What is virtualization?
Virtualization lets one physical server run several separate computers as software. Each one behaves as if it had its own hardware, and a program called a hypervisor keeps them apart.
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What it means
The hypervisor sits between the hardware and the machines running on it. It shares out processor time, memory, disk space and network access, and it stops one machine from seeing another. Each of those software computers is a virtual machine, and a platform such as Proxmox VE manages them.
Before virtualization, the usual habit was one server per application. Most of those servers sat idle much of the day, yet each needed space, power, cooling and its own replacement cycle. Virtualization puts many workloads on fewer machines.
Containers are a lighter relative. Instead of imitating a whole computer, they share the host's operating system and isolate only the application. They start quickly and use less memory, but they are not as strongly separated. Several virtualization hosts can be joined into a cluster, so machines can move between them.
Why it matters to a business
- Fewer machines: consolidating workloads cuts the hardware you buy, house and power.
- Easier recovery: a virtual machine is a set of files, so it can be copied, backed up and restored on different hardware.
- Safer changes: you can test an update on a copy before touching the live system.
- A shared fate: when many workloads sit on one host, that host failing affects all of them, so it needs backups and planning.
How this shows up in our work
We build Proxmox VE clusters that run virtual machines and LXC containers, with high availability and live migration. We run Proxmox and Ceph for our own infrastructure, so we operate the same platform we build for clients. Moving off VMware or Hyper-V to Proxmox is a common reason businesses call us.
Related services
Proxmox consulting
Cluster builds and migrations from VMware or Hyper-V.
Backup and recovery
Virtual machine backups with tested restores.
Linux and Kubernetes
Container platforms built on Talos Linux.
Learn more
- Virtualization on WikipediaA neutral overview of the different kinds of virtualization, useful for readers who want the wider picture.
- Hypervisor on WikipediaExplains what a hypervisor does and how the main types differ, for readers comparing platforms.
- Proxmox VE documentationThe official administration guide, written for the people who will run the platform.
Running too many servers?
We will review what you have and show in writing what could be consolidated.
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