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KVM vs oVirt
October 05, 2024 | Author: Michael Stromann
16★
KVM (for Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware containing virtualization extensions (Intel VT or AMD-V). 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. KVM also requires a modified QEMU although work is underway to get the required changes upstream.
KVM, or Kernel-based Virtual Machine, is a bit like discovering that your basement has a hidden door leading to an entirely different house. It’s built right into the Linux kernel, which probably wasn’t something you were expecting when you installed Linux, but there it is, quietly turning your system into a hypervisor without so much as a raised eyebrow. It provides all the important bits—virtualization, memory management and the ability to run virtual machines—yet leaves you to handle everything with the cold, unfeeling embrace of the command line. No glossy user interface, no flashy buttons. Just you, your keyboard and the daunting power to create virtual worlds.
Now, oVirt, on the other hand, swoops in like a flamboyant interior decorator who took one look at your bare-bones hypervisor setup and thought, "Well, this simply won't do!" Built atop KVM, it comes with a web-based interface that lets you manage VMs with the ease of flipping through streaming services on a rainy day. Need live migration, high availability, or storage management? oVirt’s got you covered and it’ll even help you juggle multiple hosts and virtual machines without breaking a sweat. Essentially, it’s KVM in a tailored suit, with a personal assistant to remind you of all the things you never realized you needed.
So, while KVM is for those who enjoy the stark, minimalist thrill of command-line control, oVirt caters to anyone who prefers their virtualization with a bit more flair, polish and—let’s face it—a bit less existential dread about misplacing a semicolon. KVM provides the foundation, but oVirt builds you the mansion.
See also: Top 10 Virtualization platforms
Now, oVirt, on the other hand, swoops in like a flamboyant interior decorator who took one look at your bare-bones hypervisor setup and thought, "Well, this simply won't do!" Built atop KVM, it comes with a web-based interface that lets you manage VMs with the ease of flipping through streaming services on a rainy day. Need live migration, high availability, or storage management? oVirt’s got you covered and it’ll even help you juggle multiple hosts and virtual machines without breaking a sweat. Essentially, it’s KVM in a tailored suit, with a personal assistant to remind you of all the things you never realized you needed.
So, while KVM is for those who enjoy the stark, minimalist thrill of command-line control, oVirt caters to anyone who prefers their virtualization with a bit more flair, polish and—let’s face it—a bit less existential dread about misplacing a semicolon. KVM provides the foundation, but oVirt builds you the mansion.
See also: Top 10 Virtualization platforms
