079 | Hyper-V: Virtualization from Microsoft – Seamless Integration with Windows Server

August 11, 2025

What is Hyper-V?

Hyper-V is Microsoft’s native virtualization platform, an integral part of Windows Server operating systems and optionally available on Windows 10/11 Pro/Enterprise. Hyper-V functions as a Type 1 hypervisor, installing directly on bare-metal hardware and offering functionality comparable to major players like VMware. Its main advantage is deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, making it a natural choice for administrators and businesses running Windows-based infrastructure.

Key Features and Advantages of Hyper-V

Hyper-V provides all the essential tools for building and managing virtualized environments, with a focus on simplicity and Windows integration.

078 | Xen: A Flexible Hypervisor for Complex Tasks

August 10, 2025

What is Xen?

Xen is a powerful and flexible Type 1 open-source hypervisor that runs directly on server hardware, delivering high performance. Its unique architecture, based on the concept of paravirtualization, became the foundation for many major cloud platforms, including the early versions of Amazon Web Services (AWS). Xen is known for its performance, security, and ability to flexibly manage resources, making it a popular choice for building scalable and fault-tolerant environments.

077 | QEMU: A Flexible Emulator and Hypervisor

August 9, 2025

What is QEMU?

QEMU (Quick Emulator) is a multifunctional open-source project that acts both as an emulator and a virtualizer, making it a unique tool in the virtualization world. Unlike other hypervisors, QEMU not only runs virtual machines but can also emulate a processor and other hardware components. This dual nature allows it to run operating systems and applications designed for one architecture on a machine with another (for example, running an ARM system on an x86 server).

076 | KVM: Powerful Virtualization for Linux

August 8, 2025

What is KVM?

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a virtualization technology built directly into the Linux kernel. KVM transforms the Linux kernel into a Type 1 hypervisor (bare-metal), allowing multiple virtual machines to run while leveraging hardware virtualization features of the CPU (Intel VT-x and AMD-V). KVM serves as a core component for many modern cloud platforms, including OpenStack and Red Hat OpenShift.

As part of Linux, KVM is a fully open-source solution, giving developers and system administrators enormous freedom and control over their infrastructure with zero licensing fees.

075 | VMware: The Corporate Virtualization Standard

August 6, 2025

What is VMware?

VMware is the undisputed leader and recognized standard in enterprise virtualization. The company that pioneered this technology continues to set the pace in cloud computing and data center management. VMware products such as ESXi (hypervisor) and vSphere (management platform) are known for their reliability, stability, and extensive feature set, making them the primary choice for large organizations where downtime is simply not an option.

Key Features and Advantages of VMware

VMware delivers a comprehensive suite of solutions that address the most demanding virtualization challenges.

073 | Introduction to Virtualization: Why It’s Needed and How It Saves Time

August 4, 2025

What is Virtualization?

Virtualization is a technology that allows the creation of virtual versions of resources such as servers, operating systems, storage, or networks. It makes it possible to run multiple “virtual machines” (VMs) on a single physical server. Each VM operates as a fully independent computer with its own operating system and applications, while sharing the physical resources of the underlying hardware.

The key component of virtualization is the hypervisor. A hypervisor is software that creates and manages virtual machines, distributing the host machine’s physical resources (CPU time, RAM, disk space, and network interfaces) among them.