Docker vs libvirt

Overview

Docker

Stacks194.2K

Followers143.8K

Votes3.9K

libvirt

Stacks54

Followers70

Votes17

Docker vs libvirt: What are the differences?

Introduction

This article highlights the key differences between Docker and libvirt. Docker and libvirt are both technologies used to manage virtualized environments, but they have distinct features and purposes.

Architecture: Docker is based on containerization technology, where applications run in isolated containers. It uses a base image and layers to create containers. On the other hand, libvirt is a virtualization abstraction library that supports various virtualization technologies such as KVM, QEMU, and Xen. It provides a common interface to manage virtual machines (VMs) and can be used with different hypervisors.
Isolation: Docker provides process-level isolation, where each container has its own isolated runtime environment. It ensures that containers are well isolated from each other and from the host system. In contrast, libvirt offers system-level isolation through full virtualization. It creates a complete virtual machine with its own kernel, ensuring stronger isolation between VMs and the host system.
Image Management: Docker focuses heavily on image management. It provides a Docker registry for storing and distributing container images. Docker images are lightweight and can be easily shared and deployed on different systems. On the other hand, libvirt does not have its own image management system. It relies on disk image formats like qcow2 or raw disk images to create and manage VMs.
Orchestration: Docker has built-in orchestration features, such as Docker Swarm and Kubernetes, which allow for scaling, load balancing, and automatic container management across multiple hosts. Docker Swarm enables the creation of swarm clusters for distributed container deployments. In comparison, libvirt primarily focuses on managing individual VMs and does not provide built-in orchestration capabilities.
Networking: Docker provides its own container network model (CNM) for networking between containers. It allows containers to communicate with each other using virtual networks, bridges, and port mappings. Docker also supports third-party networking plugins for advanced networking configurations. Libvirt, on the other hand, relies on the underlying virtualization technology (such as KVM or QEMU) for networking, which includes options like bridge networks and virtual switches.
Resource Management: Docker provides resource isolation and control through its resource management features. It allows users to allocate CPU, memory, and other resources to containers using policies and limits. Docker's resource management is more fine-grained and flexible. In contrast, libvirt provides basic resource management capabilities like CPU and memory allocation at the VM level. It does not offer the same level of granularity and control as Docker.

In summary, Docker and libvirt are both used for virtualization, but they have different architectural approaches, isolation mechanisms, image management systems, orchestration capabilities, networking models, and resource management features. Choosing between the two depends on the specific requirements of the virtualized environment.

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Advice on Docker, libvirt

Florian

IT DevOp at Agitos GmbH

Oct 22, 2019

Decided

lxd/lxc and Docker aren't congruent so this comparison needs a more detailed look; but in short I can say: the lxd-integrated administration of storage including zfs with its snapshot capabilities as well as the system container (multi-process) approach of lxc vs. the limited single-process container approach of Docker is the main reason I chose lxd over Docker.

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Detailed Comparison

Docker	libvirt
The Docker Platform is the industry-leading container platform for continuous, high-velocity innovation, enabling organizations to seamlessly build and share any application — from legacy to what comes next — and securely run them anywhere	It is an open-source API, daemon and management tool for managing platform virtualization. It can be used to manage KVM, Xen, VMware ESXi, QEMU and other virtualization technologies.
Integrated developer tools; open, portable images; shareable, reusable apps; framework-aware builds; standardized templates; multi-environment support; remote registry management; simple setup for Docker and Kubernetes; certified Kubernetes; application templates; enterprise controls; secure software supply chain; industry-leading container runtime; image scanning; access controls; image signing; caching and mirroring; image lifecycle; policy-based image promotion	Manage virtualization platforms; Accessible from C, Python, Perl, Java and more; Supports KVM, QEMU, Xen, Virtuozzo, VMWare ESX, LXC, BHyve and more
Statistics
Stacks 194.2K	Stacks 54
Followers 143.8K	Followers 70
Votes 3.9K	Votes 17
Pros & Cons
Pros 823 Rapid integration and build up 692 Isolation 521 Open source 505 Testability and reproducibility 460 Lightweight Cons 8 New versions == broken features 6 Documentation not always in sync 6 Unreliable networking 4 Moves quickly 3 Not Secure	Pros 2 VirtIO direct hardware access 2 Can fully manage via CLI or VirtManager 2 Native hypervisor 2 Native KVM and QEMU 2 Built into most Linux distros
Integrations
Java Docker Compose VirtualBox Linux Amazon EC2 Container Service Docker Swarm boot2docker Kubernetes Docker Machine Vagrant	Java Python Qemu KVM

What are some alternatives to Docker, libvirt?

