Choosing between Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) and OpenVZ is often the first decision you make when buying a VPS. While both technologies slice up a server, they do it in fundamentally different ways that impact performance, security, and price.
Virtualization is the process of creating a software-based (or virtual) representation of something, such as virtual applications, servers, storage, and networks. It is the single most effective way to reduce IT expenses while boosting efficiency and agility.
KVM lets you turn Linux into a hypervisor that allows a host machine to run multiple, isolated virtual environments. KVM converts Linux into a type-1 (bare-metal) hypervisor.
For ANY serious production workload, KVM is superior because it guarantees that your resources are defined in hardware. It avoids the "noisy neighbor" problem common in OpenVZ.
OpenVZ is operating-system-level virtualization. It runs on top of the host OS Linux kernel. All containers share the same kernel version.
| Feature | KVM | OpenVZ |
|---|---|---|
| OS Support | Linux, Windows, BSD | Linux Only |
| Isolation | Full Hardware Isolation | Shared Kernel |
| Performance | Near Native | Variable (Neighbors affect you) |
| Price | Higher | Cheaper |
If you are running a VPN, a Docker container, or a high-traffic website, choose KVM. The stability and modularity are worth the small extra cost.
If you are learning Linux or running a very small, static website with almost no traffic, OpenVZ can be a very cheap entry point.
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