Description: The KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) Virtual Machine Manager is an open-source virtualization solution that allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single physical machine. Integrated into the Linux kernel, KVM turns the Linux operating system into a hypervisor, enabling the efficient creation and management of virtual machines (VMs). Each virtual machine acts as an independent environment, with its own virtualized hardware, allowing applications and services to run in isolation. KVM is known for its high performance and scalability, making it a popular choice for servers and data centers. Additionally, it can be managed through tools like QEMU, which provides an interface for creating and managing these virtual machines, facilitating the configuration of resources such as CPU, memory, and storage. The combination of KVM and QEMU allows system administrators to maximize the underlying hardware, optimizing resource usage and improving operational efficiency.
History: KVM was introduced in 2006 by Avi Kivity as a module of the Linux kernel, enabling full virtualization on Linux systems. Since its release, it has significantly evolved, incorporating improvements in performance and hardware compatibility. In 2007, KVM was officially included in the Linux kernel, which facilitated its adoption and ongoing development by the open-source community.
Uses: KVM is primarily used in server and data center environments to run multiple instances of operating systems on a single physical server. It is also common in software development and testing, where developers can create virtual environments to test applications on different operating systems without the need for additional hardware. Additionally, KVM is used in cloud computing, allowing service providers to offer infrastructure as a service (IaaS) solutions.
Examples: A practical example of KVM is its use in companies that require high availability and scalability, where multiple virtual servers can run on a single physical hardware. Another case is in development labs, where engineers use KVM to create testing environments for different software versions without the need for additional physical hardware.
