KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) Documentation Overview
Introduction
Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) is a virtualization solution for Linux on
x86 hardware. It enables a Linux system to act as a hypervisor, allowing
users to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical machine.
KVM transforms the Linux kernel into a bare-metal hypervisor, offering full
hardware virtualization support with minimal overhead.
KVM requires a processor that supports hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x
or AMD-V) and works in conjunction with other technologies like QEMU
(Quick Emulator) and libvirt to provide a complete virtualization stack.
Key Components
1. KVM Kernel Module:
o The KVM module (kvm.ko) is the core of KVM, allowing the
Linux kernel to manage virtual machines.
o This module provides support for x86 and ARM architectures,
with extensions for different processor types (e.g., Intel or
AMD).
o It utilizes hardware virtualization support (Intel VT-x/AMD-V) to
enable efficient CPU isolation for virtual machines.
2. QEMU:
o QEMU is used as a user-space emulator for devices and I/O
operations. While KVM handles CPU virtualization, QEMU is
responsible for emulating hardware devices such as network
interfaces, storage devices, and video output for VMs.
o QEMU can be used to create, configure, and manage virtual
machines with the help of KVM.
3. Libvirt:
o Libvirt is a toolkit that provides a high-level API to interact
with virtualized environments. It abstracts many of the
underlying complexities of managing VMs.
o Tools like virt-manager or virsh use libvirt to manage VMs,
making it easier for users to deploy and monitor virtual
machines.
4. VirtIO:
o VirtIO is a set of paravirtualized device drivers that improve
the I/O performance of virtual machines. It allows VMs to
communicate more efficiently with the host system by
minimizing overhead for disk, network, and other I/O
operations.
Features
1. Full Virtualization:
o KVM uses hardware-assisted virtualization to provide full
isolation between VMs and the host system. This ensures that
VMs operate as if they are running on physical hardware.
2. Performance:
o Because KVM utilizes hardware virtualization features
provided by modern processors, it delivers high-performance
virtualization with minimal overhead. KVM supports features
like live migration, allowing VMs to be moved between
physical machines with little to no downtime.
3. Scalability:
o KVM can scale to large environments, supporting thousands of
virtual machines running on a single host. It allows the
efficient allocation of resources like CPU, memory, and storage
among the VMs.
4. Security:
o KVM integrates with SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) and
other security frameworks to provide strong isolation and
security for virtual machines. It also supports Secure Enclaves
for trusted computing and other security technologies.
5. Live Migration:
o Live migration enables the transfer of running virtual
machines from one physical host to another without shutting
down the VM, providing high availability and load balancing in
virtualized environments.
6. SnapShot and Cloning:
o KVM supports taking snapshots of virtual machines, which
allows users to capture and restore the state of a VM. Cloning
allows the creation of copies of a VM, which is useful for
scaling or backup purposes.
7. Networking:
o KVM supports multiple networking options, including bridged
networking, NAT-based networking, and host-only networking.
It provides advanced features like network isolation and
network function virtualization (NFV).
8. Resource Allocation:
o KVM allows users to assign virtual CPUs, memory, and disk
storage to virtual machines. It supports resource scheduling to
ensure that each VM gets fair access to the underlying
physical resources.
Supported Architectures
KVM is primarily designed for x86 architectures with support for Intel
VT-x or AMD-V processors.
KVM also supports ARM-based systems, providing a flexible solution
for different platforms.
Installation and Configuration
1. Installing KVM on Linux:
o To install KVM on a Linux distribution, the following steps are
typically followed:
Install KVM packages: sudo apt install qemu-kvm libvirt-
bin bridge-utils virt-manager
Enable hardware virtualization support in BIOS/UEFI.
Load the KVM kernel modules: modprobe kvm_intel or
modprobe kvm_amd based on the processor.
Start and enable libvirt services: systemctl enable --now
libvirtd
Install VirtManager or use virsh for VM management.
2. Creating Virtual Machines:
o Virtual machines can be created and managed through:
VirtManager: A GUI tool for creating and managing
VMs.
virsh: A command-line tool for interacting with libvirt-
managed virtual machines.
QEMU: Can be used directly for more granular control
over virtual machines.
3. Networking Configuration:
o KVM supports several network configurations for virtual
machines:
Bridged Networking: VMs share the host’s network
interface, making them appear as if they are on the
same physical network.
NAT Networking: VMs are behind a NAT firewall, with
outbound traffic routed through the host.
Host-Only Networking: VMs are isolated from the
outside world but can communicate with the host.
Troubleshooting
1. Checking KVM Installation:
o Ensure the KVM modules are loaded: lsmod | grep kvm
o Check CPU virtualization support: egrep -c '(vmx|svm)'
/proc/cpuinfo
2. VM Management:
o Use virsh to check the status of virtual machines: virsh list --all
o Check log files for errors: /var/log/libvirt/qemu/
Common Use Cases
1. Server Virtualization:
o KVM is widely used in data centers to consolidate servers,
reduce hardware costs, and improve resource utilization.
2. Cloud Computing:
o KVM is an integral part of many cloud platforms, including
OpenStack, enabling on-demand provisioning of virtualized
infrastructure.
3. Development and Testing:
o Developers often use KVM to create virtual environments for
testing applications, ensuring that code can run on multiple
configurations without requiring additional physical hardware.
4. Desktop Virtualization:
o KVM is used in desktop virtualization solutions, where users
can run multiple OSes (such as Linux and Windows) on a
single desktop.
Conclusion
KVM is a powerful and flexible virtualization platform that transforms Linux
into a full-fledged hypervisor. By leveraging hardware-assisted
virtualization, it provides high performance, scalability, and security for
running virtual machines. With tools like QEMU and libvirt, managing KVM
environments becomes straightforward, making it an ideal solution for
cloud computing, server consolidation, and development environments.
