You must know how virtualization works if you are into modern servers. Hypervisors are an important part of virtualization that divides physical resources among multiple virtual machines. Well, they are of two main types – bare metal and hosted hypervisors. These two types of hypervisors play distinct roles in server management and cloud computing. This blog will lay out two comparisons – bare metal vs hypervisor and bare Metal vs hosted hypervisor to help you understand these terms and know the right type of hypervisor for you.
So, the main difference between bare metal and hosted hypervisors is that the bare metal hypervisor directly interacts with hardware. Whereas, hosted hypervisors run on top of an operating system. They both support virtualization but their setups and use cases are different.
‘Bare metal servers’ and ‘hypervisors’ are two other terms under virtualization, this blog will guide you through these basic concepts before getting into the comparisons. We will also know what happens if they work together.
Bare Metal Server Vs Hypervisor
Let us first discuss the meaning, features, and reasons for using Bare Metal Server and Hypervisor –
What is a Bare Metal Server
A physical server with dedicated hardware components like CPU, RAM, and storage drives is called a bare metal server. It provides a configuration that allows the operating system to interact directly with the hardware. Thus, it can offer excellent performance and efficient resource management.
Moreover, bare metal servers do not have a virtualization layer such as a hypervisor so it can deliver raw performance for demanding applications such as databases and real-time data processing.
Key Features of Bare Metal Servers
- High Performance – They provide superior performance due to their direct access to hardware resources. So, it is preferred if applications need high processing power.
- Best Security – They minimize security risks due to no virtualization layer so they are preferred for security-sensitive environments.
- Dedicated Resources – You get exclusive access to all hardware components that are beneficial for resource-intensive applications.
- Full Control – They provide complete control over server configurations. You can customize settings according to specific needs without interference.
- Flexibility in Deployment – You can choose to colocate bare metal servers and own the hardware. Alternatively, you can choose to lease them from a hosting provider. This flexibility can meet different operational requirements.
Why Use a Bare Metal Server?
A bare metal server is a preferred choice for several reasons, as discussed below. Their capabilities make them a strong choice for businesses that demand the highest levels of efficiency and reliability in their server infrastructure. They can meet the highest performance, security, and control demands of an advanced environment.
- Extreme Performance
Bare metal servers are suitable for CPU-intensive applications as they can deliver excellent speed and performance.
- Cost Considerations
They are more expensive than virtualized options but they give amazing performance. This justifies the investment in high-demand applications.
- Time-Efficient for Certain Tasks
Bare metal server provisioning takes longer but the performance benefits often outweigh the initial wait time. Critical applications benefit a lot from these server types.
What is Hypervisor?
A hypervisor is software that is used to create and manage multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical server. It partitions a server into different isolated environments. Also, it enables each VM to function independently with its own operating system.
Moreover, it simplifies resource management and boosts flexibility. It is considered to be one of the most essential tools for various applications.
Related: What is a Bare Metal Server?
Key Features of Hypervisors
- Rapid VM Deployment – Hypervisors facilitate the quick setup of virtual machines. You can launch and configure them in no time.
- Resource Isolation – All virtual machines operate in their own isolated environment. So, one VM’s processes do not interfere with another. This setup enhances security and stability.
- Multi-OS Support – You can run your preferred operating systems on separate VMs like Windows, Linux, or macOS inside the same physical server. Development, testing, and running diverse applications become super-easy with it.
- Efficient Resource Utilization – Multiple VMs share the hardware resources using a hypervisor. This further leads to more efficient use of server capabilities compared to dedicated servers.
- User-Friendly Management – Most hypervisors come with user-friendly interfaces for VM management. You can easily monitor and control your virtual environments using the same.
Why Use a Hypervisor?
Hypervisors are valuable in several scenarios –
Cost-Effectiveness
Hypervisor helps you deploy multiple VMs so it is more cost-effective than purchasing and maintaining several bare metal servers. It offers optimized resource usage and keeps operational costs low.
Scalability
It allows you to scale infrastructure quickly with easy adding or removing of VMs.
Testing and Development
Hypervisors provide an ideal environment for testing applications. Developers can experiment with new features without affecting production systems.
Resource Sharing
Hypervisor ensures efficient sharing of resources among VMs. This offers great benefits as it maximizes hardware usage and reduces waste.
Rapid Provisioning
You can create multiple VMs in no time to respond to demand fluctuations or to deploy new applications quickly.
