Kernel-based Virtual Machine ( KVM ) is a free and open-source virtualization module in the Linux kernel that allows the kernel to function as a hypervisor . It was merged into the mainline Linux kernel in version 2.6.20, which was released on February 5, 2007. KVM requires a processor with hardware virtualization extensions, such as Intel VT or AMD-V . KVM has also been ported to other operating systems such as FreeBSD and illumos in the form of loadable kernel modules.
8-619: KVM may refer to: Computing [ edit ] Kernel-based Virtual Machine , a virtualization solution that turns the Linux kernel into a hypervisor K virtual machine , for Java Keyboard–screen–mouse [ edit ] KVM switch (keyboard, video, and mouse switch), originally a hardware device for controlling multiple computers, now also used to refer to software tools used to achieve similar functionality (for example Synergy and various more fully open-source equivalents) Rackmount KVM ,
16-600: A computer input/output device offering the combination of a keyboard, video monitor and mouse (pointing device), typically rack mounted Other [ edit ] K. V. Mahadevan , South Indian music composer Kalamazoo Valley Museum , a museum in Michigan, US Kheti Virasat Mission , a farmers' movement in Punjab Kosovo Verification Mission KV Mechelen , a Belgian football (soccer) club Topics referred to by
24-880: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Kernel-based Virtual Machine KVM was originally designed for x86 processors but has since been ported to ESA/390 , PowerPC , IA-64 , and ARM . The IA-64 port was removed in 2014. KVM supports hardware-assisted virtualization for a wide variety of guest operating systems including BSD , Solaris , Windows , Haiku , ReactOS , Plan 9 , AROS , macOS , and even other Linux systems. In addition, Android 2.2, GNU/Hurd ( Debian K16), Minix 3.1.2a, Solaris 10 U3 and Darwin 8.0.1, together with other operating systems and some newer versions of these listed, are known to work with certain limitations. Additionally, KVM provides paravirtualization support for Linux, OpenBSD , FreeBSD, NetBSD , Plan 9 and Windows guests using
32-466: The KVM interface including kvmtool, crosvm and Firecracker and numerous specialised VMMs build with frameworks such as rust-vmm. Internally, KVM uses SeaBIOS as an open source implementation of a 16-bit x86 BIOS . KVM has had support for hot swappable vCPUs , dynamic memory management, and Live Migration since February 2007. It also reduces the impact that memory write-intensive workloads have on
40-537: The VirtIO API . This includes a paravirtual Ethernet card , disk I/O controller, balloon driver , and a VGA graphics interface using SPICE or VMware drivers. Avi Kivity began the development of KVM in mid-2006 at Qumranet , a technology startup company that was acquired by Red Hat in 2008. KVM surfaced in October 2006 and was merged into the Linux kernel mainline in kernel version 2.6.20, which
48-433: The migration process. KVM itself emulates very little hardware, instead deferring to a higher level client application such as QEMU , crosvm, or Firecracker for device emulation. KVM provides the following emulated devices: The kernel-mode component of KVM is a part of Linux kernel , itself licensed under GNU General Public License, version 2 . Balloon driver Too Many Requests If you report this error to
56-403: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title KVM . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=KVM&oldid=1170629166 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
64-486: Was released on 5 February 2007. KVM is maintained by Paolo Bonzini. KVM provides device abstraction but no processor emulation. It exposes the /dev/kvm interface, which a user mode host can then use to: Originally, a forked version of QEMU was provided to launch guests and deal with hardware emulation that is not handled by the kernel. That support was eventually merged into the upstream project. There are now numerous Virtual Machine Monitors (VMMs) which can utilise
#326673