Overview
KVM turns the Linux kernel into a Type 1 hypervisor. It allows Linux to act as a host for multiple, isolated virtual machines, each with its own private hardware (network card, disk, graphics adapter, etc.).
Key Features
- Performance: Leverages the Linux kernel's advanced features for scheduling, memory management, and device drivers.
- Scalability: Can handle thousands of VMs on a single host.
- Security: Benefits from the robust security features of the Linux kernel (e.g., SELinux).
- Ecosystem: Works seamlessly with management tools like
libvirt,QEMU, and OpenStack.
Adoption
KVM is the default virtualization technology for most Linux distributions and is the foundation for many modern cloud platforms, including Google Cloud and newer AWS instances.