Does Linux virtualization mean migration from Unix or Windows?

Does Linux virtualization mean migration from Unix or Windows?

Does choosing to move applications onto virtual machines or creating a virtualized environment in general mean that I have to move chosen applications from Unix to Linux? Can we run Unix guests? Does every virtualization platform dictate that one would run their server-based environment on Windows or Linux?

    Requires Free Membership to View

    Login

    When you register, my team of editors will also send you resources covering Linux administration and management; integration and interoperability between Linux, Windows and Unix; securing Linux and mixed-platform environments; and migrating to Linux.

    Cathleen A. Gagne, Senior Editorial Director

    By submitting your registration information to SearchEnterpriseLinux.com you agree to receive email communications from TechTarget and TechTarget partners. We encourage you to read our Privacy Policy which contains important disclosures about how we collect and use your registration and other information. If you reside outside of the United States, by submitting this registration information you consent to having your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States. Your use of SearchEnterpriseLinux.com is governed by our Terms of Use. You may contact us at webmaster@TechTarget.com.

Virtualization does not mean having to switch applications over to a given operating system. As virtualization software can run on Linux, Unix and Windows, so can all the applications that run within virtualized environments. All the major virtualization products from VMware, Citrix XenSource and Microsoft support a wide-range of guest operating systems which includes Linux, Unix and Windows. The one exception is OS virtualization products such as Parallels Virtuozzo and Solaris Containers. OS virtualization creates virtual environments (VEs) which can only be the same OS as their host.

This was first published in January 2008