Best Virtual Machine Software for Hosting Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Ubuntu Linux Server

When hosting Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) on an Ubuntu Linux server, several virtual machine software options are well-suited to this task. This guide will explore the most popular choices, their pros and cons, and offer a recommendation based on specific use cases.

1. KVM (Kernel-Based Virtual Machine)

Overview

KVM is a full virtualization solution built into the Linux kernel, transforming the Linux kernel into a type-1 bare-metal hypervisor.

Pros

High performance and efficiency Integrated with Linux for easy management Supports a wide range of guest operating systems, including RHEL Can be managed using tools like virt-manager or virsh

Cons

May require some setup and configuration

2. QEMU

Overview

QEMU is an open-source emulator that provides hardware virtualization and is often used in conjunction with KVM.

Pros

Flexible and supports various architectures Can run without KVM for software emulation

Cons

Performance may not be as high as KVM alone

3. VirtualBox

Overview

VirtualBox is a free and open-source virtualization software developed by Oracle.

Pros

User-friendly interface Easy to set up and manage Good for testing and development environments

Cons

Not as performant as KVM for production workloads May require additional configuration for networking and storage

4. VMware Workstation Player

Overview

VMware Workstation Player is a free-to-use desktop virtualization software for non-commercial use.

Pros

Easy to use with a graphical interface Good performance and compatibility with various operating systems

Cons

Proprietary software which may not fit all open-source needs

5. Proxmox VE

Overview

Proxmox VE is an open-source virtualization management platform that combines KVM with Linux Containers (LXC).

Pros

Web-based management interface Supports clustering and high availability Good for managing multiple VMs

Cons

More complex to set up initially compared to KVM alone

Recommendation

KVM is generally the best choice for a production environment due to its high performance, integration with the Linux kernel, and support for a wide range of guest operating systems, including RHEL. VirtualBox or Proxmox VE are suitable alternatives for users who prefer a more user-friendly interface or are dealing with smaller-scale deployments.

Additional Considerations

Ensure your server has virtualization support enabled in the BIOS/UEFI (Intel VT-x or AMD-V). Consider your management needs and whether you prefer command-line tools or a graphical interface. Check for compatibility with any specific RHEL features or requirements you may have.