The Oracle Linux KVM feature provides a set of modules that enable the Oracle Linux kernel to be used as a hypervisor. Oracle Linux KVM (for Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware containing virtualization extensions (Intel VT or AMD-V) and Arm architecture. It consists of a loadable kernel module, kvm.ko, that provides the core virtualization infrastructure and a processor specific module, kvm-intel.ko or kvm-amd.ko.
Server virtualization with Oracle Linux KVM is supported on any Intel VT, AMD-V, or ARM server that is certified for Oracle Linux 7 with the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) Release 5 (v4.14.35-1902 or later), Oracle Linux 7 with UEK Release 6, or Oracle Linux 8 with UEK Release 6. Users can configure KVM from a base Oracle Linux installation. Oracle Linux KVM includes support for Intel VT-x and VT-d hardware extensions along with Secure Encrypted Virtualization (SEV) for AMD-V enabled processors.
- Hard partitioning support complying with Oracle licensing rules
- Being open source, Oracle Linux KVM has a zero-license cost
- Good documentation support for Oracle Linux KVM and Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager
- Easy to implement, install, manage, and configure using the user-friendly Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager
- Supports full hardware assisted virtualization
- Supports para virtualized drivers (virtio)
- Virtual machine snapshot capabilities
- Online VM migration and VM cloning feature
- VM setup from templates
- Supports PCI passthrough
- Easy memory management for guest VMs
