https://github.com/sysprog21/kvm-host
A minimalist type 2 hypervisor using Linux Kernel Virtual Machine (KVM)
https://github.com/sysprog21/kvm-host
arm64 kvm-hypervisor linux minimalist virtual-machine x86-64
Last synced: 5 months ago
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A minimalist type 2 hypervisor using Linux Kernel Virtual Machine (KVM)
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/sysprog21/kvm-host
- Owner: sysprog21
- License: other
- Created: 2021-09-06T14:33:47.000Z (about 4 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2024-12-26T08:37:54.000Z (10 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-05-08T23:53:56.544Z (5 months ago)
- Topics: arm64, kvm-hypervisor, linux, minimalist, virtual-machine, x86-64
- Language: C
- Homepage:
- Size: 144 KB
- Stars: 167
- Watchers: 9
- Forks: 28
- Open Issues: 3
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- License: LICENSE
- Authors: AUTHORS
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# kvm-host
`kvm-host` is a minimalist type 2 hypervisor using Linux [Kernel-based Virtual Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel-based_Virtual_Machine) (KVM),
capable of running Linux kernel partially.
## Supported Architecture
* x86-64
* Aarch64 (GICv2/GICv3)
## Build and Run
Fetch required submodules (only necessary for ARM build):
```shell
git submodule update --init --recursive
```
To compile:
```shell
make
```
Download and build Linux kernel from scratch:
```shell
make build/bzImage
```
(or `make build/Image` for Arm64 host)
Run Linux guest with `kvm-host`:
```shell
make check
```
## Usage
```
build/kvm-host -k bzImage [-i initrd] [-d disk-image]
```
`bzImage` is the path to linux kernel bzImage. The bzImage file is in a specific format,
containing concatenated `bootsect.o + setup.o + misc.o + piggy.o`. `initrd` is the path to
initial RAM disk image, which is an optional argument.
`disk-image` is the path to disk image which can be mounted as a block device via virtio. For the reference Linux guest, ext4 filesystem is used for disk image.
To exit kvm-host, press "Ctrl-A", release both keys, and then press "x".
## License
`kvm-host` is released under the BSD 2 clause license. Use of this source code is governed by
a BSD-style license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
## References
* [kvmtool](https://github.com/kvmtool/kvmtool)
* [KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) API](https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/virtual/kvm/api.txt)
* [The Linux/x86 Boot Protocol](https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/x86/boot.html)
* [Using the KVM API](https://lwn.net/Articles/658511/)
* [gokvm](https://github.com/bobuhiro11/gokvm)
* [KVM Host in a few lines of code](https://zserge.com/posts/kvm/)
* [crosvm - The Chrome OS Virtual Machine Monitor](https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/platform/crosvm/)
* [mvisor](https://github.com/tenclass/mvisor)