Guest Support Status

Guest Support Status

Windows Family

Guest	Guest bitness	Host version	Host cpu	Host bitness	Status	Comments
Windows 2008 R2 RTM	64	kvm-88	Intel	64	Works	Installs and works with 1GB guest RAM. screenshot
Windows 7 RTM	32, 64	kvm-88	Intel	64	Works	Installs and works with 1GB guest RAM. screenshot
Windows 7 RC	64	kvm-72+dfsg-5	Intel	64	Works	Installs and works without any problem with 1GB guest RAM.
Windows 7 Beta	64	kvm-84	AMD	64	Works	Installs and works without any problem with 512MB guest RAM.
Windows 7 Beta	32	kvm-83	Intel	32	Works	Installed in about 25-30 minutes and worked flawlessly on my ThinkPad T60 (1953-7EU) with 1.5G of RAM
Windows 7 Beta	32	kvm-62	AMD	64	Works	"-m 2048 -vnc :0 -usbdevice tablet -smp 2 -std-vga" on qcow2
Windows Server 2008 (Datacenter)	64	kvm-72	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
Windows Server 2008 (Datacenter)	32	kvm-72	Intel, AMD	64, 32	Works	by Alexey.E.
Windows Vista Ultimate	64	kvm-84	Intel, AMD	64	Works	(not Aero Glass capable) by Alexey.E.
Windows Vista Ultimate	32	kvm-84	Intel, AMD	64, 32	Works	(not Aero Glass capable) by Alexey.E.
Windows Server 2003 x64	64	kvm-72	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E. (setup is unstable, rerun several times)
Windows Server 2003 (Enterprise)	32	kvm-72	Intel	32, 64	Works	by Alexey.E.
Windows Server 2003 (Enterprise)	32	kvm-72	AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
Windows XP Pro x64	64	kvm-72	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E. (setup is unstable, rerun several times)
Windows XP Pro	32	kvm-72	Intel	32, 64	Works	by Alexey.E.
Windows XP Pro	32	kvm-72	AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
Windows 2000 Pro (SP4)	32	kvm-64	Intel, AMD	64	Works	use Qcow2 format. (setup is unstable, rerun several times) by Alexey.E.
Windows 2000 Pro (SP4)	32	kvm-64	Intel	32	Works	use Qcow2 format. (setup is unstable, rerun several times) by Alexey.E.
Windows 2000 Advanced Server	32	kvm-44	Intel	64	Works	use Qcow2 format.
Windows 98SE	32	kvm-63	Intel	32	Fails	by Alexey.E. (halts when booting HIMEM)
Windows 98SE	32	kvm-80, 2.6.27.7	AMD	64	no way	install crashes
Windows NT Server 4.0 sp 1	32	kvm-72, 2.6.30	Intel	64	Works	for networking use -net nic,model=ne2k_pci and install rtl8029 guest driver (included in guest OS cd)
Windows 95	32	kvm-44, 2.6.23-rc8	AMD	64, 32	no way

Linux Family: Fedora/RedHat Derivatives

Guest	Guest bitness	Host version	Host cpu	Host bitness	Status	Comments
Fedora 11	64	kvm-87	Intel	64	Fails	Anaconda freezes
Fedora 11	32	kvm-87	Intel	64	Works
Fedora 11 BETA	32, 64	kvm-84	Intel	64	Fails	by Alexey.E. Slowness and softlockups.
Fedora 10	32, 64	kvm-85	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E. Updated by Lennert.B.
Fedora 9	32, 64	kvm-85	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
Fedora 8	32, 64	kvm-85	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
Fedora 7	32, 64	kvm-75	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
Fedora 6	32	kvm-26	Intel, AMD	32, 64	Works
Fedora 5	32, 64	kvm-12	Intel, AMD	32, 64	Works
Fedora 4	64		AMD	64	Works, slightly high idle cpu	by MichaelKarliner
Fedora 3	64	kvm-78	AMD	64	Works	by George Y. Requires noacpi in boot options
RHEL5	32, 64	kvm-85	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
RHEL4	32, 64	kvm-85	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Frank.Q. updated by Alexey.E.
RHEL3	32, 64	kvm-85	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Frank.Q. updated by Alexey.E.
Red Hat Linux 9	32	kvm-51	Intel	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
Red Hat Linux 8	32	kvm-64	Intel	64	Crashes	Fails on init. by Frank.Q.
Red Hat Linux 7.3	32	kvm-78	AMD	64	Works	-no-kvm is required for installation
Red Hat Linux 7	32	kvm-52	Intel, AMD	64	Crashes	Fails on init. by Alexey.E.
Trixbox (CentOS)	32	kvm-12	Intel	64	Works

