Virtualization in terms of Operating systems or admins is the process of creating a virtual Os on top of bare metal like on a single server or laptop creating multiple OS, servers, storage devices, or network resources. It allows data center businesses to make the most of their existing hardware resources by allowing multiple operating systems to run on a single physical device. For Example, if you have one bare metal server you could have 10 VM or servers on them.

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is an open-source virtualization technology that allows for the efficient running of multiple virtual machines on a single physical machine. It was developed by Red Hat and is currently supported by a number of Linux distributions, including CentOS, Ubuntu, and Fedora.

VirtualBox is an open-source virtualization software which is developed by Oracle. It is a popular choice for running multiple operating systems on a single machine. Unlike KVM, VirtualBox is available for a variety of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. As part of local testing, you might be used this for your project.

Comparing KVM and VirtualBox

When it comes to virtualization, KVM and VirtualBox are two popular choices. However, they have some key differences, which makes it important to compare them before making a decision.

The main difference between KVM and VirtualBox is in their architecture. KVM is a type-1 hypervisor, which means it runs directly on the host machine’s hardware. This allows for greater performance and more efficient resource utilization. On the other hand, VirtualBox is a type-2 hypervisor, which means it runs on top of the host machine’s operating system. This allows for greater flexibility, but may not offer the same performance as KVM.

Reference: – https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/virtualization/what-is-KVM

Another difference between KVM and VirtualBox is in their support for guest operating systems. KVM supports a wide range of guest operating systems, including Windows and Linux, while VirtualBox only supports a limited number of guest operating systems, such as Windows and macOS.

KVM and VirtualBox also differ in their ease of use. KVM requires a certain degree of technical knowledge to set up and configure, while VirtualBox is much easier to use and offers a user-friendly interface.

Advantages of KVM

KVM offers a number of advantages over VirtualBox.

One of the main advantages of KVM is its performance. As a type-1 hypervisor, KVM runs directly on the host machine’s hardware and is able to make use of the physical resources more efficiently. This makes it a better choice for applications that require high performance.

KVM also offers greater scalability than VirtualBox. It can support more virtual machines and more guest operating systems than VirtualBox. This makes it a great choice for businesses looking to scale their virtualization infrastructure.

KVM is also more secure than VirtualBox. It includes a built-in security layer called SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux), which makes it more difficult for malicious actors to gain access to the virtual environment.

Related:- How to check and disable SELinux

Advantages of VirtualBox

VirtualBox also has some advantages over KVM.

One of the main advantages of VirtualBox is its ease of use. It is much easier to set up and configure than KVM, and its user-friendly interface makes it suitable for less technical users. You no need to learn linux to use this .

VirtualBox also offers great flexibility. As a type-2 hypervisor, it can run on top of a wide range of host operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This makes it a great choice for users who need to run multiple operating systems on a single machine.

VirtualBox is also more cost-effective than KVM. It is free to use and provides a great way to get started with virtualization without having to invest in expensive hardware.

Disadvantages of KVM

KVM also has some drawbacks.

One of the main drawbacks of KVM is that it requires a certain degree of technical knowledge to set up and configure. This makes it unsuitable for non-technical users. You need to learn some basic linux to use KVM .

KVM also has limited support for guest operating systems. It only supports limux based operating systems, such as Windows and Linux. This makes it a less attractive option for users who need to run multiple operating systems on a single machine.

Disadvantages of VirtualBox

VirtualBox also has some drawbacks.

One of the main drawbacks of VirtualBox is its performance. As a type-2 hypervisor, it runs on top of the host machine’s operating system, which can lead to decreased performance. This makes it a less attractive choice for applications that require high performance.

VirtualBox also has limited scalability. It can only support a limited number of virtual machines and guest operating systems. This makes it unsuitable for businesses looking to scale their virtualization infrastructure.

Finally, VirtualBox is less secure than KVM. It does not include the same built-in security layer as KVM and is thus more vulnerable to malicious actors.

Pricing Comparison of KVM and VirtualBox

When it comes to pricing, KVM and VirtualBox have different models.

KVM is free to use, but requires additional hardware resources, such as servers and storage, which can be costly. On the other hand, VirtualBox is free to use and does not require additional hardware resources.

However, businesses looking to implement virtualization should also consider the cost of the software licenses. KVM does not require any software licenses, while VirtualBox does. This is an additional cost that should be taken into account when comparing the two platforms.

Security Comparison of KVM and VirtualBox

When it comes to security, KVM and VirtualBox have some important differences.

KVM includes a built-in security layer called SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) that makes it difficult for malicious actors to gain access to the virtual environment. On the other hand, VirtualBox does not include such a security layer and is thus more vulnerable to attack.

In addition, KVM is more secure when it comes to data privacy. It encrypts data stored in the virtual environment, while VirtualBox does not. This makes KVM a better choice for businesses looking to keep their data secure.

Choosing the Right Virtualization Platform

When it comes to choosing the right virtualization platform, it is important to consider the needs of your business.

If you are looking for a platform that offers high performance and scalability, KVM is the better choice. It runs directly on the host machine’s hardware and can support more virtual machines and guest operating systems than VirtualBox.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a platform that is easy to use and does not require additional hardware resources, VirtualBox is the better choice. Its user-friendly interface makes it suitable for less technical users, and it is free to use.

Conclusion

In conclusion, KVM and VirtualBox are two popular virtualization platforms. They both have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the right choice for your business will depend on your individual needs. KVM is a better choice for businesses looking for high performance and scalability, while VirtualBox is a better choice for businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform that does not require additional hardware resources.

