14 Managing Oracle Database Appliance KVM Virtualization

Review the concepts and procedures for Oracle Database Appliance Virtualized Platform.

About KVM Virtualization

KVM virtualization uses a kernel-based virtual machine (KVM) to create a virtualized environment for your Linux applications.

Beginning with Oracle Database Appliance 12.1.2.11.0, the required RPMs are included in the Oracle Database Appliance patch bundle. When you upgrade to Oracle Database Appliance 12.1.2.12.0 or later, the Oracle Linux KVM hypervisor is installed as part of the Oracle Linux kernel and uses CPU extensions (HVM) for virtualization. The Linux KVM is a Type II hypervisor, which means that it is one layer above the operating system. When you run your Linux applications in a virtualized environment, you can isolate your database from your applications. One of the advantages to isolating the applications is that you can update your Oracle Database without impacting the applications, which enables you to deploy both the database and application on the same system to create a Solution-in-a-Box.

The following are limitations with using KVM:

  • All virtual machines (VM), or guests, are Oracle Linux operating systems and only Linux applications are supported in the KVM.

  • You cannot deploy an Oracle Database in the KVM. Oracle Databases must run on the base Oracle Linux operating system.

  • KVM on Oracle Linux does not support hard partitioning.  This means that all enabled cores/sockets on Oracle Database Appliance are licensed for databases and applications running on the appliance using the appropriate licensing metric for the database edition and application.  Using KVM does not limit licensing, capacity on demand for Oracle Database Appliance still applies.

See Also:

For more about Oracle Linux KVM on Oracle Database Appliance, see the KVM series in the Oracle Database Appliance blog at https://blogs.oracle.com/oda/kvm.