Which components are essential for KVM virtualization?

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) virtualization primarily relies on key components to function effectively. The essential elements include Libvirt and Domain 0.

Libvirt is an open-source API, daemon, and management tool that allows for easier management of virtualization technologies, and it acts as an interface to manage virtual machines (VMs) and their resources comprehensively. It works with KVM to facilitate operations like creation, management, and monitoring of VMs.

Domain 0, often referred to in the context of paravirtualization, generally relates to a privileged domain that has access to manage the underlying hardware. In KVM, while the terminology might align more closely with Xen systems, KVM operates within the Linux kernel itself, integrating with the host operating system, and this environment is vital for managing guest VMs effectively.

The other options comprise different virtualization solutions that do not integrate as foundationally with KVM’s architecture. For instance, Proxmox is an open-source virtualization management platform that uses KVM but is not itself a primary component of KVM. Hyper-V is a Microsoft technology, VMware is a proprietary hypervisor, and VirtualBox is an alternative virtualization product. These options do not represent the core components necessary for KVM functionality and management