Description: Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization is a comprehensive solution that allows organizations to run virtual machines (VMs) within the OpenShift platform, which is a container-based environment built on Kubernetes. This tool combines traditional virtualization with the modernity of containers, enabling users to manage both containerized applications and virtual machines from a single interface. OpenShift Virtualization is based on KubeVirt, an open-source project that extends Kubernetes to support virtualization workloads. This allows companies to leverage the scalability and flexibility of Kubernetes while maintaining the ability to run legacy applications that require virtual machines. Key features include integration with Kubernetes management tools, the ability to perform live migrations of virtual machines, and a focus on security and regulatory compliance. This solution is particularly relevant in hybrid and multicloud environments, where organizations seek to optimize their resources and simplify the management of their IT infrastructures.
History: Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization is based on KubeVirt, a project that started in 2018 as a way to integrate virtualization into Kubernetes. Since its launch, KubeVirt has evolved and been adopted by various organizations, leading Red Hat to integrate this functionality into its OpenShift platform. The first version of OpenShift Virtualization was released in 2019, allowing users to manage both containers and virtual machines in a single environment.
Uses: OpenShift Virtualization is primarily used in environments where organizations need to run legacy applications alongside modern containerized applications. This is particularly useful in cloud migrations, where companies can move their existing workloads to a more modern environment without needing to rewrite them. It is also used for server consolidation, allowing organizations to optimize their hardware resources by running multiple virtual machines on a single node.
Examples: A practical example of OpenShift Virtualization is a company that uses this solution to run its enterprise resource planning software, which is based on a virtual machine, while simultaneously deploying new containerized applications for project management. This allows them to maintain their existing infrastructure while adopting new technologies.
