Virtualization using QEMU or Docker

Virtualization using QEMU or Docker

Virtualization is the process of creating a virtual instance of a computer system or resource, allowing multiple operating systems or applications to run on the same physical hardware.

QEMU (Quick Emulator) is an open-source emulator and virtualizer that can run operating systems for different architectures, including x86, ARM, and PowerPC, on a host machine.

Docker is a platform for developing, shipping, and running applications inside containers, which are lightweight, portable, and self-sufficient environments that include all necessary dependencies.

Virtualization with QEMU Lab Activity

To use QEMU for virtualization:

1. Install QEMU: On Linux, you can install QEMU using your package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can run:

        $ sudo apt-get install qemu-system
    

2. Create a virtual machine: You can create a virtual machine using QEMU by specifying the disk image and other parameters. Below is an example command to create a virtual machine with an Ubuntu disk image:

        $ qemu-system-x86_64 -hda ubuntu.img -m 2048 -boot d -cdrom ubuntu.iso
    

Virtualization with Docker Lab Activity

To use Docker for virtualization:

1. Install Docker: Install Docker Engine on your host machine. Refer to the official Docker documentation for installation instructions specific to your operating system.
2. Write a Dockerfile: Create a Dockerfile that defines the environment and dependencies for your application. Below is an example Dockerfile for a simple Python application:

        FROM python:3.9-slim

        WORKDIR /app

        COPY requirements.txt requirements.txt
        RUN pip install -r requirements.txt

        COPY . .

        CMD ["python", "app.py"]
    

3. Build the Docker image: Use the Dockerfile to build a Docker image that contains your application and its dependencies:

        $ docker build -t myapp .
    

4. Run the Docker container: Start a Docker container based on the image you built:

        $ docker run -d -p 5000:5000 myapp
    

This command runs the container in detached mode (-d) and maps port 5000 on the host to port 5000 in the container.