KVM Guest: Operating Systems

When installing standalone instances of KVM, consider using one of the following guest OS:

Linux Guest OS

An Oracle Linux host system can run the following Linux OS as KVM guests.

Note:

Only 64-bit Linux OS are supported for KVM guests on Oracle Linux host systems.

  • Oracle Linux 7
  • Oracle Linux 8
  • Oracle Linux 9
  • Oracle Linux 10
  • Oracle Container Host for Kubernetes
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • Centos 7
  • Centos 8
  • Centos Stream 8
  • Centos Stream 9
  • Centos Stream 10
  • AlmaLinux OS 8
  • AlmaLinux OS 9
  • AlmaLinux OS 10
  • Rocky Linux 8
  • Rocky Linux 9
  • Rocky Linux 10
  • Suse Linux Enterprise Server 12
  • Suse Linux Enterprise Server 15
  • Ubuntu 16.04
  • Ubuntu 18.04
  • Ubuntu 20.04
  • Ubuntu 22.04
  • Ubuntu 24.04

Note:

Oracle Linux ISO images and disk images are available for download from Oracle Software Delivery Cloud: https://edelivery.oracle.com/linux.

Microsoft Windows Guest OS

The following Microsoft Windows versions support the use of guest OS installations on KVM instances.

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2025
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2022
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2019
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2016
  • Microsoft Windows 11
  • Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit only)

VirtIO Driver Requirements

For improved performance with network and block (disk) devices, and to resolve common issues, we recommend that you install the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows. These drivers are para-virtualized drivers for Microsoft Windows guests running on Oracle Linux KVM hypervisors.

Microsoft Windows guests on KVM have been tested by using the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows. For instructions on how to obtain and install the drivers, see Oracle Linux: Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows for use with KVM.

Oracle Solaris Guest OS

Oracle Solaris version 11.4 supports the use of guest OS installations on KVM instances.

Oracle Solaris 11.4 can be used as a guest OS when installed within a standalone instance of KVM.

Note:

Oracle Solaris version 11.4.33 (Oracle Solaris 11.4 SRU 33) is the minimum version that includes functionality for VirtIO guest support.

Oracle Solaris ISO images and disk images are available for download from the Oracle Software Delivery Cloud at https://edelivery.oracle.com/.

Tip:

For best results when using Oracle Solaris as a guest OS:

  • Use at least a two-core configuration for the Oracle Solaris VM.

  • Use the most current QEMU system type (Custom Emulated Machine = pc-i440fx-4.2) for the Oracle Solaris VM.