Containers and virtual machines (VMs) each have their own strengths and limitations. When discussing the limitations of containers compared to VMs, several key points can be highlighted:
Limitations of Containers vs VMs
Security and Isolation:
Shared Kernel: Containers share the host operating system's kernel, which can lead to security vulnerabilities. If the host OS is compromised, all containers running on it can be affected. In contrast, VMs provide stronger isolation as each VM runs its own OS kernel, making them more secure against such breaches[1][2][4][6].
Isolation Level: Containers provide process-level isolation, which is less robust compared to the full OS-level isolation provided by VMs. This makes VMs more suitable for applications requiring high security and strict compliance[1][2][4][5].
Persistence of Data:
Stateless Nature: Containers are designed to be stateless, meaning that data within a container is lost when the container is stopped or destroyed. While persistent storage solutions like Docker volumes exist, they are not natively integrated and require additional configuration. VMs, on the other hand, include persistent storage with virtual hard disks, making them more suitable for applications that require persistent data storage[2][4][5].
Compatibility and Portability:
OS Compatibility: Containers are limited to running applications that are compatible with the host OS. This means you cannot run different operating systems within containers on the same host. VMs, however, can run any OS as a guest OS, providing greater flexibility for running diverse workloads[1][2][5][7].
Complexity in Management:
Configuration and Management: Managing containers can be complex, especially for those unfamiliar w...