Bare Metal vs Hosted Hypervisor
Now that we know what is a hypervisor and bare metal server. Let us get into the types of Hypervisors.
What is a Bare Metal Hypervisor
Bare metal hypervisors are also called Type 1 hypervisors. This type operates directly on physical hardware.
This virtualization software partitions hardware components (CPUs and RAM) into multiple virtual machines and your preferred operating systems. Thus, each virtual machine/OS functions independently with a hypervisor that manages the hardware resources efficiently.
Key Features of Bare Metal Hypervisors
- Direct Hardware Access – They interact directly with physical components. This results in the best performance and reduced latency for virtual machines.
- VM Mobility – You can seamlessly migrate virtual machines across different physical servers. This process does not create disruptions and can occur automatically. Thus, they ensure continuity during hardware maintenance or failures.
- Resource Efficiency – Hypervisors can over-allocate resources so a virtual machine can use more resources than they actually do have physically.
Pros of Bare Metal Hypervisors
This type of hypervisor has advanced features and excellent benefits for your application. The top ones are discussed below –
- Enhanced Security
These hypervisors do not give an additional operating system layer that can minimize vulnerabilities and potential attack surfaces.
- Optimal Performance
Direct communication with hardware results in better resource management and application performance compared to hosted hypervisors.
- High Scalability
Organizations can easily scale their environments by adding more virtual machines without significant overhead.
Cons of Bare Metal Hypervisors
Bare metal hypervisors have a few negative aspects too. They are discussed as below –
- Complexity in Management
Managing bare metal hypervisors can require advanced skills and knowledge of virtualization technologies so it can be less user-friendly for inexperienced administrators.
- Higher Initial Costs
Bare metal hypervisor setup has higher upfront costs due to the need for dedicated hardware.
- Limited Compatibility
Some applications may not function optimally in a virtualized environment and can cause potential issues in specific use cases.
What is Hosted Hypervisor
Hosted hypervisors are also called Type 2 hypervisors. They operate as applications within an existing operating system of a physical server.
Bare-metal hypervisors run directly on hardware but hosted hypervisors rely on and function on the operating system of the hardware. Also, this setup does not need additional hardware resources to create and manage multiple virtual machines on the same physical server.
Key Features of Hosted Hypervisors
- User-Friendly Management – You can manage virtual machines directly through the operating system so setup and management becomes easy.
- Multiple OS Support – Various operating systems can run on a single physical machine. This aspect is especially helpful for testing software in different environments.
- Resource Utilization – Its installation is easy like any standard application. You do not need separate software installation on different machines.
- Integration with Productivity Tools – You can access productivity applications from different operating systems. For example, Windows users can create a Linux virtual machine to run specific applications.
Pros of Hosted Hypervisors
Hosted hypervisors offer various benefits on top of the above features –
- Convenient Setup
Installation of hosted hypervisors is quick and easy. You can get started in no time with existing operating systems. It also does not need complex configurations.
- Efficient Testing Environment
You can test new software across multiple virtual environments. This way, it facilitates comparison and analysis of application performance.
- Cost-Effective Solution
Hosted hypervisors do not require additional physical hardware. Thus, it reduces overall costs if you need to run multiple operating systems.
Cons of Hosted Hypervisors
Here are some negative points about hosted hypervisors –
- Performance Limitations
Hosted hypervisors rely on the host operating system so it may cause performance issues especially if your application requires extensive resources.
- Increased Overhead
The added layer of the host operating system can also cause latency and reduce the efficiency of resource allocation.
- Dependency on Host OS Stability
Any issues or crashes with the host operating system can affect all running virtual machines. It can also lead to potential downtime.
Difference Between Bare Metal and Hosted Hypervisor
Hypervisors are important in modern computing environments. They help to efficiently manage and allocate resources between multiple virtual machines. Its efficiency results in enhanced flexibility and performance.
