OpenVZ is a free open source software that provides container-based virtualization solution for Linux. OpenVZ 7 is the latest version of OpenVZ out there and it comes with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.10 kernel. This post is all about how to setup OpenVZ 7 on CentOS 7.x servers.
One Kernel, Many VM’s
OpenVZ creates multiple secure, isolated Linux containers (otherwise known as VEs or VPSs) on a single physical server enabling better server utilization and ensuring that applications do not conflict. Here, all the Linux containers share a single Kernel. Each container performs and executes exactly like a stand-alone server; a container can be rebooted independently and have root access, users, IP addresses, memory, processes, files, applications, system libraries and configuration files.
How to Setup OpenVZ 7 on CentOS 7
Hardware Requirements
The recommended hardware requirements for running OpenVZ as a standalone installation are as follows:
- x86-64 platform with hardware virtualization support
- CPU: at least 4 cores, a 64-bit processor is required for running 64-bit guest operating systems
- RAM: 4 GB or more
- HDD: 64 GB or more
- Network: an Ethernet network adapter and an additional IP address for the VM
OpenVZ is not compatible with the xfs file system, so please make sure that you have built the system with ext4 file system.
Install the OpenVZ release package.
yum localinstall https://download.openvz.org/virtuozzo/releases/openvz-7.0.3-479/x86_64/os/Packages/o/openvz-release-7.0.3-3.vz7.x86_64.rpm
This will import all meta information and YUM repositories:
Install OpenVZ kernel and other packages.
yum install prlctl prl-disp-service vzkernel
This will install the OpenVZ kernel and all other necessary packages required for the working of OpenVZ 7 on your server.
Now you can reboot the server to the new OpenVZ kernel.
Check for the new Kernel Version.
uname -a
Run the following command and make sure that the vz service is running.
systemctl status vz
That’s all, you have now installed OpenVZ 7 on your server.
