Scribd
Upload
5 views3 pages

Containers, Containers Vs VM

Containers are lightweight, portable units that package applications with all dependencies, ensuring consistent performance across environments. They differ from virtual machines in that they share the host OS kernel, are faster to start, and are more resource-efficient. Key management tools for containers include Docker and Kubernetes, while VMs require full OS replication and are managed by platforms like VMware and Hyper-V.

Uploaded by

kamsjyo91
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5 views3 pages

Containers, Containers Vs VM

Containers are lightweight, portable units that package applications with all dependencies, ensuring consistent performance across environments. They differ from virtual machines in that they share the host OS kernel, are faster to start, and are more resource-efficient. Key management tools for containers include Docker and Kubernetes, while VMs require full OS replication and are managed by platforms like VMware and Hyper-V.

Uploaded by

kamsjyo91
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

What are Containers?

Containers are lightweight, portable, and self-sufficient units that package an application along with
all its dependencies, libraries, configuration files, and runtime environment. They run consistently
across different computing environments, from development to production.

Key characteristics of containers:


1. Isolation at the OS level

o Containers share the host operating system’s kernel but run in isolated user spaces.

2. Lightweight and efficient

o Containers do not include an entire OS, making them faster to start and more
resource-efficient than virtual machines.

3. Portable and consistent

o "Build once, run anywhere" — containers ensure the application behaves the same
regardless of the underlying infrastructure.

4. Immutable and reproducible

o Once built, containers remain unchanged and can be deployed identically across
environments.

5. Managed via container platforms

o Tools like Docker are used to create and run containers, while Kubernetes is used to
orchestrate and manage them.

What is the difference between Containers and Virtual Machines (VMs)?

Aspect Containers Virtual Machines (VMs)

Containers are lightweight, standalone, executable Virtual Machines are full-fledged,


units that include everything needed to run a emulated computing environments that
Definition
specific application — such as the application replicate the entire hardware and
code, runtime, libraries, and configuration files. software stack of a physical machine.

OS Usage Share the host OS kernel Each VM includes its own full OS

Boot Time Fast (a few seconds) Slow (can take minutes)

Resource Heavy, due to full OS and virtual


Minimal, as they don’t require a full OS
Consumption hardware

Isolation Process-level isolation Hardware-level isolation via hypervisor

Startup Time Typically a few seconds Several minutes


Aspect Containers Virtual Machines (VMs)

More efficient in terms of CPU, memory, and disk Less efficient due to duplication of OS
Efficiency
usage and kernel

Running multiple OSes, legacy


Use Cases Microservices, cloud-native apps, CI/CD pipelines
applications requiring full OS isolation

High — can run the same way across any Lower — may face compatibility issues
Portability
environment across platforms

Management
Docker, Podman, Kubernetes (for orchestration) VMware, VirtualBox, Hyper-V, KVM
Tools

You might also like