Virtualization technology has revolutionized the way we deploy and manage enterprise IT environments. It enables us to create multiple virtual machines on a single physical server, which can be used for a variety of tasks such as hosting applications, running databases, and testing software. Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager (OLVM) is one such virtualization solution that allows organizations to deploy and manage virtual machines in an enterprise environment.
As an engineer who has installed numerous OLVM setups and worked extensively with virtualization technology, I have noticed that customers often have a lot of questions regarding OLVM and how it works. To address these questions and provide a comprehensive resource for those looking to use OLVM, I have put together this FAQ guide that covers some of the most common questions I have received. Whether you are new to virtualization or an experienced IT professional, I hope the information in this blog will be useful to you.
What is OLVM
OLVM is based on the open-source virtualization management platform called oVirt. Oracle has used the oVirt platform as the foundation for developing OLVM, which is a commercially supported version of the open-source platform. OLVM provides additional features, integration with Oracle products, and commercial support that are not available in the oVirt community version. However, both oVirt and OLVM use the same underlying KVM hypervisor technology to create and manage virtual machines.
By using KVM as its foundation, OLVM is able to take advantage of the performance, security, and scalability benefits of this proven virtualization technology. KVM is widely used in data centers around the world, and is supported by many of the major Linux distributions, including Oracle Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.
How do I backup a virtual machine in OLVM?
To back up a virtual machine, you can use the libvirt tool to create a snapshot of the VM’s disk image. You can then copy the snapshot to a backup location using any standard backup method, such as rsync or scp. It’s important to note that backups should be stored on a separate physical disk or network location to ensure that they are protected in case of disaster.
What is the difference between a snapshot and a backup?
Snapshots are kept locally and can be used to revert to a previous state if something goes wrong during an update or configuration change. However, snapshots are not a substitute for backups, as they do not protect against hardware or storage failures. Backups, on the other hand, are kept off-site so they can be used to restore the VM in case of hardware or storage failures.
Can I run Windows virtual machines on OLVM?
Yes, you can run Windows virtual machines on OLVM, but you’ll need to ensure that the necessary Windows drivers and tools are installed. This includes the VirtIO drivers, which provide optimized I/O performance for Windows virtual machines running on KVM. You can download the VirtIO drivers from the oracle software delivery cloud and install them on your Windows virtual machine using the installation wizard.
How does Oracle Database Licensing work on OLVM?
Oracle Database licensing on OLVM is based on the physical hardware that the virtual machines are running on. In general, you need to have valid licenses for every physical server, regardless of how many virtual machines or how many instances of the database are running. So it is in fact following licensing rules independent from OLVM.
There is one important exception though. OLVM supports hard-partitioning which can be used to limit the amount of cpu/cores allocated for running Oracle Databases and hence can be used to limit the required licenses. This is accomplished using the CPU pinning feature. CPU pinning allows you to assign specific physical CPU cores to a virtual machine, effectively limiting the number of cores that the virtual machine can use.
In general, it is always best to consult with an Oracle licensing expert to ensure that you are properly licensed for your specific use case. Oracle licensing rules can be complex, and it’s important to ensure that you are in compliance.
Can I import virtual machines from other virtualization platforms into OLVM?
Yes, it is possible to import virtual machines from other virtualization platforms into OLVM. OLVM supports the import of virtual machines in both the Open Virtualization Format (OVF) and Virtual Machine Disk (VMDK) formats. It’s important to note that the imported virtual machine may require some configuration adjustments to ensure optimal performance and compatibility with OLVM. ( f.e. uninstall VMware Tools )
Conclusion
I hope this FAQ has been helpful in answering some of your questions about Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager (OLVM). If you have any additional questions about OLVM, or if you need assistance with installing or configuring the platform, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m always here to help and I’m happy to share my experience and expertise with you.
Thank you for reading, and happy virtualizing!
Bjorn
Oracle in the field 