Today we will know about Virtualization and nested virtualization. Have you made matryoshka dolls, which are commonly known as Russian nesting dolls? They are a bus of puppets with fewer sizes placed between the players. Virtualized looks the same; In a main virtual environment, there is _the first pupa that lives in different environments, and the rest of the pupa.
To get the most from this article, think of nested virtualization as a Russian nesting doll of virtualization technology. VPS with nested virtualization is a new feature in the virtualization world but it works on the same basis.
Virtualization Vs. Nested Virtualization
Before we discuss nested virtualization, let’s explain what virtualization means.
Virtualization
Do you remember the scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, when the gang infiltrates the Ministry of Magic and is after a Horcrux in Salazar’s Slytherin locket?
Harry used a magical object called the Decoy Detonator to create a diversion at the Ministry to sneak into Dolores Umbridge’s room. Decoy detonators multiply themselves within minutes and cause panic and confusion.
Now, virtualization technology is like using an object, ie hardware, to create multiple virtual environments. Virtualization technology uses software called hypervisors to draw hardware resources to create separate virtual environments such as virtual operating systems, servers, desktops, etc. Buy RDP for Oudel Inc.
Nested virtualization
You are in your virtual environment and want to create another one in your current virtual environment; Nested virtualization. Now, virtualization technology relies on hypervisors to tap hardware resources and create virtual environments, but not all hypervisors support nested virtualization.
What is the difference between nested virtualization and virtualization?
To create a virtual environment we need two things, a host computer and hypervisor software. Hypervisor software uses the resources of the host computer to create a guest virtual environment. This entire process is called virtualization. Let’s make it more fun so you can better understand the concept of virtualization.
Think of Thor’s magical hammer. A hammer is an object that can only be wielded by a person called Thor. Now what if Thor wanted to split the power of his hammer into multiple smaller hammers? Of course, he would need a magical item to make it happen, but it could be done. If Thor’s hammer is divided into five smaller hammers, five people can use the power of this magical hammer. It is like making a weapon out of a weapon. But the catch here is that the power of the five minor hammers is dependent on the power of the main hammer. Meaning if Thor’s hammer stopped the flow of magic, the five smaller hammers would be useless.
- Thor’s Hammer = Host Computer
- Magical object = hypervisor to combine the power of Thor’s hammer with the five smaller hammers
- Five tiny hammers = five virtual environments
Now keep the Thor’s hammer analogy in mind as we discuss nested virtualization.
Say Thor’s hammer can only be broken into five smaller hammers but Thor needs 10. The only option is to use the power of these five hammers to create five more. In this scenario, he’ll need a special object like he used in the first place.
This particular object is a type of hypervisor that can create a virtual environment within an already virtual environment.
So to recap:
Virtualization Technology:
- Thor’s Hammer = Host Computer Resource
- A magical object to create five hammers = the host computer’s hypervisor
- Five hammers = Five guest virtual environments drawing on the resources of the host computer
Nested Virtualization:
Five Hammers = Five virtual environments capable of creating other virtual environments using a special type of hypervisor
Another created Five Hammers = nested virtual environments drawing their power from the main five virtual environments
With nested virtualization, it’s the host computer as the virtual environment, and you’re using the hypervisor to connect the virtual environment’s resources to create other virtual environments.
Note that not all virtual machines support this type of hypervisor software, which can create a virtual environment without directly connecting to the main computer’s resources.
Top virtual machines that support nested virtualization
A nested VM (virtual machine) can create multiple virtual environments inside its primary virtual environment. Very most popular virtual machines in the nested VM segment are KVM and Hyper-V.
How to use KVM nested virtualization
Before using KVM nested virtualization, you need to make sure that your system supports nested virtualization. Type in the following command lines based on your system’s processor:
For Intel processors:
cat /sys/module/kvm_intel/parameters/nested
For AMD processors cat /sys/module/kvm_amd/parameters/nested
