SmartOS vs KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)

Struggling to choose between SmartOS and KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

SmartOS is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like virtualization, cloud-computing, open-source.

It boasts features such as Built on Illumos kernel for improved security, ZFS filesystem for efficient storage and snapshots, KVM hypervisor for hardware-accelerated virtualization, Crossbow virtual network virtualization, DTrace for system observability and troubleshooting, Zones for OS-level virtualization and isolation and pros including High performance and efficiency, Advanced storage features with ZFS, Strong security model, Flexible virtualization options, DTrace debugging capabilities, Open source model allows customization.

On the other hand, KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a System & Hardware product tagged with virtualization, vm, linux, open-source.

Its standout features include Kernel-level virtualization, Supports live migration of VMs between hosts, Built into Linux kernel, Leverages hardware-assisted virtualization, Open source and free, and it shines with pros like Good performance, Leverages hardware virtualization, Integrated into Linux, Active development community, Free and open source.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

SmartOS

SmartOS

SmartOS is an open-source operating system designed for cloud computing environments. It is built on top of the Illumos kernel, a derivative of Solaris, and enhances security, virtualization, storage, and networking features.

Categories:
virtualization cloud-computing open-source

SmartOS Features

  1. Built on Illumos kernel for improved security
  2. ZFS filesystem for efficient storage and snapshots
  3. KVM hypervisor for hardware-accelerated virtualization
  4. Crossbow virtual network virtualization
  5. DTrace for system observability and troubleshooting
  6. Zones for OS-level virtualization and isolation

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

High performance and efficiency

Advanced storage features with ZFS

Strong security model

Flexible virtualization options

DTrace debugging capabilities

Open source model allows customization

Cons

Limited hardware support compared to major OSes

Smaller user and developer community

Not as feature-rich as proprietary cloud OSes

Steep learning curve for some advanced features


KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is an open-source virtualization technology that allows you to create and run virtual machines (VMs) on Linux. It makes use of hardware virtualization capabilities of modern CPUs for efficient virtualization.

Categories:
virtualization vm linux open-source

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) Features

  1. Kernel-level virtualization
  2. Supports live migration of VMs between hosts
  3. Built into Linux kernel
  4. Leverages hardware-assisted virtualization
  5. Open source and free

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Good performance

Leverages hardware virtualization

Integrated into Linux

Active development community

Free and open source

Cons

Linux-only

Less features than proprietary solutions

Steeper learning curve than alternatives

No centralized management