#comparing #virtuals #VirtualBox vs #Docker #Xen #KVM

A quick comparison between containers and virtual ones is a clear choice between speed or security and ease of administration: (updated 2024)

Quick Introduction

VirtualBox emulates software on hardware combined, it was developed by Innotek that later passed to Sun and ended up with Oracle, it is provided free and open, except for additions in the extensions package, it combines hardware virtualization supported by software virtualization. Is knowed because is easy to use but nowadays is not the best performance!

Docker was made by Solomon Hykes as a mini-cloud, then evolved by integrating Linux Container, using the libVirt library thus providing the missing optimization with access to hardware, Sun's original idea on solaris which is now called Solaris Container, is now extremely fast and optimal as the lightest virtual solution but less secure as the paravirtualization involves direct access to the hardware. Is knowed to be very light and simple but often limited and focused only in software container.

Qemu (and Xen/KVM) are binary translation emulation, purely software virtualization technique but thanks to KVM from Avi Kivity and Red Hat the KVM was integrated into the kernel and supports paravirtualization however limited to very modern Alpha and ARM or x86/64 systems. Ian Pat was working on XEN with Simon Crosby with a foundation which was acquired by Cirix and started a strong Linux integration by a virtual machine API. With this Qemu, Xen and KVM are integrated into the api of the new LibVirt in an infrastructure where Qemu joins and later VirtualBox and Docker would do it. Is knowed to be the backend into famous open/free virtualization products like libvirt and Xen modes of linux.

Comparison Charts

Virtual Software Comparison Chart

item	virtualbox	Docker/Xen	qemu y/o KVM	vmware(soft)
Hardware VT	Intel-VT/AMD-V	Direct-access	Indirect AND Direct-access	Direct-access
Limits	disc, cpu, ram	disc, host only	disc, cpu, ram, gpu	disc
Performance	Good	High	Best	High
CPU require	x86/x64	Host only	x86/x64/ARM/PwrPC/m68k	x86/x64
CPU emulation	x86/x64/PwrPC	Host only	x86/x64[ARM/PwrPC/m68k]	x86/x64
OS require	Linux,Mac,BSD.Win	Linux,BSD	Linux,Mac,BSD,Os2,Win	Linux,Win
OS emulation	Linux,Mac,BSD.Win	Host only	Linux,Mac,BSD,Os2,Win	Linux,Win
InterfazGUI	Yes, full GUI!!	No	No, 3rth party/partial	Yes, full
Pausing	Yes, with recover	Yes, no recovery	Yes, partial recovery	Yes, with recover
Ram (dinam)	Yes, non dinamyc	Host only	Yes, non dinamyc	Yes, Dinamyc

Access disc Software Comparison Chart

tipo	virtualbox	bochs	qemu/KVM	vmware	Docker/Xen
ISO	Si	Si	Si	Si	No
USB 1.1	Si	Si	Si	Si	Si
USB 2/3	Paid	No	Si	Si	Si
HDD(disco)	Si	Si	Si	Si	Si
HDD(parti)	Si	Si	Si	Si	Si
RAW	Si	Si	Si	No	Si
VDI	Si	No	No	No	No
VHD	Si	Si	No	No	Si
VMDK4	Si	Si	No	Si	No
VMDK3	Si	Si	Si	Si	No
QCOW	Si	No	Si	No	No
QCOW2	Si	No	Si	No	No

Conclusions:

For emulation and containment in general, the best case is VirtualBox for beginners and novice; for intermediate level administration is VirtualBox. VirtualBox, unlike docker containers, emulates a system that is different from the host, even with different architecture and completely isolated.

High performance requires Docker for better, if not different OS/arch software, as containers access directly, but requires a higher level of experience with them.

Configuring a docker or VMWare is complicated if you don't have the knowledge, especially if you don't provide graphical interfaces for the insiders.

Qemu results in best performance but a very complicated solution , it emulates any hardware and any software no matter the host base system, but will require XEN or KVM for best performance and a xpert way to configure!. MORE INFO HERE: https://codeberg.org/alpine/alpine-wiki/src/branch/main/documents/alpine-newbie-qemu-virtualization.md

In the future Docker will replace VMWare except for special cases of software for different systems.