OpenVZ is an open-source operating system-level virtualization technology that allows for the creation of lightweight and isolated virtual environments called containers. It enables multiple isolated instances or containers to run on a single physical host, sharing the host’s kernel while providing resource isolation and security. Here’s an overview of OpenVZ and its key features:

1. Operating System Virtualization: OpenVZ operates at the operating system (OS) level, also known as container-based virtualization or OS-level virtualization. It allows multiple containers to run on a single physical host, each with its own file system, processes, and network interfaces.

2. Shared Kernel: Unlike full virtualization technologies, such as KVM or VMware, OpenVZ containers share the host’s kernel. This results in lightweight containers with minimal overhead and near-native performance. Containers can run various Linux distributions and versions, as long as they are compatible with the host kernel.

3. Resource Management: OpenVZ provides resource management features, allowing administrators to allocate CPU, memory, disk space, and network bandwidth to individual containers. Resource limits and quotas can be set to ensure fair allocation and prevent one container from consuming excessive resources.

4. Performance and Efficiency: OpenVZ containers have low overhead and fast startup times since they share the host’s kernel and do not require a separate OS installation. This makes OpenVZ an efficient option for maximizing resource utilization and running multiple containers on a single host.

5. Secure Isolation: Each OpenVZ container is isolated from other containers on the same host, providing a level of security. Containers are sandboxed, preventing processes within one container from accessing resources or interfering with processes in other containers.

6. Easy Management: OpenVZ provides tools and utilities for managing containers, including container creation, configuration, monitoring, and resource allocation. These management tools simplify container administration and allow for easy deployment and scaling of applications.

7. Live Migration: OpenVZ supports live migration, allowing containers to be migrated from one physical host to another without interruption or downtime. This enables workload balancing, hardware maintenance, and high availability.

8. Open-Source Community: OpenVZ is an open-source project with an active community of developers and users. The community provides support, documentation, and updates, ensuring ongoing development, bug fixes, and security patches.

OpenVZ is suitable for scenarios where lightweight virtualization and efficient resource utilization are important, such as web hosting, containerized applications, and development environments. It provides a cost-effective and scalable solution for running multiple isolated containers on a single physical host.