The below differences between bare metal hypervisors and hosted hypervisors help organizations choose the right solution for their needs.
| Feature | Bare Metal Hypervisors (Type 1) | Hosted Hypervisors (Type 2) |
| Operation | Bare metal hypervisors run directly on physical hardware. | Hosted hypervisors run on an existing OS as applications. |
| Resource Management | They transform hardware components into multiple virtual machines. | This type relies on the host OS to manage resources for virtual machines. |
| Direct Hardware Access | They deal directly with the hardware and enhance performance. | Type 2 can introduce latency as it depends on the host OS. |
| VM Mobility | Migration of VMs across different servers can be done seamlessly without disruption. | VM mobility can be limited due to limitations from the host OS. |
| Scalability | Offers high scalability with easy addition of virtual machines. | Less scalable as they rely on existing OS resources. |
| Security | Better security with no additional OS layer. This setup minimizes vulnerabilities. | Vulnerabilities are more due to dependence on the host OS. |
| Ease of Use | You need advanced skills in management. This can be complex for beginners. | They offer a user-friendly interface for easy management. |
| Cost | Initial setup can be costly as the setup needs dedicated hardware requirements. | They are mostly more cost-effective since they do not need additional hardware. |
| Compatibility | Some applications may not work optimally in virtualized environments. | They can run various operating systems easily and facilitate testing and development. |
| Performance | They provide optimal performance for resource-intensive applications. | Performance may suffer under heavy loads due to the additional overhead of the host OS. |
Related: Bare Metal vs Dedicated Server
Factors for Choosing Between Bare Metal and Hosted Hypervisors
A few factors influence the decision between Bare Metal Hypervisor and Hosted Hypervisor. The primary ones are discussed as below –
Performance Needs – Bare metal hypervisors can provide direct access to hardware and better resource management. Thus, it can fulfil high-performance needs.
Management Skills – If you have limited technical expertise, the hosted hypervisor is ideal. They have user-friendly interfaces and simpler management processes.
Budget Considerations – Hosted hypervisors are affordable as they do not require additional hardware. On the other hand, bare metal hypervisor requires the same and so needs more investment.
Scalability Requirements – Bare metal hypervisors support high scalability for easy addition of virtual machines. Thus, they can fulfil your long-term needs of scaling the operations efficiently.
Security Concerns – Security-sensitive environments should prefer bare metal hypervisors because they have fewer vulnerabilities without an additional operating system layer.
Resource Utilization – Hosted hypervisors are useful to run various operating systems for testing or development. You can create multiple virtual environments on a single machine for this purpose.
Bare metal hypervisors are useful for cloud infrastructure for resource-heavy applications, server farms, enterprise data centers, etc.
Cantech’s Bare Metal and Virtualization Technology
Cantech provides robust and affordable bare metal server and virtualization technology to meet basic to advanced business needs.
We guarantee unmatched performance with the dedicated resources of our Bare Metal technology. Whereas, Cantech’s virtualization solutions offer flexibility by allowing multiple virtual servers on a single physical machine. Our offerings include managed and unmanaged solutions too.
We have advanced security protocols and scalable options. The technology supports seamless migration and efficient resource management. With excellent 24/7 customer support, we commit to optimal server performance.
We also ensure easy integration with existing infrastructure and cloud technology. Cantech offers flexible deployment options like colocation and leasing.
Conclusion
The right technology selection is essential that meet your organization’s needs efficiently. You first need to decide if your application needs dedicated resources or virtualization. The bare metal server offers dedicated resources, advanced security, and control. However, if you choose to maximize the use of resources by running multiple VMs/OS on a single machine, you can choose Virtualization with hypervisors. Both bare metal and hosted hypervisors offer unique advantages and disadvantages. A thoughtful approach will help companies maximise their resources and achieve optimal performance. Contact us to choose the perfect and the most cost-effective option as per your needs!
FAQs for Bare Metal vs Hypervisor
What is the main difference between bare metal hypervisors and hosted hypervisors?
The main difference is how they operate. Bare metal hypervisors run directly on physical hardware. Whereas, hosted hypervisors run as applications on existing operating systems. Their respective setups affect performance, management, and resource utilization.
When should I choose a bare metal hypervisor over a hosted hypervisor?
You should choose a bare metal hypervisor for the highest performance, best security, and better resource management.
Demanding applications and critical workloads highly benefit from the direct hardware access that it provides.
What are the pros of bare metal hypervisors?
Bare metal hypervisors offer great benefits. It is capable of delivering better security, optimal performance, and high scalability. Organizations can manage resources efficiently and scale their environments by adding more virtual machines without major overhead.
What are the pros of hosted hypervisors?
Hosted hypervisors are easy to manage and they can be quickly set up. You can run multiple operating systems on a single physical server without any additional hardware. This flexibility and setup are mainly beneficial for testing and development environments. Also, they are highly suitable for small-scale applications and individuals.
When should I choose a bare metal hypervisor?
You should choose a bare metal hypervisor when you need optimal performance and security. This option is ideal for resource-intensive or critical applications and environments requiring high scalability.
