate resources such as memory and CPU to virtual machines. This helps to ensure that each virtual machine has the resources it needs to run efficiently.
• Isolation:Hypervisors provide a layer of isolation between the virtual machines and the underlying hardware. This prevents the virtual machines from interfering with one another and helps to ensure that they are secure.
• Scheduling:Hypervisors provide a way to schedule the execution of virtual machines. This helps to ensure that each virtual machine gets the resources it needs when it needs them.
• Networking:Hypervisors provide a way to connect virtual machines to networks. This allows the virtual machines to communicate with other systems on the network as well as access external resources such as the internet.
• Storage:Hypervisors provide a way to store data in persistent storage. This allows the virtual machines to access their data even when the virtual machine is powered off.

Recent Trends Related to Hypervisors

1. Increased Adoption:Hypervisors are becoming increasingly popular as organizations look to reduce hardware costs and improve scalability and performance.
2. Increased Availability:With the rise in cloud-based solutions, the availability of hypervisors is becoming more widespread and accessible.
3. Improved Security:Hypervisors are able to provide added protection and security by isolating applications and services from each other, reducing the potential for malicious activity.
4. Increased Flexibility:By allowing multiple operating systems to be run on one machine, hypervisors improve the flexibility of an organization’s IT infrastructure.
5. Virtualization:Hypervisors allow forvirtualization, which can reduce the amount of hardware needed to run multiple applications and reduce costs.

Types of Hypervisors

• Type 1 Hypervisors (Native/Bare Metal):These hypervisors run directly on the host machine’s hardware and are used to create and manage virtual machines. Examples include VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Xen.
• Type 2 Hypervisors (Hosted):These hypervisors are installed on an existing operating system, such as Windows or Linux, and are used to manage virtual machines. Examples include VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox, and Microsoft Virtual PC.
• Container-Based Hypervisors:These hypervisors are used to manage applications and their dependencies, rather than virtual machines. Examples include Docker and LXC.

Top 10 Most Popular Hypervisors

1. VMware ESXi:VMware ESXi is a popular, enterprise-level hypervisor developed by VMware. It is a type 1, bare-metal hypervisor that runs directly on top of the hardware and provides virtualization services to multiple operating systems. VMware ESXi is designed to be efficient, secure, and reliable, making it a popular choice for many organizations.
2. Microsoft Hyper-V:Microsoft Hyper-V is a type 1 hypervisor developed by Microsoft for Windows Server. It provides virtualization services to multiple operating systems and can be used for server consolidation, business continuity, and cloud computing. Hyper-V supports a wide range of operating systems, allowing for easy migration from other hypervisors.
3. Citrix XenServer:Citrix XenServer is a type 1 hypervisor developed by Citrix. It provides virtualization services to multiple operating systems and is used for server consolidation, business continuity, and cloud computing. XenServer supports a wide range of operating systems, allowing for easy migration from other hypervisors.
4. Oracle VM:Oracle VM is a type 1 hypervisor developed by Oracle. It provides virtualization services to multiple operating systems and is used for server consolidation, business continuity, and cloud computing. Oracle VM supports a wide range of operating systems, allowing for easy migration from other hypervisors.
5. KVM:KVM is an open-source type 1 hypervisor developed by Red Hat. It is used to create, manage, and maintain virtual machines on Linux systems. KVM supports a wide range of operating systems, allowing for easy migration from other hypervisors.
6. Proxmox VE:Proxmox VE is an open-source type 1 hypervisor developed by Proxmox. It provides virtualization services to multiple operating systems and is used for server consolidation, business continuity, and cloud computing. Proxmox VE supports a wide range of operating systems, allowing for easy migration from other hypervisors.
7. Xen:Xen is an open-source type 1 hypervisor developed by the Xen Project. It provides virtualization services to multiple operating systems and is used for server consolidation, business continuity, and cloud computing. Xen supports a wide range of operating systems, allowing for easy migration from other hypervisors.
8. LXD:LXD is an open-source type 1 hypervisor developed by Canonical. It is used to create, manage, and maintain virtual machines on Linux systems. LXD supports a wide range of operating systems, allowing for easy migration from other hypervisors.
9. Hyper-V Server:Hyper-V Server is a free, standalone version of Microsoft’s Hyper-V hypervisor. It is a type 1, bare-metal hypervisor that runs directly on top of the hardware and provides virtualization services to multiple operating systems.
10. VMware Workstation:VMware Workstation is a type 2 hypervisor developed by VMware. It is used to create, manage, and maintain virtual machines on a single physical computer. VMware Workstation supports a wide range of operating systems, allowing for easy migration from other hypervisors.