Vagrant

Vagrant provides the framework and configuration format to create and manage complete portable development environments. These development environments can live on your computer or in the cloud, and are portable between Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

boot2docker

boot2docker is a lightweight Linux distribution based on Tiny Core Linux made specifically to run Docker containers. It runs completely from RAM, weighs ~27MB and boots in ~5s (YMMV).

LXD

LXD isn't a rewrite of LXC, in fact it's building on top of LXC to provide a new, better user experience. Under the hood, LXD uses LXC through liblxc and its Go binding to create and manage the containers. It's basically an alternative to LXC's tools and distribution template system with the added features that come from being controllable over the network.

LXC

LXC is a userspace interface for the Linux kernel containment features. Through a powerful API and simple tools, it lets Linux users easily create and manage system or application containers.

Otto

Otto automatically builds development environments without any configuration; it can detect your project type and has built-in knowledge of industry-standard tools to setup a development environment that is ready to go. When you're ready to deploy, otto builds and manages an infrastructure, sets up servers, builds, and deploys the application.

rkt

Rocket is a cli for running App Containers. The goal of rocket is to be composable, secure, and fast.

Azk

azk lets developers easily and quickly install and configure development environments on their computers.

Vagrant Cloud

Vagrant Cloud pairs with Vagrant to enable access, insight and collaboration across teams, as well as to bring exposure to community contributions and development environments.

Studio 3T

It's the only MongoDB tool that provides three ways to explore data alongside powerful features like query autocompletion, polyglot code generation, a stage-by-stage aggregation query builder, import and export, SQL query support and more.

XenServer

It is a leading virtualization management platform optimized for application, desktop and server virtualization infrastructures. It is used in the world's largest clouds and enterprises.

Related Comparisons

Docker vs libvirt: What are the differences?

Introduction

This article highlights the key differences between Docker and libvirt. Docker and libvirt are both technologies used to manage virtualized environments, but they have distinct features and purposes.

Architecture: Docker is based on containerization technology, where applications run in isolated containers. It uses a base image and layers to create containers. On the other hand, libvirt is a virtualization abstraction library that supports various virtualization technologies such as KVM, QEMU, and Xen. It provides a common interface to manage virtual machines (VMs) and can be used with different hypervisors.
Isolation: Docker provides process-level isolation, where each container has its own isolated runtime environment. It ensures that containers are well isolated from each other and from the host system. In contrast, libvirt offers system-level isolation through full virtualization. It creates a complete virtual machine with its own kernel, ensuring stronger isolation between VMs and the host system.
Image Management: Docker focuses heavily on image management. It provides a Docker registry for storing and distributing container images. Docker images are lightweight and can be easily shared and deployed on different systems. On the other hand, libvirt does not have its own image management system. It relies on disk image formats like qcow2 or raw disk images to create and manage VMs.
Orchestration: Docker has built-in orchestration features, such as Docker Swarm and Kubernetes, which allow for scaling, load balancing, and automatic container management across multiple hosts. Docker Swarm enables the creation of swarm clusters for distributed container deployments. In comparison, libvirt primarily focuses on managing individual VMs and does not provide built-in orchestration capabilities.
Networking: Docker provides its own container network model (CNM) for networking between containers. It allows containers to communicate with each other using virtual networks, bridges, and port mappings. Docker also supports third-party networking plugins for advanced networking configurations. Libvirt, on the other hand, relies on the underlying virtualization technology (such as KVM or QEMU) for networking, which includes options like bridge networks and virtual switches.
Resource Management: Docker provides resource isolation and control through its resource management features. It allows users to allocate CPU, memory, and other resources to containers using policies and limits. Docker's resource management is more fine-grained and flexible. In contrast, libvirt provides basic resource management capabilities like CPU and memory allocation at the VM level. It does not offer the same level of granularity and control as Docker.

Docker vs libvirt

Overview

Docker vs libvirt: What are the differences?