OpenVZ / Virtuozzo

OpenVZ and Virtuozzo are virtualization platforms that allow an administrator to create and manage multiple "Virtual Private Servers" (VPS) on a single, physical server. Virtuozzo, available in both Windows and Linux flavors, is the extended, commercial product from SWsoft; while OpenVZ (Linux only) is an open-source subset of Virtuozzo.

Both products provide the ability to partition a single physical server into multiple virtual servers; each of which can be utilized and reacts as if it is an indedendent hardware server. Virtual servers can be booted/rebooted independently, and can each have their own root access, filesystems, users, IP addresses, memory, applications, and configuration files. Applications and services are unaware of the virtual service's existence; however, the OpenVZ site does note that applications will not have direct access to the host's hardware.

Available separately as an open source offering, the vendor notes that OpenVZ is also used as "...a proving ground for new technology that may evolve into the Virtuozzo product offering."

Virtuozzo, the commercial offering from SWsoft, is targeted to production deployments and, according to the vendor, increases the scale, performance, and toolsets of the virtualization product. According to the vendor, Virtuozzo is designed to run on hosts with up to 32 CPUs, and in addition to increased efficiency and support and maintenance options features added tools such as:

- VZMC / VZCC: GUI and Browser-based tools (respectively) facilitating VPS administration, management, monitoring, and provisioning

- PowerPanel: A browser-based recovery and administration tool for the VPS owner

- Migration Tools, for moving VPSs between physical machines

- VZAgent, a common client-server XML-based management API allowing for the integration of Virtuozzo with existing management tools or development of additional modules

- Traffic accounting tools, providing bandwidth management and control for individual VPSs and provide additional security mechanisms for VPSs running on the same host

New to the OpenVZ effort are pre-built Debian 3.1 (Sarge) VPS templates, providing for the creation of Debian VPSs.

OpenVZ and Virtuozzo are available now. Visit the OpenVZ and the Virtuozzo Web site for further information.