LXC containers and virtual machines (VMs) are two popular options for running applications, each with its own unique use cases.

LXC containers can be seen as a lightweight alternative to VMs, often compared to a chroot jail with enhanced capabilities. They have gained a considerable following and are particularly suitable for running applications on ephemeral infrastructure.

LXC containers offer hardware control and can be utilized from an infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) perspective. Noteworthy advantages of LXC containers include faster startup times, lower resource consumption on the host, and the ability to efficiently pack isolated processes onto a single host or start them frequently.

Additionally, LXC containers facilitate the creation of reproducible environments for unit testing purposes, allowing for the use of different flavors of Linux while sharing the host’s kernel. However, it is important to note that LXC containers may not be suitable for all use cases, especially when multiple applications or different kernels are required.

Nonetheless, for IaaS use cases, LXC containers offer advantages in terms of speed, size, and security.

LXC vs VM

LXC containers are considered a lighter alternative to virtual machines (VMs) and are often preferred for running applications on ephemeral infrastructure or in small environments with a single app.

On the other hand, VMs may be more suitable for running multiple applications.

LXC containers provide hardware control and can be used in an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) perspective.

They start faster and use fewer host resources compared to VMs, making them ideal for packing isolated processes onto one host or starting them frequently.

LXC containers can also be used for running unit tests in reproducible environments and have the advantage of having different flavors of Linux while sharing the host’s kernel.

However, it is important to note that LXC containers have constraints and may not meet all requirements, such as when multiple apps or different kernels are needed.

Lightweight Alternative

A lightweight alternative to virtual machines, containers offer a more efficient and resource-friendly solution for running applications on ephemeral infrastructure.

LXC containers, in particular, provide a level of isolation similar to a chroot jail on steroids. They are not virtual machines but rather share the host’s kernel while allowing for hardware control.

LXC containers have gained popularity and have a growing community, similar to Docker. One of the key advantages of LXC containers is their ability to start faster and use fewer host resources compared to VMs. This makes them ideal for packing isolated processes onto a single host or starting them frequently.

Additionally, LXC containers can be used for running unit tests in reproducible environments and can have different flavors of Linux while sharing the host’s kernel.

However, it is important to note that LXC containers may not be suitable for all use cases due to their constraints.

Benefits of LXC

One of the advantages of utilizing LXC containers is their ability to provide a smaller and faster environment compared to virtual machines (VMs). LXC containers start up faster and use fewer host resources, making them ideal for packing isolated processes onto one host or starting them frequently.

They are particularly advantageous for running unit tests in reproducible environments. LXC containers can have different flavors of Linux while sharing the host’s kernel, allowing for flexibility in application development.

They are suitable for small environments with a single application and can be used for scaling by duplicating containers. LXC containers also bring us closer to the dream of write-once run-anywhere, as they can be used to run various applications, such as PHP/MySQL/Apache, Python scripts, and non-webapp applications.

Overall, LXC containers offer speed and size advantages over VMs, making them a viable option for a range of use cases.