Difference Between KVM VPS and OpenVZ VPS in 2024

Difference Between KVM VPS and OpenVZ VPS-MyHostingProvider

Shared hosting has been the popular choice of business owners for many years. Although it’s cheaper, shared hosting poses many problems like delayed response time and slow loading speeds, which have caused the introduction of newer web hosting solutions.

In recent years, virtualization has become a more popular web hosting choice for many business owners. Various forms of this technology have helped us transition to the age of cloud computing.

Additionally, virtualization has enabled specialists to develop VPS hosting. KVM VPS and OpenVZ VPS are two popular choices, and this article is all about them. But, first, let’s learn what role virtualization plays in web hosting.

What is Virtualization?

Virtualization is a computer technology that allows you to break down a single system into multiple virtual versions, enabling it to run numerous infrastructures simultaneously. A software called the hypervisor fragments a server into different virtual machines and runs them on a single host computer.

Consequently, each virtual machine, although merely a server fragment, is self-operating and independent. Virtualization has enabled VPS hosting service providers to solve the issue of shared hosting. Although multiple virtual machines are running on a single host computer, the software on your organization’s system will not have access to the resources and configuration of another.

In essence, it’s easier to think the hypervisor forms a thin layer of virtualization that separates the machines. Therefore, it’s easier to allocate part of the host computer’s resources to the machines, and this is how your VPS hosting solution provides your enterprise with unshared use of memory, CPU, and hard disk space.

KVM VPS and OpenVZ VPS

KVM or Kernel-based Virtual Machine is an open-source VPS software for Linux and uses a type 2 hypervisor. It’s installed as a software application of the OS and embeds itself in the Linux Kernel.

As a result, the Linux Kernel acts as the hypervisor and manages the performance of the virtual machines. KVM also supports multiple guest operating systems, such as Windows, Solaris, and Haiku.

On the other hand, OpenVZ is an OS-level VPS solution created by Virtuozzo, a private software company. The technology can create multiple VPS environments on a single physical server. Each VPS, also called a container, acts as a single server, although it’s only a tiny part of the actual physical server.

Differences Between KVM VPS and OpenVZ VPS

There are four critical differences between KVM and OpenVZ VPS. Each virtualization technology has its advantages, so we will compare them head-to-head.

Hardware Requirements

One of the most significant differences between KVM VPS and OpenVZ VPS is that both solutions offer different types of virtualizations. KVM provides hardware-level virtualization where the physical server acts as the hypervisor. Significant computing power is required to run the hypervisor, meaning the system cannot distribute all resources to the virtual machines.

Contrastingly, OpenVZ Virtualization offers OS-level virtualization and does not require a hypervisor. Therefore, allocating up to 99% of the server’s resources to virtual private servers or containers is easier.

Memory Distribution

KVM VPS and OpenVZ VPS utilize different distribution models for dividing RAM across the virtual servers.

KVM imposes certain restrictions on the memory capacities for each virtual machine so all users get an equal share and the hypervisor is not overcrowded.

However, OpenVZ imposes no limits, and every virtual server can access the unused memory on the actual physical server. The distribution model poses some issues, such as an increase in downtime. Suppose the RAM usage of one container or VPS machine exceeds the average threshold. In such a case, said container will be able to access the physical server’s unused memory, meaning the performance of all other containers will be negatively affected; this results in prolonged downtimes and performance issues which can bring down conversion rates.

OS Support

OS support is one of the critical differences between KVM VPS and OpenVZ VPS. KVM Virtualization uses hardware-level virtualization, so the server is transformed into a hypervisor. Therefore, the VPS solution can utilize any operating system. Hosting service providers commonly use Linux, although it can also be used to set up a Windows VPS.

On the other hand, OpenVZ only supports Linux since the technology is packaged as a Linux distribution. Therefore, all virtual servers based on OpenVZ use its kernel, so OS support for other companies is not an option.

OS support could be a critical factor in which solution you want to choose. KVM is more flexible if you’re looking for multiple OS compatibility.

Cost

Cost is one of the most significant differences between KVM and OpenVZ VPS. While both solutions are open-source and free of charge, KVM is still more expensive. The Kernel-based Virtual Machine has extensive hardware requirements and involves a complicated setup, which increases its price by a hefty margin.

In contrast, OpenVZ is a cheaper alternative and offers identical performance. It does not have extensive hardware requirements or the need for a hypervisor and results in a simple configuration setup. As a result, small and medium-sized businesses often prefer OpenVZ instead of KVM.

Conclusion

To conclude, both KVM VPS and OpenVZ VPS are good choices, each with its benefits and drawbacks. If you’re a medium-sized business owner, KVM is more than enough to meet your organization’s requirements. It will offer you virtualized hardware and several resources that will make running your online business a breeze. Since the virtual machines will be isolated from the rest of the server, you will also be able to modify each virtual machine’s kernel.

OpenVZ offers speed and scalability but limits OS support. Overselling is another issue with the solution, where hosting providers overcrowd a physical server with more containers than it can handle. Overselling will drastically impact your website and its SEO rankings, even though OpenVZ VPS is a budget-friendly option. Plus, it uses the Linux Kernel, so making any container modifications is out of the question.

Keeping that in mind, we suggest choosing a VPS hosting service provider which offers both technologies, so you have some wiggle room in the decision-making process.