Why we prefer XEN over OpenVZ

Virtual servers are widely used these days for a number of reasons. The biggest benefit is that it allows you to use your computing resources more efficiently. If you have decided to install a virtual server you are going to have to decide which type to use. The two main options are XEN and OpenVZ. Both offer a number of benefits but we find that overall XEN is the better option in most cases.

The main reason that we prefer to use XEN over OpenVZ is that it allows for a more efficient use of the servers than XEN does. This is because it is a full virtualization software unlike OpenVZ which is really only capable of doing part of the job. In many cases OpenVZ is perfectly fine and it is cheaper and easier to install. However you will likely find that if you want to upgrade your system it won't be enough. When the time comes to do that you will appreciate having XEN instead.

The other big reason that we prefer XEN is that we can run pretty much any operating system with it. While OpenVZ is useful for certain applications it is unable to support the older operating systems and even many of the newer ones. This is a pretty major limitation on its usefulness which is why we prefer to use XEN instead. Being able to use any operating system that we want is a major benefit. The reason that XEN can be used with any operating system is that it is the hardware that is being virtualized rather than the software like with OpenVZ.

Another advantage that XEN offers is that it is fully seperatable unlike OpenVZ which is only partially true. That means that you are able to use your server more efficiently than you could with OpenVZ. Since one of the main reasons that you would want to have a virtual server is to make sure that you are using your server as efficiently as possible this is a major benefit. The increased separation also tends to make the system more reliable which is another of the main reasons that you would use a virtual server.

There is one major disadvantage that XEN has over OpenVZ and that is that it is much more difficult and time consuming to install. This is not a minor factor and is in reality one of the biggest reasons that people have for choosing OpenVZ. That being said once you get past the installation issue you will find that XEN is far superior to OpenVZ. Therefore it is probably worth the effort to install XEN, you will come to appreciate it later. Besides the installation is not nearly as hard as most people think that it is. It will take some time to get used to it but after that you should have no problems.