KVM, an acronym for Kernel-based Virtual Machine, is a virtualization technology that allows multiple virtual machines to run concurrently on a single physical host server. It is a full virtualization solution that is part of the Linux kernel, enabling the creation and management of virtual environments on a host machine.
KVM provides a complete virtualization infrastructure by converting the Linux kernel into a hypervisor, allowing it to act as a platform for running multiple virtual machines. It leverages the hardware capabilities of the host server, enabling efficient and secure virtualization. KVM supports various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and other UNIX-like systems as guests.
This technology utilizes hardware virtualization extensions, such as Intel's VT-x and AMD's AMD-V, to provide hardware-assisted virtualization. It manages the allocation of physical resources, such as CPU, memory, and disk I/O, among the virtual machines running on the host server.
KVM offers a range of advanced features, including live migration, where a running virtual machine can be moved from one host server to another without any noticeable interruption. It also provides support for dynamic resource allocation, allowing the adjustment of allocated resources to virtual machines based on demand.
Overall, KVM is a powerful open-source virtualization technology that enables the creation and management of virtualized environments with high performance, security, and flexibility on Linux-based host servers.
