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KVM pros and cons

Vendor: KVM
4.0 out of 5
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Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

KVM offers a rich set of options that can be accessed directly or through interfaces like libvirt, making it versatile for various applications.
It is highly scalable, supporting environments from private desktops to the top supercomputers globally.
KVM provides robust security features, positioning it as a powerful choice in virtualization technology.
This is open source and supports a wide range of operating systems, enhancing its adaptability and cost-effectiveness.
The initial setup of KVM is straightforward, and its management does not necessarily require third-party applications, simplifying virtual machine operations.

CONS

KVM requires better technical support and response times are insufficient.
There is a lack of stability and performance compared to other products in the same category.
Support for virtualization features like better disk scalability and high availability is lacking in KVM.
Collaboration within the ecosystem, including support from independent software vendors, is more limited compared to VMware.
Management and orchestration capabilities for multiple KVMs need improvement.
 

KVM Pros review quotes

GN
Aug 29, 2022
The most helpful aspect of KVM is the fact that the interface is so minimal. It includes just what you need to set up the VMs and manage them, and it's very simple to do so.
BP
Dec 23, 2020
If you prefer command-line, there are all kinds of command-line options.
MB
Apr 22, 2021
The GUI interface makes the management of KVM easier than ever before.
Learn what your peers think about KVM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
815,854 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1977888 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 9, 2023
It offers a high-availability environment.
AshutoshKumar4 - PeerSpot reviewer
May 23, 2023
The product is really good...One can get good performance because of kernel-based virtualization.
VC
Oct 21, 2019
I like that this is an open-source solution. It is very powerful, and it's easy.
Lan Tuong - PeerSpot reviewer
Jul 17, 2024
The built-in management console, Auto KVM, is the most valuable tool for managing our virtual environments. We use it most to create and fire up new VMs or clone them for customers based on requests.
Gio Ramirez - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 9, 2023
Documentation and problem-solving troubleshooting are the most valuable features. Performance (when fine-tuned and with "special" HW) is awesome, equal to or more than other enterprise closed-source solutions.
Rohail Aslam - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 4, 2024
One of the best features of KVM is its user-friendly interface.
Christophe JOBARD - PeerSpot reviewer
May 22, 2023
The product's scalability is good...It's a very stable product.
 

KVM Cons review quotes

GN
Aug 29, 2022
One problem I have is that it's not very scalable when it comes to resizing the VM disk dimensions. For example, if you have initially set a virtual drive to 10 GB and you want to upgrade it to 15 GB, it's not that easy.
BP
Dec 23, 2020
One thing that maybe could be improved is making it easier to scale. It needs to be more clear on how to scale the storage space for virtual machines.
MB
Apr 22, 2021
Business continuity features need to be added.
Learn what your peers think about KVM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
815,854 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1977888 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 9, 2023
Some things are pretty basic, and they could be more robust with more detail.
AshutoshKumar4 - PeerSpot reviewer
May 23, 2023
We are not getting good support from KVM, and it is not that user-friendly.
VC
Oct 21, 2019
The virtual manager and the graphical QEMU for KVM need some improvement.
Lan Tuong - PeerSpot reviewer
Jul 17, 2024
I think the management console has room for improvement. It could be more straightforward and user-friendly, like VMware's Console Management. This would make it easier for system admins to use and reduce training needs.
Gio Ramirez - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 9, 2023
The networking with wireless devices needs improvement.
Rohail Aslam - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 4, 2024
I would like to see more focus on microservices and integration with Kubernetes or OpenShift.
Christophe JOBARD - PeerSpot reviewer
May 22, 2023
The main drawback in the solution is probably disaster recovery.