Sorry for not being clear ... the OpenVZ, LXC, Zones (not sure about Jails) all have their own startup options, and if they don't start "init" as the first process inside, then they have a method that fakes it. You can install random new packages of software and run them, from inside the "VM" - from what I know, you can't do this from within a container.
FWIW using KVM all you can see from the host node (unless you use debugging tools) is the PID and related process info of the KVM instance (one process per VM you have started).
Hm, that isn't what I am trying to say at all. In drawing a distinction, some of the virtualization tech acts like a full blown OS in and of itself, while others do not. x
FWIW using KVM all you can see from the host node (unless you use debugging tools) is the PID and related process info of the KVM instance (one process per VM you have started).