Infrastructure · Servers
Compute Models
The spectrum from physical servers to virtual machines, containers and functions, each trading control for operational overhead.
FoundationalUpdated 2026-09-01
Overview
Physical servers offer maximum control and predictable performance. Virtual machines add flexibility and consolidation. Containers share the kernel for density and fast start up. Functions remove server management entirely and bill per execution.
Choosing a model is an operating model decision as much as a technical one: each step toward abstraction removes maintenance work but adds platform dependency and new skills.
