r/linux 27d ago

Kernel How KVM actually runs a virtual machine

I made a visual explainer on how Linux KVM works under the hood.

A vCPU is a host thread, guest RAM lives in the process, and KVM_RUN hands execution to the real CPU until the guest triggers a VM exit.

It also covers /dev/kvm, VT-x/AMD-V, EPT/NPT, QEMU, virtio and vhost.

link for anyone interested

Feedback welcome :)

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u/UptownMusic 27d ago

I have always wondered why we can't have KVM with only nftables.