Before making a decision, it is important to compare KVM and VirtualBox to determine which platform is the best fit for your business. This will ensure that you make the right choice and get the most out of your virtualization experience.

Introduction

Pimcore is an open source platform which allow us to manage digital data and manage customer experience . It allow to fast application development .

Development on Pimcore is easy because of its API based application development . So integrate in any It environment and for any developer it is easy to develop solution.

Some key features of Pimcore is data management, personalize digital experience ,web content management ,multi channel delivery ,personalization, analytics and print publishing for product catalog.
Product offer by Pimcore are – PIM,MDM,DAM,CDP,DXP

In this article we will cover how to install Pimcore. For the article we have deploy it on AWS instance but you can use same process on any ubuntu 20.04 on any platform like Baremetal ,vulture, ESXi, Linode , etc.

Prerequisites:

1. Ubuntu 20.04 – We assume you have installed OS
2. Internet connection on ubuntu for package download
3. ssh enable to work remotely or if you have local console that is also fine
4. A user with sudo access

Install required package :

Update :

$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt upgrade

Configure repo and install packages:

Then install a package needed to add the repository where we will install PHP 8

$ sudo apt install software-properties-common

Add the PHP 8 repository

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Refresh APT

$ sudo apt update

Now install Apache, PHP 8 , MariaDB and other supporting packages by below command

$ sudo apt install apache2 mariadb-server php8.0 libapache2-mod-php8.0 php8.0-mysql php8.0-curl php8.0-xml php8.0-zip php8.0-mbstring php8.0-intl php8.0-opcache php8.0-imagick php8.0-gd php8.0-cli php8.0-fpm libapache2-mod-fcgid

This should be complete without any error and please check below screenshot for reference. If it not match need to check your internet connection or space issue.

Configure PHP for Pimcore

When the installation is finished, we have to configure PHP parameter for Pimcore. Open the PHP-fpm configuration file.

$ sudo vi /etc/php/8.0/fpm/php.ini

Modify these parameters as shown in screenshot

memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 100M
post_max_size = 100M

Save changed press esc key then :wq! Press enter

Enable module of PHP

Then, enable the necessary modules and the new PHP-fpm configuration.

$ sudo a2enmod proxy_fcgi setenvif

$ sudo a2enconf php8.0-fpm

Apply all changes by restarting Apache

$ sudo systemctl restart apache2

Create a new database and user for PIMcore

After you have run the mysql_secure_installation script to set the root password and secure the installation, you will need to create a new database and user for PIMCore.

Below is method to install mysql securely

$ sudo systemctl enable mysql
$ sudo mysql_secure_installation

Answer the questions when prompt – Setup VALIDATE PASSWORD plugin? N and others press Y

Access the MariaDB console

$ sudo mysql -u root -p

Create the new database with the name of your choice. we are using pimcoredb

CREATE DATABASE pimcoredb charset=utf8mb4;

Then, create the new user along with its password. It should be a strong password and not the one I have assigned . It is only for article purpose. user = user , password = pss

CREATE USER 'user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'pss';

Give this new user permissions on the new database.

GRANT ALL ON pimcoredb.* TO 'user'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION;

Apply the changes and close the console.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
exit;

Install Composer

To install PIMCore we need to configure Composer on the system. So let’s go for it.

Make sure you have wget,zip curl,git packages installed.

$ sudo apt install curl git unzip wget

Now download and install Composer by running below command:

$ sudo curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | sudo php -- --install-dir=/usr/local/bin --filename=composer

Install PIMCore on Ubuntu 20.04

Go to the directory where we are going to install.

$ cd /var/www/

Now install PIMcore using composer . This will make your installation very easy. It may prompt some options to proceed then choose yes, if not then just let it finish .

$ sudo composer create-project pimcore/skeleton pimcore

After completion screen should be like this

Should complete without error.

After the process is finished, go to the folder that has been generated.

$ cd /var/www/pimcore
$ ls

And now run the script to complete the configuration parameters.

$ sudo ./vendor/bin/pimcore-install

During the execution of the above command, you will have to create the admin user along with the previously defined database parameters. Note down this admin and password will required to login to dashboard.

Please check below reference screenshot.

Please check there should be no error after installation .After this, the installation is complete.

Configure Apache for PIMcore

Make Apache the owner of the folder with the necessary permissions.

Related Article: how to change ownership in linux ?

$ sudo chown www-data:www-data -R /var/www/pimcore/
$ sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/pimcore/

Create a new virtual host for PIMCore

sudo vi /etc/apache2/sites-available/pimcore.conf

Add below configuration in file

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin admin@example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/pimcore/public
    ServerName example.com

     <Directory /var/www/pimcore/public/>
          Options FollowSymlinks
          AllowOverride All
          Require all granted
     </Directory>
     ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
     CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Check if there any syntax error in apache configuration file

$ apachectl -t

Remember to change the value of Server Name and ServerAdmin to your domain value

Then, enable the rewrite module, the new virtual host and restart Apache.

$ sudo a2enmod rewrite
$ sudo a2ensite pimcore.conf
$ sudo systemctl restart apache2

Configure Firewall

$ sudo ufw allow 80 
$ sudo ufw allow 443

Access to the PIMCore web interface

Now, using a web browser of your choice, you can access the PIMCore interface. For example, if you access your domain, you will see this screen.

If you want to access the dashboard, then go to http://yourdomain/admin to log in first. Remember that you created the login credentials in the PIMcore installation step.

And now you can access the control panel.

Now you have successfully installed PIMcore .