Module 9 Review: Virtualization

Consolidate Your Learning

A review of the core concepts of virtualization, from hypervisors and VMs to container standards, cloud computing models, and the command-line tools used to manage them.
Author

Chuck Nelson

Published

November 16, 2025

1 Purpose

This document provides a comprehensive review of the key concepts covered in the Virtualization module. Through a series of active learning exercises and review questions, you will solidify your understanding of the technologies that power modern cloud computing and software development.

2 What You’ll Accomplish

By the end of this review session, you will have:

  • Reinforced your knowledge of VMs, containers, hypervisors, and cloud models.
  • Practiced applying virtualization concepts to solve a practical scenario.
  • Tested your ability to recall the purpose of key virtualization and container technologies.

3 Active Learning and Engagement

NoteSubmitting Your Work

For all the exercises and questions in this review document (except for the partner-based “Peer Instruction”), you are to record your work on a new page in your Microsoft Teams Student Notebook. This will be the official record of your review process.

3.1 Exercise 1: Concept Mapping

Using a digital tool like draw.io, create a concept map that connects the following terms. Draw lines between related concepts and write a short phrase on the line to describe the relationship. Export your finished map as an image and insert it into your notebook page.

  • Virtual Machine (VM)
  • Container
  • Host
  • Guest
  • Hypervisor
  • Type 1 (Bare-Metal)
  • Type 2 (Hosted)
  • KVM
  • OCI (Open Container Initiative)
  • Podman
  • Incus
  • Application Container
  • System Container
  • IaaS, PaaS, SaaS

3.2 Exercise 2: Scenario Challenge

Read the following scenario and write your answers to the questions in your Microsoft Teams Student Notebook.

A software developer on your team needs two separate, isolated environments on their Fedora laptop for a new project.

  1. Environment A: Needs to run a single, pre-packaged web server application. The developer wants it to start quickly and be easily disposable.
  2. Environment B: Needs to be a full replica of the company’s production Red Hat Enterprise Linux server, where they can install various development tools, run multiple services (sshd, databases, etc.), and test complex configurations as if it were a real machine.

They are concerned about using too much RAM on their laptop.

  1. For Environment A, what technology (Virtual Machine, Application Container, or System Container) is the most appropriate choice? Why?
  2. For Environment B, which technology would be the best fit? Why?
  3. If the developer also needed to test a brand new, untrusted operating system (e.g., a beta version of Windows), which technology provides the strongest security isolation for that task?
  4. On Fedora, what command-line tool would they use to manage the application container for Environment A?

3.3 Exercise 3: Peer Instruction

This exercise is for discussion and does not need to be written down. Find a partner or a small group and choose one of the tabbed sections below. Each person should choose a different topic (A, B, or C) and take a turn explaining it to the others.

Person A explains: The core difference between a Virtual Machine and a Container, focusing on the role of the host OS kernel.

Person B explains: The difference between a Type 1 (Bare-Metal) and Type 2 (Hosted) hypervisor. Which type is KVM?

Person C explains: The difference between an Application Container and a System Container. Use an analogy for each.

Person A explains: The purpose of the Open Container Initiative (OCI). Why is it important?

Person B explains: The difference between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. Give one example of each.

Person C explains: The difference between a VM snapshot and a podman commit. What does each one produce?

4 Review Questions

Answer the following questions in your Microsoft Teams Student Notebook.

  1. What is the fundamental difference between a virtual machine and a container?
    1. VMs are for Linux only, while containers are for Windows.
    2. A VM has its own OS kernel, while a container shares the host’s kernel.
    3. A VM cannot be snapshotted.
    4. Containers cannot access the network.
  2. A hypervisor that runs directly on the physical hardware without a traditional OS underneath is known as what type?
    1. Type 1 (Bare-Metal)
    2. Type 2 (Hosted)
    3. Type 3 (Hybrid)
    4. Type 4 (Containerized)
  3. What is the primary goal of the Open Container Initiative (OCI)?
    1. To create a commercial alternative to Docker.
    2. To provide free cloud hosting for containers.
    3. To create open standards for container formats and runtimes to ensure interoperability.
    4. To manage the Linux kernel development.
  4. You need a lightweight environment that simulates a full Linux OS, complete with its own systemd and multiple services. Which tool would you use?
    1. Podman
    2. Docker
    3. Incus
    4. VirtualBox
  5. If you use a web-based email service like Gmail, you are using which cloud service model?
    1. IaaS
    2. PaaS
    3. SaaS
    4. VDI
  6. What CPU feature is required for modern, efficient hardware virtualization?
    1. Hyper-Threading
    2. Overclocking
    3. Intel VT-x or AMD-V
    4. ECC Memory Support
  7. What command would you use on Fedora to check if your CPU supports virtualization?
    1. vmstat
    2. lscpu
    3. lsmod
    4. lshw
  8. What podman command allows you to run a command inside a currently running container?
    1. podman run
    2. podman exec
    3. podman attach
    4. podman start
  9. What is the result of the podman commit command?
    1. A running container.
    2. A new, reusable container image.
    3. A point-in-time snapshot of the container’s memory.
    4. A backup file of the container’s volume.
  10. What is Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)?
    1. A standard for container networking.
    2. A CPU virtualization extension.
    3. The practice of hosting desktop operating systems in VMs on a central server.
    4. A type of cloud storage.

5 Reflect and Review

ImportantFinal Reflection: 3-2-1

You’ve reached the end of the module review. Take a final moment to synthesize your thoughts. In your Microsoft Teams Student Notebook, on a new page for this review, write down:

  • 3 concepts from this module that you feel most confident about now.
  • 2 topics that you found most interesting or surprising.
  • 1 area you still want to review or a question you plan to ask.
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