In the world of domain and hosting, VPS is one of the hosting options that work on virtualisation technology. Undoubtedly. VPS Server technology requires various types of components to operate their functions, such as Virtual Machines(VM), host servers, control panels, operating systems and more.
Among all of them, one of the essential components you may come across is Hypervisor. Basically, it is software that helps to create and manage the VM.
But what exactly is it, what are its different types, its use and how it works? To know all of these, keep reading this article.
What is a VPS Hypervisor?
A Hypervisor is also known as a virtual machine monitor (VMM). Basically, the Hypervisor is software that is designed to create, run and manage virtual machines (VMs).
One of the primary functions of a Hypervisor in a VPS server is that it allows one host computer to accommodate multiple guest VMs by sharing its resources virtually, such as memory and processing capabilities.
Use of Hypervisor
Hypervisors enhance resource utilisation and IT mobility by allowing the independent operation of guest virtual machines on a host system. This enables easy movement of VMs between servers, reducing space, energy, and maintenance requirements.
Whether in the form of software, hardware, or a combination, a Hypervisor creates a virtualisation layer, logically separating servers and providing dedicated resources to each.
In the context of web hosting, Hypervisors address the limitations of Dedicated and Shared Hosting. For small to medium-sized businesses, Dedicated Servers may be costly and require expertise. Shared Hosting lacks control and predictability.
Virtual Private Server or VPS Hosting offers a balance, providing more power than Shared Hosting without the high costs of Dedicated Hosting as websites grow.
Types of Hypervisor
| Hypervisor Type | Description |
| Type 1 (Bare-metal) | Installed directly on the physical hardware of the host system. No underlying operating system. |
| Type 2 (Hosted) | Installed on top of a host operating system. Requires a base operating system to function. |
| Full Virtualisation | Allows running multiple operating systems, including different types (Windows, Linux, etc.). |
| Para-virtualisation | Requires modification of the guest operating system to improve performance and efficiency. |
| Hardware-assisted | Utilises virtualisation extensions in the host system’s hardware (e.g., Intel VT, AMD-V). |
| Software-based | Relies solely on software to create and manage virtual machines without hardware assistance. |
| Example Hypervisors | Type 1: VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V Server, Xen. Type 2: VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox. |
How Does Hypervisor Work?
- Hypervisors support VM creation and management by abstracting computer software from hardware.
- Virtualisation is facilitated by Hypervisors translating requests between physical and virtual resources.
- Bare-metal Hypervisors may be embedded into firmware at the motherboard BIOS level.
- This embedding enables the operating system to access and use virtualisation software.
Wrapping Up
Hypervisor is one of the critical components of the VPS Hosting technology. Thus, understanding Hypervisor, its use, type and how it works will help you to understand how the VPS technology works.
Hypervisors enable the creation of multiple machines sharing a resource pool that is beneficial for the business environments and crucial for VPS Hosting in the web hosting industry, providing an ideal balance of price, performance, and control for small to medium-sized businesses.