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Application Virtualization and Container Virtualization

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Summary

PDF p.161

Application virtualization allows clients to access or stream applications from a server, while containerization packages all necessary components for software into portable units called containers. Both technologies enhance application deployment and management, with hypervisors playing a crucial role in managing virtual machines.

In plain words

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Application virtualization streams or hosts individual apps on a server instead of running a whole virtual desktop. Containers (such as Docker) package code, libraries and configuration together so the app runs the same way everywhere. Hypervisors run whole virtual machines: Type 1 runs on bare metal (ESXi, Hyper-V); Type 2 runs on top of a host OS (VirtualBox, VMware Workstation).

Detailed explanation

PDF p.161
  • Application Virtualization
    • Definition: Clients access or stream applications hosted on a server, rather than running the entire desktop virtually.
    • Solutions: Common solutions include Citrix XenApp, Microsoft App-V, and VMware ThinApp.
    • Clientless Access: Often used with HTML5 remote desktop apps, accessible through web browsers.
  • Containerization
    • Definition: Encapsulates all necessary software components (code, libraries, configurations) within a portable unit called a container.
    • Benefits: Ensures consistent application behavior across different platforms, avoids dependency issues.
    • Examples: Docker is a popular container platform, allowing easy management and deployment of containers.
  • Hypervisors
    • Role: Manage multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single hardware platform.
    • Types
      • Type 1 (Bare-Metal): Runs directly on physical hardware, offering high performance and efficiency (e.g., VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V).
      • Type 2 (Hosted): Runs on top of a host operating system, often used for development and testing (e.g., VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox).

Important terms

taken from the text above
Application Virtualization
Clients access or stream applications hosted on a server, rather than running the entire desktop virtually.
Clientless Access
Often used with HTML5 remote desktop apps, accessible through web browsers.
Containerization
Encapsulates all necessary software components (code, libraries, configurations) within a portable unit called a container.
Type 1 (Bare-Metal)
Runs directly on physical hardware, offering high performance and efficiency (e.g., VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V).
Type 2 (Hosted)
Runs on top of a host operating system, often used for development and testing (e.g., VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox).

Examples & real-world scenarios

Supplementary — not from your PDF
  • Citrix or App-V delivering one app to users' browsers.
  • A Docker container running a web API with all its dependencies.
  • VirtualBox on a laptop for a personal practice lab.

Scenario

A developer's app works on their laptop but fails on the server because of a different library version. Packaging it as a container removes the dependency mismatch.

Common mistakes

Supplementary — not from your PDF
  • Mixing up Type 1 (bare metal) and Type 2 (hosted) hypervisors.
  • Thinking containers are full VMs. They share the host's kernel.

Practical skills

Supplementary — not from your PDF
  • Pick application virtualization, containers or VMs for a need.
  • Build a small Type 2 hypervisor lab for your own practice.

What I should remember

Key Points PDF p.161
  • Application Virtualization
    • Access: Hosted on a server, streamed to clients.
    • Solutions: Citrix XenApp, Microsoft App-V, VMware ThinApp.
    • Clientless: HTML5 remote desktop apps.
  • Containerization
    • Encapsulation: All software components in a container.
    • Consistency: Across different platforms.
    • Examples: Docker.
  • Hypervisors
    • Management: Multiple VMs on one hardware platform.
    • Types
      • Type 1: Bare-metal, high performance (VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V).
      • Type 2: Hosted, for development/testing (VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox).