The definitive reference for virtual machine types across Azure, Google Cloud, Outscale, Colima & Lima. Explore CPU, memory, storage and virtualization driver configurations.
VMType covers the full spectrum of virtual machine type definitions — from hyperscale cloud providers to local container runtimes.
Azure VM sizes define the compute, memory, and storage capacity of virtual machines. From B-series burstable to HBv4 high-performance computing instances.
IaaSGCP machine types specify vCPU count and memory for Compute Engine instances, spanning general-purpose N2, memory-optimized M3, and GPU-accelerated A3 series.
Cloud Compute3DS Outscale VM types follow the tina_X_Y naming convention, providing sovereign cloud computing with standardized hardware profiles for EU data residency requirements.
Sovereign CloudColima's vmType parameter selects the virtualization backend — qemu for cross-platform compatibility or vz for Apple's native Virtualization.framework on macOS.
Lima (Linux virtual machines for macOS) uses the vmType field in its YAML templates to switch between qemu and vz hypervisors.
Two primary virtualization drivers underpin container runtimes on macOS and Linux. QEMU provides software emulation, while VZ leverages Apple's hardware-accelerated Virtualization.framework.
Driver LayerCompare CPU, memory, and storage configurations across instance families. Data updated regularly from official cloud provider APIs.
Azure — General Purpose
GCP — N2 Standard
Copy-paste VM type configurations for Colima, Lima, Azure CLI, and Google Cloud SDK.
Choosing the right VM type impacts performance, cost, and compatibility. Here's when it's critical.
When running Docker or Kubernetes locally via Colima, the vmType: vz setting enables Apple's native Virtualization.framework, delivering significantly faster startup times and better filesystem performance than QEMU.
Selecting the appropriate VM type directly determines your cloud bill. Understanding the CPU-to-memory ratios across D-series, E-series (memory-optimized), and F-series (compute-optimized) helps you right-size workloads.
Build agents provisioned with the correct VM type run pipelines faster. General-purpose D4s instances balance cost and speed for most CI workflows, while compute-optimized types accelerate compilation-heavy builds.
On Apple Silicon, choosing vmType: vz with rosetta: true in Colima enables transparent x86_64 emulation for containers that haven't yet published ARM64 images.
Organizations with GDPR or data residency requirements use Outscale's tina VM types to maintain full EU sovereignty, with VMType providing the reference for compatible instance configurations.
Terraform, Pulumi, and Bicep templates require precise VM type identifiers. VMType serves as a canonical reference to ensure your IaC definitions target the exact hardware profiles you need.
A quick reference for VM type terminology used across cloud platforms and container runtimes.
A configuration parameter in Colima and Lima YAML files that selects the virtualization driver. Accepted values are qemu (cross-platform software emulation) and vz (Apple Virtualization.framework, macOS 13+).
A named hardware profile on cloud platforms (Azure, GCP, Outscale) that defines a fixed combination of vCPU count, RAM, and storage for a virtual machine. Examples: Standard_D4s_v5, n2-standard-4.
Quick Emulator — an open-source machine emulator and virtualizer. Used by Lima and Colima as the default vmType driver. Supports full system emulation including cross-architecture (x86_64 on ARM64).
Apple's native virtualization framework available on macOS 11+. When used as the Colima/Lima vmType, it provides hardware-accelerated VMs with significantly lower overhead and faster boot times than QEMU.
Container runtimes on macOS and Linux using minimal setup. Built on Lima, it provides Docker and Kubernetes support with configurable vmType, CPU, memory, disk, and architecture settings.
Linux virtual machines for macOS. Lima launches Linux VMs using YAML template files where vmType specifies the hypervisor backend, and supports automatic file sharing and port forwarding.
Virtual CPU — a logical processor assigned to a VM instance. The vCPU count in a VM type determines parallel compute throughput. Cloud platforms map vCPUs to physical CPU threads using hypervisor scheduling.
Apple's translation layer that enables x86_64 binaries to run on ARM64 (Apple Silicon). In Colima with vmType: vz, enabling Rosetta allows running x86_64 Docker images natively on M-series Macs.
Browse the full VM type reference, compare instance families, and generate ready-to-use configuration files for your platform.