Graphical desktop front ends for KVM and Qemu

Zoo Keeper

© Lead Image © Yang Chao, 123RF.com

© Lead Image © Yang Chao, 123RF.com

Article from Issue 198/2017
Author(s):

If you want to care for a zoo full of exotic KVM guest systems on your desktop, you could use a little help from a graphical front end.

Virtual work environments exploit the power of modern multicore processors by efficiently virtualizing complete operating systems and their services. The kernel-integrated Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) [1] is a useful alternative to partly proprietary virtualization software from Oracle (VirtualBox [2]) or VMware (VMware Workstation [3]). The matching kernel module has been around since Linux 2.6.20, and Red Hat has managed it since 2008.

The advantage of KVM compared to the third-party solutions by Oracle and VMware is its high execution speed and resource-friendly work approach. One disadvantage is the somewhat complex configuration of these kernel-based virtual machines.

A number of graphical tools help reduce the administration costs for compute clusters and servers that manage multiple virtual guests. Examples include oVirt [4] and Proxmox VE [5]. A web interface, which requires some serious configuration work on the part of the admin, is often used as a GUI. But industrial-strength tools like oVirt and Proxmox VE are overkill for simple virtual desktop environments.

[...]

Use Express-Checkout link below to read the full article (PDF).

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF
Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • KVM/Qemu

    KVM and Qemu provide a fast and powerful alternative to VirtualBox for virtualization in Linux.

  • QEMU and Qemu Manager

    Carry a virtual Linux machine with you wherever you go.

  • QEMU 2

    The new version of QEMU is a free virtualization solution that offers excellent stability and flexibility. We show how to deploy QEMU 2 in a Live environment.

  • Virtual Box

    Many popular virtualization tools are either too expensive or too complicated. If you’re looking for another option, try the no-cost and user-friendly VirtualBox.

  • Gnome Boxes

    In the past, using virtual machines required expensive programs such as VMware or open source add-ons such as VirtualBox. Gnome Boxes brings a convenient virtualization option to the Linux desktop.

comments powered by Disqus