KVM Repositories and Channels: Yum and ULN

The following table provides a list of Oracle Linux 8 yum repositories and ULN channels that you can use for KVM deployment.

For more information about how Oracle manages software package distribution, see Oracle Linux: Managing Software on Oracle Linux.

Table 1-4 Oracle Linux 8: Repository Files and Channel Names

Yum Repository ULN Channel KVM Stack Package Description
ol8_appstream
  • ol8_x86_64_appstream

    or

  • ol8_aarch64_appstream
 Default KVM Stack
  • Fully supported across all Oracle Linux kernels.
  • Offer maximum compatibility with RHCK and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
  • These packages are released as part of the default DNF module: virt

ol8_kvm_appstream

  • ol8_x86_64_kvm_appstream

    or

  • ol8_aarch64_kvm_appstream
Oracle KVM Stack (UEK only)
  • These packages offer newer KVM features and functionality.
  • Packages are engineered to work with the latest UEK KVM features. To use these features, you must also install the latest versions of UEK R6 or UEK R7.
  • These packages are available as separate DNF module streams: virt:kvm_utils, virt:kvm_utils2, and virt:kvm_utils3.

    Note: Application streams have separate product support life cycles to the base OS. Use the latest stream available whenever possible. See Oracle Linux: Product Life Cycle Information for more information.

  • Some non-modular packages, such as virt-manager, edk2, swtpm and libtpms are also included within this repository or channel.

Special Considerations

  • Default KVM Stack – Because the Application Stream repository or channel is a system software requirement on Oracle Linux, it's enabled by default on Oracle all Linux 8 systems. Therefore the Default KVM Stack can be installed without changing any repository or channel configuration.
  • Oracle KVM Stacks – For ULN users, subscribe to the virtualization ULN channels after registering the Oracle Linux system with ULN and then install virtualization packages. For yum repository users, enable the yum repository and then install virtualization packages. For more details, see Enable Yum Repositories or Subscribe to ULN Channels.

  • Note:

    If the system is running UEK, you can choose to switch between stacks. For more details, see Switch KVM Stacks.