In the field of virtualization, type 1 and 2 hypervisors are among the central elements allowing the exploitation of virtual machines. Both approaches have their own strengths, weaknesses and applicability.
What is a hypervisor?
A hypervisor is a software capable of running multiple virtual machines (abbreviated VM in English for Virtual Machine) on the same physical hardware. It is also called virtual machine monitor (VMM). The hypervisor manages resources such as CPU, memory, and networks and allocates them to VMs. This allows users to run different operating systems such as Windows and Linux distributions in VMs simultaneously.
There are two types of hypervisors:
- THE Type 1 hypervisors.
- THE Type 2 hypervisors.
Type 1 and 2 hypervisors have some things in common. Both can create multiple VMs on a single piece of hardware. They isolate VMs from each otherwhich increases security and prevents problems in one VM from affecting others. Both types of hypervisors offer management functions, including starting, stopping, and monitoring VMs, as well as allocating and adjusting resources as needed. These functions can usually be controlled through a user interface or API.
How are Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisors different?
You can recognize a type 1 hypervisor by the fact that it does not require an underlying operating system, unlike the type 2 hypervisor. We will now discuss the different characteristics of the two types of virtualization in more detail.
Type 1 Hypervisor
A type 1 hypervisor, also called hypervisor bare metalruns directly on the physical hardware. In this case, the hypervisor is the first software layer to be loaded on the PC or server. It therefore acts as an intermediary between the hardware and the virtual machines. This architecture leads to a particularly powerful and efficient virtualization solution.
With direct access to physical resources, Type 1 hypervisors have a low latency and fast reaction time. They can allocate CPU cores, memory, and network interfaces very efficiently and accurately and optimize the performance of virtual machines. Similarly, strong isolation between VMs is guaranteed. This enhances the security and stability of the entire virtual environment.
Type 1 hypervisors typically offer features such as live migration, which allows virtual machines to be moved from one physical machine to another while they are running. Many vendors also support high availability and disaster recovery. Type 1 hypervisors often have interfaces for automation and control, such as APIs or specific management tools.
Type 2 Hypervisor
A type 2 hypervisor or hosted hypervisor is a virtualization technology that runs as an application on a existing operating system (Host-OS or host OS). Type 2 hypervisor works as a layer between the host operating system and VMs that run as processes or threads within the host OS. It takes advantage of the host's existing drivers and services, so setup is simple. VMs can run different guest operating systems such as Windows, Linux, or other specialized systems.
The hosted hypervisor accesses hardware resources through the host OS and shares these resources with the host system. This may result in a performance degradationespecially when the host OS is under heavy load or many processes are running simultaneously. An advantage over Type 1 hypervisors, however, is the compatibility with existing hardware and software infrastructure, which makes it easier to introduce and integrate into existing IT environments.
Type 2 hypervisors offer by default a graphical user interface or dashboard for configuring and managing virtual machines. This is not always the case with a Type 1 hypervisor. The dashboard allows users to easily create, configure, and start VMs and dynamically adjust resources such as CPU, RAM, and memory.
Type 1 Hypervisor Examples
- KVM : KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a bare metal hypervisor integrated into the Linux kernel. It therefore offers high performance and flexibility in Linux environments. KVM is a common element of many modern virtualization and cloud infrastructures.
- Nutanix AHV : Nutanix AHV (Acropolis Hypervisor) is a Type 1 hypervisor that operates as the core element of Nutanix's hyperconverged infrastructure. AHV features very good performance and simple, centralized management via Nutanix software.
- Citrix Hypervisor : This bare metal hypervisor was previously known as XenServer. It is a component of the Citrix virtualization infrastructure. The Citrix hypervisor has built-in security features to ensure the isolation of guest operating systems and prevent attacks.
Type 2 Hypervisor Examples
- VirtualBox : Oracle's VirtualBox is a hosted hypervisor that is installed as an application on an existing operating system such as Windows, macOS, or Linux. VirtualBox is known for its ease of use and flexibility.
- Parallels Desktop : Parallels supports guest operating systems such as Windows, Linux, or even some versions of macOS. You can place virtual machine applications directly into the dock. Drag-and-drop file and data exchange between macOS and virtual machines is also possible.
- QEMU : is an open source virtualization platform that can emulate CPU architecture, allowing to create and run virtual machines with different architectures. For example, QEMU can emulate x86 architectures on ARM hardware or vice versa.
When should you use a Type 1 or 2 hypervisor?
When choosing between a Type 1 or Type 2 hypervisor, you need to consider the specific requirements of your virtualization environment. Both hypervisor types offer their own benefits and are suitable for different use cases.
Use cases for type 1 hypervisors
- In the large-scale enterprise environments : Type 1 hypervisors are particularly well suited for companies that want to operate a large number of virtual machines on servers. Direct control over the hardware promotes better resource utilization and performance.
- In the data centers and cloud infrastructures : In data centers where many virtual machines are running, type 1 hypervisors are the ideal choice because they offer high performance and stability. It is mainly functions such as live migration and high availability that are decisive here.
- In case of'high security requirements : Type 1 hypervisors have fewer software components than Type 2 hypervisors, which reduces the potential attack surface. Additionally, due to their architecture, Type 1 hypervisors can provide better isolation between virtual machines.
- For some high performance workloads : Programs that demand high performance, such as databases, machine learning applications, or big data, benefit from direct control of the hardware by Type 1 hypervisors.
Use cases for type 2 hypervisors
- Withindevelopment and test environments : Type 2 hypervisors are ideal for developers who want to test different operating systems and applications on the same hardware. Type 2 hypervisors are a quick and easy way to create and manage VMs.
- In training environments : Hosted hypervisors are suitable for training and practice environments where users can explore and test different operating systems and applications without fear of impacting the host hardware or operating system.
- For a personal or home use : For personal use or small projects, Type 2 hypervisors are a practical solution. Users can quickly and easily run operating systems and applications on their own computer, without additional hardware or complex configuration.
- For a low cost virtualization : Type 2 hypervisors are a cost-effective option for using virtualization, as they do not require any specific hardware and are often available for free or at low cost.
The virtualization alternative
Migrate to the IONOS Cloud with ease. Up to €5,000 in migration support. Support from IONOS experts included.
Maximum security
Excellent price-performance ratio
Migration by lift-and-shift