OS-level virtualization#

OS-level virtualization is an operating system (OS) paradigm in which the kernel allows the existence of multiple isolated user space instances, called containers (LXC, Solaris containers, Docker, Podman), zones (Solaris containers), virtual private servers (OpenVZ), partitions, virtual environments (VEs), virtual kernels (DragonFly BSD), or jails (FreeBSD jail or chroot jail). Such instances may look like real computers from the point of view of programs running in them. A computer program running on an ordinary operating system can see all resources (connected devices, files and folders, network shares, CPU power, quantifiable hardware capabilities) of that computer. However, programs running inside of a container can only see the container’s contents and devices assigned to the container.

Read more on Wikipedia.

Examples#

• Docker
• Kata Containers
• Podman ⭐

Tools#

• Toast: Containerize your development and continuous integration environments

Resources#

• [2020] The tool that really runs your containers: deep dive into runc and OCI specifications ⭐