How Virtuozzo Containers Works?

OS Virtualization

Sometimes called OS-level or shared OS virtualization, OS virtualization virtualizes servers on the operating system (kernel) layer. This creates isolated containers on a single physical server and OS instance to utilize hardware, software, data center and management efforts with maximum efficiency.

The two diagrams below show the hypervisor or hardware virtualization technology in comparison to OS virtualization.

Hypervisor Virtualization has a base layer (usually a thin Linux kernel shown here as a hypervisor or standard OS) that is loaded directly on the bare server. To allocate hardware and resources to the virtual machines (VMs), all hardware on the server must be virtualized. The next layer up shows each chip, board, etc. that must be virtualized so that it can be assigned to the VMs. Once in the VM itself, there is a complete copy of an operating system and finally the application or workload.

OS Virtualization is streamlined for the best performance, management and efficiency. At the base resides a standard host operating system, in the case of Parallels Virtuozzo that includes Windows and Linux. Next is the virtualization layer with a proprietary file system and a kernel service abstraction layer that ensure isolation and security of resources between different containers. The virtualization layer makes each container appear as a standalone server. Finally, the container itself houses the application or workload.

OS Virtualization content © 1999-2010 Parallels

Parallels Virtual Automation - Screenshots

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Specifications

Hardware

We use only top of the line AMD and Intel based Virtuozzo hardware nodes. All nodes are equiped with two dual or quad core server class CPUs. All nodes include hotswap Serial ATA based hard disks in RAID10 configuration connected to 3ware and ARECA hardware RAID controllers. Server class TYAN and Supermicro boards are used in all VPS nodes.

Network

Our Virtuozzo frontend based network is powered exclusively by Cisco switches and routers. All Virtuozzo nodes are connected to our Cisco distribution switches at 100Mbit and uplinked to our Cisco cores with redundant Gigabit ethernet connections. We have our own direct ARIN IP allocations an all routing VLANs are handled by our in-house Cisco CCNP technicians.

Software

We utilize Parallels powered Virtuozzo Containers obtained through the Solar VPS/Parallels Platinum Partnership. We receive priority Parallels help desk and telephone support for all Parallels powered products, most importantly Parallels Virtuozzo Containers. We support Containers using Virtuozzo templated Windows Server 2003 operating system.

Management Tools

All Virtuozzo packages come with Parallel Power Panel software. Parallels Power Panels (PPP) is a powerful and easy-to-use web-based tool to administer and recover personal containers. With PPP, a user with administrative access to a container can easily perform many critical management tasks, while not requiring access rights to the VPS hardware node

Windows VPS Support Overview

We offer 24 hour, 7 days, 365 days a week technical support to our clients. Our staff of technicians is available by email (help desk), live chat and emergency based telephone support. All clients can track support ticket history at our secure help desk web site: https://support.solarvps.com

All managed Windows VPS plans include support for Parallels Plesk, Windows Server 2003/2008 and all included software and network support. Some 3rd party software/scripts are supported via our best-effort support. Best-effort support means that if our technicians are familiar with the software/scripts in question, they may provide limited support for this, time permitting. Some of these 3rd party software suits/scripts are listed below.

Support ticket response time is determined by our Support Queue SLA. SLA times are suggested, however, we strive to answer and properly resolve all tickets as quickly as possible.

Fully Supported Software

The following is a list of fully supported and best-effort supported software. This software list applies to our Windows VPS solutions only.

• Web Server

  Internet Information Server 6 & 7, Apache 1.X, 2.X, SSL Certificate

  Database

  MSSQL 2005, MSSQL 2000, MSDE, MySQL 3.X, 4.X, 5.X

  Scripting Language Install/Configure

  ASP, Dotnet, PHP4, PHP5, Perl(any version)

  Mail

  MailEnable (all versions), hMailserver, Spamassassin (w/ Plesk Only)

• Web Mail

  Horde (w/ Plesk Only)

  FTP

  Microsoft IIS - FTP

  Stats/Tracking

  Awstats/Webalizer (w/ Plesk Only)

  Operating System

  Windows Server 2003 Standard/Enterprise

  Firewall

  Windows Firewall

Best-Effort Supported Software

The following is a list of fully supported and best-effort supported software. This software list applies to our Windows VPS solutions only.

• Scripting Language Install/Configure

  Internet Information Server 6 & 7, Apache 1.X, 2.X, SSL Cert