Oracle VM Server for x86 explained

Oracle VM Server for x86
Developer:	Oracle Corporation
Latest Release Version:	3.4.6.3
Latest Release Date:	^[1]
Operating System:	Linux kernel
Platform:	IA-32, x86-64
Programming Language:	C
Genre:	Platform virtualization
License:	Server: GNU GPL Manager: Proprietary (redistributable freeware) ^[2]

Oracle VM Server for x86 is the server virtualization offering from Oracle Corporation. Oracle VM Server for x86 incorporates the free and open-source Xen hypervisor technology, supports Windows, Linux, and Solaris^[3] guests and includes an integrated Web based management console. Oracle VM Server for x86 features fully tested and certified Oracle Applications stack in an enterprise virtualization environment.^[4]

Oracle VM Server for x86 can be freely downloaded through Oracle Software Delivery Cloud.^[5] Oracle announced the general availability of Oracle VM 3.4.6 at 30 November 2018.

Components

• Oracle VM Manager: web based management console to manage Oracle VM Servers.
• Oracle VM Server: includes a version of Xen hypervisor technology, and the Oracle VM Agent to communicate with Oracle VM Manager for management of virtual machines. It also includes a minimized Linux kernel as Dom0.

Versions

• 3.4.6.3 - 3 June 2020^[6]
  • Export VMs to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)
  • security updates
  • cumulative bug fixes
• 3.4.6.2 - 13 December 2019^[7]
  • Additional Linux guest OS support (Oracle Linux 8.x, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.x, and CentOS 8.x)
  • security updates
  • cumulative bug fixes
  • new release model
• 3.4.6.1 - 18 June 2019^[8]
  • updated versions of the Oracle VM Manager and Oracle VM Agent for SPARC
  • security updates
  • cumulative bug fixes
• 3.4.6 - 30 November 2018^[9]
  • Updated Xen hypervisor
  • Update to the dom0 kernel
  • Security and patch updates for Oracle VM Server for x86 packages
  • Security and patch updates for Oracle VM Manager components
  • New User-Defined Validity in Months Option for Self-Signed SSL Certificates
  • New Option to Change the Location of a Running Virtual Machine
  • Increased Virtual CPU Configuration Limit for HVM and PVHVM
• 3.4.5 - 7 June 2018^[10]
  • Support for Hybrid Columnar Compression (HCC) for better Oracle Database performance
  • A new Fiber Channel storage refresh option with Oracle generic storage plugin deployments
  • A new Balance Server start policy to complement the Best Server policy
  • Increased performance for Microsoft Windows guest operating systems
  • Support for TLS1.2 as the default connectivity protocol
  • Update to the dom0 kernel
  • Updated Xen hypervisor
  • Security and patch updates for Oracle VM Manager components
  • Security and patch updates for Oracle VM Server for x86 packages
• 3.4.4 - 25 August 2017^[11]
  • Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel Release 4 (UEK R4)
  • Server package updates
  • Security updates for Manager components and Server packages
  • Updated Xen hypervisor for improved throughput and IOPS performance
  • Support for Microsoft Windows Server 2016
  • Support for Skylake processors
• 3.4.3 - 12 May 2017^[12]
  • The ability to run Microsoft Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) with the Oracle VM Windows PV Driver 3.4.2
  • Enhanced RAID functionality, with support for software RAID devices
  • Manager performance and supportability enhancements
  • Simplified UEFI PXE boot process for Oracle VM Server for x86
  • Updated Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel Release 4 and updates to other server packages
  • Security updates for manager components and server packages
• 3.4.2 - September 2016^[13]
  • Includes an updated DOM0 kernel based on the 4.1 mainline kernel via Oracle Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) Release 4 update 2.
  • Adds NVME support, extended SCSI support in the guest OS, numerous performance improvements in the host and guest OS, Oracle VM manager performance and scalability improvements, and security improvements.
  • Extended SCSI functionality available for virtual machines
• 3.4.1 - April, 2016^[14]
  • Support for Oracle VM Virtual Appliances
  • Automated installation of VNC and Serial Console software
  • Storage live migration
  • User interface enhancements for virtual disk allocation
  • Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) support
  • Booting from UEFI
  • Dom0 kernel upgraded
  • Increased supported limits
  • Improved performance

Resource limits

As of version 3.4.6, Oracle VM Server for x86 can take advantage of up to 384 CPUs (Tested) / 2048 CPUs (Designed), 6TB RAM per server and can host a maximum of 300 VM per server.
VCPUs per VM: 256 (PVM) / 128 (HVM, PVHVM) VMs per server, 1 TB RAM^[15]

End of life

As of March 2021 premier support has ended, although extended support is available until March 31, 2024

https://blogs.oracle.com/virtualization/post/announcing-oracle-vm-3-extended-support

See also

• Docker
• Kernel-based Virtual Machine
• libvirt
• Oracle VM Server for SPARC

Notes and References

1. Web site: Oracle VM release 3.4.6.3 is now available! .
2. Web site: Oracle VM Server for x86. 25 May 2012.
3. Web site: Oracle VM Server Release Notes, Release 3.2.1 . 2014-02-07 . Oracle Corp..
4. Web site: Oracle VM . 2008-07-31 . Oracle Corp.
5. https://edelivery.oracle.com/oraclevm Welcome to the Oracle E-Delivery Web site for Oracle Linux and Oracle VM
6. News: Oracle VM release 3.4.6.3 is now available!. Priest. John. 2020-09-28.
7. News: Oracle VM release 3.4.6.2 is now available!. Priest. John. 2020-02-24.
8. News: Oracle VM release 3.4.6.1 is now available!. Priest. John. 2020-02-24.
9. News: Announcing Oracle VM Release 3.4.6. Priest. John. 2018-11-30.
10. News: Announcing Oracle VM Release 3.4.5. Priest. John. 2018-06-07.
11. News: Announcing Oracle VM Release 3.4.4. Priest. John. 2018-02-09.
12. News: Announcing Oracle VM Release 3.4.3. Priest. John. 2018-02-09.
13. News: Oracle VM 3.4.2 Released!. Priest. John. 2018-02-09.
14. Web site: Oracle Announces Oracle VM 3.3. 2 July 2014.
15. https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E64076_01/E99523/html/vmrns-limits.html Oracle VM Release Notes for 3.4.6