---
myst:
  html_meta:
    description: Understanding virtualization and containers on Ubuntu Server including VMs, OpenStack, Docker, LXD, and ROCK images.
---

(explanation-virtualisation)=
# Virtualisation and containers

* {ref}`Introduction to virtualization <introduction-to-virtualization>` discusses and disambiguates between virtualization and containers

```{toctree}
:hidden:

intro-to/virtualisation
```

## Virtualization

* {ref}`VM tools overview <vm-tools-in-the-ubuntu-space>` gives more details about the virtual machines available in Ubuntu

We also give further details on some specific usage scenarios here:

* {ref}`QEMU microvm <qemu-microvm>`
* {ref}`Upgrading the machine type of your VM <upgrading-the-machine-type-of-your-vm>`

```{toctree}
:hidden:

VM tools overview <virtualisation/vm-tools-in-the-ubuntu-space>
QEMU microvm <virtualisation/qemu-microvm>
Upgrade VM machine type <virtualisation/upgrading-the-machine-type-of-your-vm>
```

## Containers

* {ref}`Container tools overview <container-tools-in-the-ubuntu-space>` gives more details about the popular container technologies available in Ubuntu

There are more detailed discussions on specific technologies here:

* {ref}`About rock images <about-rock-images>`
* {ref}`Docker storage, networking, and logging <docker-storage-networking-and-logging>`

```{toctree}
:hidden:

Container tools overview <virtualisation/container-tools-in-the-ubuntu-space>
About rock images <virtualisation/about-rock-images>
Docker storage, networking, and logging <virtualisation/docker-storage-networking-and-logging>
```

## Other virtualisation tools

* {ref}`About OpenStack <about-openstack>` provides an introduction to OpenStack

```{toctree}
:hidden:

About OpenStack <virtualisation/about-openstack>
```

## See also

* How-to: {ref}`how-to-virtualisation`
* How-to: {ref}`how-to-containers`