Cloud-native this, cloud-native that. It’s everywhere, and for good reason – the way we build and manage infrastructures has changed over time. But in the middle of all the buzzwords, a very practical question still lingers: Should you run your workloads in containers or virtual machines (VMs)?
There’s no shortage of opinions. But instead of leaning into hype or outdated assumptions, let’s look at how each approach fits into practical, real-world use cases, and where they can work together.
Understanding Containers and Virtual Machines
Before diving into comparisons, it’s important to understand what containers and virtual machines actually are, how they operate, and what makes each unique.
What is a Container?
A container is a lightweight, portable, and self-contained software package that includes an application along with all its dependencies. Containers operate on a shared operating system kernel, which makes them quick to start, efficient in resource usage, and straightforward to deploy across different environments.
Why containers are gaining traction:
- Start almost instantly
- Consume fewer resources
- Portability between environments is nearly seamless
- Align well with microservices and CI/CD pipelines
Where they fall short:
- Lower level of isolation compared to VMs
- Shares host OS kernel, which may impact security in multi-tenant setups
- Managing persistent or stateful services often requires extra tooling
Popular Container Providers
- Docker – Most popular container engine for local development and production workloads
- Podman – Daemonless container engine, often used in rootless setups
- containerd – Core container runtime used by Docker and Kubernetes
- CRI-O – Kubernetes-native container runtime
- Kubernetes – Orchestration platform to manage containers at scale
What is a Virtual Machine?
A virtual machine (VM) is a complete simulation of a physical computer, including its own operating system, virtual hardware (such as CPU, memory, and storage), and network interfaces.
VMs are managed by a hypervisor which is a specialized software that enables the creation and management of VMs on a single physical server. There are two hypervisor types:
- Type 1 (bare-metal): Runs directly on physical hardware (e.g., VMware ESXi, Hyper-V, KVM)
- Type 2 (hosted): Runs on top of a host OS (e.g., VirtualBox, VMware Workstation)
Where VMs excel:
- Strong isolation between workloads
- Suitable for running multiple OS types on one host
- Mature management and security tools
Their limitations:
- Slower startup and shutdown
- Higher resource usage
- Less portable than containers
Containers vs. Virtual Machines
Containers and VMs are both methods of application virtualization, here’s a quick comparison.
| Feature | Containers | Virtual Machines |
|---|---|---|
| OS Layer | Shares host OS kernel | Each has its own OS kernel |
| Startup Time | Seconds | Minutes |
| Resource Efficiency | Lightweight (MBs) | Heavyweight (GBs) |
| Portability | High | Medium |
| Isolation | Process-level | OS-level |
| Security | Lower (needs extra tools) | Higher out of the box |
| Best For | Microservices, cloud-native apps | Legacy apps, multi-OS environments |
| Management Tools | Kubernetes, Docker, Podman | vSphere, Hyper-V Manager, Proxmox |
When to Use Containers vs. Virtual Machines
The decision often depends less on the technology itself and more on workload characteristics, organizational requirements, and infrastructure realities.
Containers are ideal when:
- Fast, repeated deployments are required
- You’re developing microservices or stateless applications
- Automation and CI/CD workflows are priorities
VMs are better suited when:
- You need strong workload isolation
- Running different OS types is essential
- Your applications are legacy or require full-stack environments
- Compliance mandates strict separation and security
Which Option Is Better for You?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer, the choice between containers and virtual machines (VMs) depends on your specific goals:
- Developers and DevOps teams often prefer containers for their speed, agility, and automation capabilities.
- Enterprises that run legacy software or operate in mixed operating system environments may continue to rely on virtual machines.
- Organizations that prioritize security might favor VMs due to their superior isolation.
- Those adopting microservices or cloud-native architectures should opt for containers.
When making your decision, it’s important to consider factors such as application architecture, deployment frequency, infrastructure control, and compliance requirements.
How Can You Use Containers and Virtual Machines Together?
You don’t have to choose just one approach, containers and virtual machines (VMs) can be deployed together to leverage the strengths of both.
- Containers inside VMs: This method is commonly used in public cloud environments, such as Amazon EKS running on EC2 or Azure AKS on virtual machines.
- VMs provide base OS isolation, while containers are used for application delivery.
- VMs can also host Kubernetes clusters, which can manage thousands of containers.
This hybrid strategy offers flexibility, security, and performance tailored to your specific workload requirements.
StarWind with Containers and Virtual Machines
StarWind provides a robust foundation for virtualized infrastructures, delivering reliable and high-availability storage solutions for both virtual machines (VMs) and containerized environments.
While containers typically rely on local or cloud-native storage, many containerized workloads still run within VMs. StarWind Virtual SAN ensures that these VMs have access to fault-tolerant, shared storage.
Key features include:
- High-availability storage compatible with various hypervisors (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM)
- Seamless integration with Proxmox, StarWind HCI, or existing infrastructure
Whether you are deploying containers, VMs, or a combination of both, StarWind guarantees data resilience and optimal performance.
Conclusion
Containers and virtual machines are not competitors – they’re tools, each optimized for different scenarios. Choosing the right one isn’t about following trends, it’s about understanding your application needs, infrastructure capabilities, and long-term goals.
In many environments, the best strategy is a combination of both. With solutions like StarWind VSAN supporting the underlying infrastructure, you’re free to architect systems that are fast, scalable, and fault tolerant – regardless of what’s running on top.
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