Which one to choose between docker and virtualization?

With the development of cloud computing technology, more and more enterprises are beginning to migrate applications and services to the cloud to reduce costs and improve scalability. In this process, virtualization technology and containerization technology have become the two main deployment methods. So how should enterprises make a decision between virtualization and Docker?

Let’s first introduce virtualization technology and Docker.

Virtualization technology

Virtualization technology is to create multiple virtual machines on a physical server, and each virtual machine can run different operating systems and applications. This approach allows one physical server to run multiple virtual machines at the same time, thereby improving server utilization and making it easier to achieve resource isolation and security.

Virtualization technology mainly comes in two forms: full virtualization and paravirtualization.

In full virtualization, the virtual machine interacts directly with the underlying hardware, and the running operating system has no idea that it is running on the virtual machine. The benefit of this approach is that it can run a variety of different operating systems and applications, but performance will suffer due to emulating the underlying hardware.

In paravirtualization, the virtual machine does not interact directly with the underlying hardware, but handles IO requests through a virtualization layer. This method performs better than full virtualization because it does not require emulation of the underlying hardware.

Docker technology

Docker is a lightweight containerization technology that can package applications into containers and run them in multiple environments. Each container has its own file system, network and process space, but shares the host operating system kernel and hardware resources. This approach can significantly reduce application development and deployment time and improve portability and scalability.

The benefits of Docker are not limited to the development and deployment phases, but can significantly improve resource utilization. Docker uses a method of sharing the host operating system kernel and hardware resources so that its containers can run in an environment that takes up less space.

Choose virtualization or Docker

Virtualization technology is necessary when you need to run multiple different operating systems or when running requires different system configurations. In addition, virtualization technology provides better isolation and security, and different virtual machines do not interfere with each other, which is necessary in some cases. Virtualization technology is most commonly used for traditional enterprise applications and databases.

However, when applications become more complex, requiring more resources at runtime and faster deployment times, containerization technology is a better choice. Because containers use the host operating system kernel and hardware resources, starting and stopping containers is very fast and their size is relatively small.

When making your choice, also pay attention to your business's existing infrastructure and needs. If you already have one or more servers that aren't actually all in use, virtualization technology may be a better choice. If you have many tiny applications to run and require fast response times, Docker should be your first choice.

In general, the biggest difference between virtualization technology and Docker is performance and language flexibility. Virtualization technology provides better isolation and security and can run any type of application, but it takes up resources and takes longer to start. Docker is the first choice for fast startup and miniaturization, but it is not suitable for all types of applications.

To summarize: between virtualization and Docker, enterprises need to make a choice based on specific circumstances. If your application requires virtual hardware or a specific operating system, choose virtualization technology; if you need to quickly deploy a large number of small applications or require a high degree of portability, choose Docker technology.

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