076 | KVM: Powerful Virtualization for Linux

August 8, 2025

What is KVM?

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a virtualization technology built directly into the Linux kernel. KVM transforms the Linux kernel into a Type 1 hypervisor (bare-metal), allowing multiple virtual machines to run while leveraging hardware virtualization features of the CPU (Intel VT-x and AMD-V). KVM serves as a core component for many modern cloud platforms, including OpenStack and Red Hat OpenShift.

As part of Linux, KVM is a fully open-source solution, giving developers and system administrators enormous freedom and control over their infrastructure with zero licensing fees.