Canonical has confirmed it will use Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) as its primary virtualisation software in its latest Ubuntu Linux server release.

The firm's virtualisation main man Soren Hansen, speaking in the weekly Ubuntu newsletter, said he tested the various options available including Xen, OpenVZ, QEmu+kqemu, and VirtualBox before concluding that KVM offered the "right fit for us now".

He said: "Virtualisation is making its way into data centres and onto developer workstations everywhere. Even 'regular' users are using it to run Ubuntu on Mac OS X all the time.

"We've chosen to settle on KVM as our main virtualisation focus. KVM is a special version of QEMU which utilises the new virtualisation extensions that both Intel and AMD have added to their newest CPU models."

Canonical has also added the libvirt package with software called virt-manager, Hansen said, which should provide a neutral interface to Xen, KVM, and other compatible virtualisation systems.

The latest hypervisor decision should come as little surprise, especially given that CEO Mark Shuttleworth said in an interview last year he had already placed near-term emphasis on open source options from either market leader VMWare or KVM.

Of course, slapping KVM on top of Ubuntu Linux will also see the operating system distinguish itself from its main rivals, Red Hat and Novell, which both come loaded with Xen-flavoured hypervisors.

KVM will be built into Ubuntu's next version, Hardy Heron, which is due for release in April this year. ®

More comments…

Related stories

Sun woos Linux distros with bundle deals (28 April 2008)
Ubuntu man says Microsoft's about to 'swallow a hand-grenade' (27 April 2008)
Ubuntu launchpad for Affero? (24 April 2008)
Ubuntu man Shuttleworth dissects Hardy Heron's arrival (22 April 2008)
Ubuntu does bird beta (21 March 2008)
Canonical fires up box Landscaping business (4 March 2008)
HP, Dell and Fujitsu answer VMware's USB stick plea (26 February 2008)
VMware rains hardware deals on Microsoft's parade (26 February 2008)
Neterion's NICs are virtually there (25 February 2008)
Ubuntu chief ushers in the age of Intrepid Ibex (20 February 2008)
Red Hat flips CEO, as Microsoft 'goes' astroturfing (15 January 2008)
IBM to make massive Ubuntu server play? (28 December 2007)
Dell spills its Guts over Ubuntu gear (19 December 2007)
Linux desktops grow and grow and grow (23 November 2007)
Dell to pump out Ubuntu servers (16 November 2007)
VMware dangles Server 2 beta (13 November 2007)
Ubuntu's latest OS not so Gutsy (24 October 2007)
You want to learn about Ubuntu? (4 October 2007)
Open source prima donnas to crush IBM, BEA and MS in 2008 (14 September 2007)
Canonical and VMware team on mini-Ubuntu (13 September 2007)
Newest Ubuntu dubbed 'Hardy Heron' (30 August 2007)
Could Linux become the dominant OS? (17 August 2007)