OpenVZ is an operating system level virtualization technology for Linux. This virtualization solution was created by Virtuozzo (a private software company) in 2000 and was made open source in 2005 (hence the name, Open Virtuozzo). OpenVz creates multiple, secure and isolated Linux Containers (also referred to as Virtual Private Servers and Virtual Environments) on a single physical server. Each container acts as a stand-alone server.

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is an open source virtualization technology for Linux. It uses a type 2 hypervisor (a virtual machine manager, which is installed as a software application on an existing Operating System). It resides within the Linux Kernel (the centre of the OS, which provides basic serves for other parts of the OS). In KVM, the Linux Kernel acts as the hypervisor — streamlining the management and improving the performances of the virtual machines.