How to Select the Right Hypervisors

1. Identify your business’s computing requirements:Before selecting a hypervisor, it is important to determine the computing requirements of your business. This includes how many virtual machines or workloads you will need, the type of applications you will be running, and the level of performance you require.
2. Consider the cost:Consider the cost of the hypervisor and its associated hardware and software. The cost of a hypervisor will depend on the features, performance, scalability, and availability you need.
3. Compare features and performance:Compare the features and performance of different hypervisors and select the one that best meets your business requirements.
4. Understand the support and maintenance:Understand the support and maintenance available for the hypervisor you select. Find out how easy it is to upgrade, what kind of support is offered, and the cost of any upgrades or additional licenses.
5. Evaluate the security:Evaluate the security of the hypervisor you select. Make sure that it is secure and can protect your data and applications.
6. Consider the future:Consider the future of your business and what kind of hypervisor you may need in the future. Make sure you select a hypervisor that can handle the growing needs of your business.

Make sure to compare hypervisors using the filters like price, features, integrations, and more provided on this page.

What Types of Users Use Hypervisors?

• System Administrators:System Administrators are responsible for the installation and configuration of Hypervisors, as well as the maintenance and optimization of the system.
• Cloud Providers:Cloud Providers use Hypervisors to create and manage virtual machines for their customers.
• Developers:Developers use Hypervisors to test and debug their software applications in a virtual environment.
• End Users:End users may use a Hypervisor to run multiple applications on their computer or to access data stored on a remote server.
• IT Professionals:IT Professionals use Hypervisors to manage multiple virtual machines in their enterprise environment.
• Data Center Managers:Data Center Managers use Hypervisors to manage the physical and virtual resources of their data centers.

How Much Do Hypervisors Cost?

The cost of a hypervisor depends on the type and features of the hypervisor. Some open source hypervisors, such as KVM, are free to use, while enterprise-level hypervisors from vendors such as VMware and Microsoft can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

What Software Can Integrate with Hypervisors?

Types of software that can integrate with hypervisors include system management software,cloud management software,security software, storage software, high availability software, and virtual machine management software. System management software can be used to monitor and manage a hypervisor's health and performance, while cloud management software can be used to control and manage a cloud infrastructure. Security software can be used to secure the hypervisor, storage software can be used to create and manage virtual disks and storage, and high availability software can be used to provide redundancy and failover protection. Finally, virtual machine management software can be used to manage and monitor virtual machines running on the hypervisor.

Benefits of Hypervisors

• Increased Performance:Hypervisors have become increasingly powerful and are capable of hosting multiple virtual machines and efficiently managing resources.
• Improved Security:Hypervisors are designed to provide a secure environment for virtual machines, ensuring data and applications remain secure from external threats.
• Lower Cost:Hypervisors offer cost savings due to the ability to host multiple virtual machines on a single physical server.
• Increased Scalability:Hypervisors enable organizations to scale up their virtual infrastructure quickly and easily.
• Increased Flexibility:Hypervisors allow organizations to deploy and manage multiple operating systems and applications on a single server.
• Improved Automation:Hypervisors provide an automated platform for managing virtual machines and deploying applications.

Who Uses Hypervisors?

• Home User:Individuals who use hypervisors to create a virtual environment on a personal device for gaming or other purposes.
• Business User:Businesses use hypervisors to create virtual networks, enabling multiple users to access the same hardware infrastructure.
• Cloud User:Companies who host their applications and services in the cloud use hypervisors to create virtual machines for their customers.
• Server User:Data centers and web hosting providers use hypervisors to create virtual servers, maximizing the utilization of their hardware resources.
• System Administrator:System administrators use hypervisors to manage multiple virtual machines on a single physical server.
• Network Administrator:Network administrators use hypervisors to create virtual networks, allowing them to efficiently manage their network resources.