There are some comparison charts you could look at: Internally, KVM uses SeaBIOS as an open source implementation of a 16-bit x86 BIOS. QEMU uses KVM when available to virtualize guests at near-native speeds, but otherwise falls back to software-only emulation. On Linux, QEMU versions 0.10.1 and later is one such userspace host. Map the guest's video display back onto the system host. The host must also supply a firmware image (usually a custom BIOS when emulating PCs) that the guest can use to bootstrap into its main OS. Instead, it exposes the /dev/kvm interface, which a userspace host can then use to: The term VIF has also been applied when the application virtualizes orĪbstracts network interfaces.As for the differences, KVM (currently project is owned by Red Hat) does not perform any emulation. Layer of abstraction to work around a performance bottleneck, indeed even toīypass the kernel for optimization purposes. However, it is also possible to use such a This extra layer of network abstraction is often unnecessary, and may have a Of such a hierarchy from which it may not stray. This can imply restriction of the process, e.g. Into abstract interfaces with specified bandwidth limits and queueing models. (beyond the default operating system behavior) by hierarchically subdividing it Processes to better coordinate the sharing of a given physical interface Interface connections, in some systems a virtual interface framework may allow In addition to allowing user space applications to refer to abstract network Specifics to the user, such as whether or not it represents a physical Thus the virtual interface may need to divulge some it may only need to collect membership informationįor physical interfaces). Operate differently on interfaces that represent tunnels than on

Richard Stevens, in volume 2 of his treatiseĮntitled TCP/IP Illustrated, refers to the kernel's Virtual Interface Table in his discussion of multicast routing. It may also allow processes on the system to interact concerning network connections in a more granular fashion than simply to assume a single amorphous 'Internet' (of unknown capacity or performance).

This may allow the system to store and operate on such information independently of the physical interface involved (or even whether it is a direct physical interface or for instance a tunnel or a bridged interface). It is common for the operating system kernel to maintain a table of virtual network interfaces in memory.

Whst is virtualbox interface