[SOLVED] Is KVM slower than Virtual Box?

Ulysses_ · 07-27-2017, 05:33 PM

Looks like I have to abandon plans to switch from my current hypervisor, vmware, to virtual box because it is not 100% open-source if you want the usb support. But is KVM just as fast?

Timothy Miller · 07-27-2017, 06:17 PM

In my experience, KVM is just as fast as VMWare, and much faster than VBox. I also think it's easier to work with as far as USB sharing between host/guest. I never did get that working consistently in VBox (it would work 1 boot, then wouldn't the next), but it works without issue in qemu-kvm for me. Might be me however, I use Nutanix at work which is based on kvm, so I'm much more knowledgeable with KVM than VBox. Not that I'm great with either.

jefro · 07-27-2017, 07:48 PM

Plenty of web pages devoted to speed tests. The problem usually is that they use server grade hardware that has some of the most up to date abilities. In fact some processors were designed to run VM's as well as board support.

Kernel edits seem to usually have a few improvements for VM's so your kernel and distro and hardware will have to be considered.

I didn't easily see any current tests. https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pa...untu-1510-virt