Linux Family: Ubuntu/Debian Derivatives

Guest	Guest bitness	Host version	Host cpu	Host bitness	Status	Comments
Debian GNU/Linux 5.0	64	kvm-88	Intel, AMD	64	Works	2009/10/22 by Christian Berendt / B1 Systems
Ubuntu 9.04	64	kvm-84	Intel	64	Works	It's actually Xubuntu but should be the same both block and net virtio devices working too
Ubuntu 8.10	32	kvm-85	Intel, AMD	32, 64	Works	by Peter.v.V.
Ubuntu 8.04 LTS	32, 64	kvm-64	Intel, AMD	32, 64	Works	by Alexey.E. (some issues with virtio)
Ubuntu 7.10	32, 64	kvm-62	Intel,AMD	32, 64	Crashes, Workaround exists	Install using Qemu, remove GFX boot. by Alexey.E.
Ubuntu 7.10 Server	64	kvm-60	AMD	64	Works	No framebuffer (black screen at first). Hit enter to start installer.
Ubuntu 7.10 Server	32	kvm-60/61	Intel	64	Doesn't work	Installer crashes (by Ryota Ozaki)
Ubuntu 7.04	32, 64	kvm-62	Intel,AMD	32, 64	Crashes, Workaround exists	Install using Qemu, remove GFX boot. by Alexey.E.
Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Server	32	kvm-20	Intel	32	Works	use -no-acpi
Debian Lenny 5.0	32, 64	kvm-72/77	Intel	64	Works
Debian Etch 4.0	64	kvm-72	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
Debian Etch 4.0	32	kvm-64	Intel	64, 32	Works	by Alexey.E.
Debian Etch 4.0	32	kvm-64	AMD	64	FAILS, workaround exists	by Alexey.E. (manually choose i586 kernel, do not use default "k7" kernel)
Debian Sarge 3.1	32	kvm-12	Intel	32	Works
Debian Sarge 3.1	32	kvm-12	Intel	64	Mostly works	Install hangs, will install via -no-kvm. Runs fine after
Xandros 3 OCE	32	kvm-29	Intel	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
KNOPPIX 5.1.1	32	kvm-18	Intel	64	Works	use nmi_watchdog=0 or nolapic kernel parameter to boot
Knoppix 5.2	32	kvm-18	Intel	32	Works

Other Linux Distros

Guest	Guest bitness	Host version	Host cpu	Host bitness	Status	Comments
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11	32, 64	kvm-88	Intel, AMD	64	Works	2009/10/22 by Christian Berendt / B1 Systems
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10	32	kvm-88	Intel, AMD	64	Works	2009/10/22 by Christian Berendt / B1 Systems
openSUSE 11.1	32, 64	kvm-88	Intel, AMD	64	Works	2009/10/22 by Christian Berendt / B1 Systems
openSUSE 11.1	32, 64	kvm-85	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
openSUSE 11.0	32, 64	kvm-85	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
openSUSE 10.3	32	kvm-57	AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
openSUSE 10.3	32/64	kvm-64	Intel	64, 32	Crashes, Workaround exists	Start kvm with -no-kvm for installation. Remove graphical GRUB. by Alexey.E.
openSUSE 10.2	32/64	kvm-28/kvm-51	Intel	64	Crashes, Workaround exists	Start kvm with -no-kvm for installation. Remove graphical GRUB. by Alexey.E.
SUSE Linux 10.0	32	kvm-64	Intel	64, 32	Crashes, Workaround exists	Start kvm with -no-kvm for installation. Remove graphical GRUB. by Alexey.E.
SUSE Linux 9.1	32	kvm-72	Intel/AMD	64, 32	Works	by Alexey.E.
Slackware 12 .2	32	kvm-36	Intel	32	Works
Slackware 12	32	kvm-36	Intel	32	Works
Slackware 11	32	kvm-15	Intel	64	Works	using test26.s kernel
Qemu-Puppy 2.01-3	32	kvm-17/18	Intel	32	Works
Qemu-Puppy 2.13-1	32	kvm-17/18	Intel	32	Works
SystemRescueCD 0.3.4	32	kvm-18	Intel	64	Works	Works fine, except for initial X-setting "cirrus" - changed to "vesa", then works.
Gentoo 2006.1	32	kvm-24	Intel	64	Works
Gentoo 2007.0	32	kvm-24	Intel	64	Works
Arch Linux (Duke)	32	kvm-17	AMD	64	Works	Host: 2.6.21-ARCH, guest: 2.6.22-rc5-ARCH says "booting paravirtualized kernel on bare hardware"
Mandrake Linux 9.2	32	kvm-51	Intel	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
Mandriva 2009	32/64	kvm-75	Intel	64	Crashes, Workaround exists	start kvm with -no-kvm for installation. Remove graphical GRUB. by Alexey.E.
Mandriva 2008.1	32	kvm-64	Intel	64, 32	Crashes, Workaround exists	start kvm with -no-kvm for installation. Remove graphical GRUB. by Alexey.E.
Mandriva 2008	32	kvm-51	Intel	64	Crashes, Workaround exists	start kvm with -no-kvm for installation. Remove graphical GRUB. by Alexey.E.
Mandriva 2007	32	kvm-51	Intel	64	Crashes, Workaround exists	start kvm with -no-kvm for installation. Remove graphical GRUB. by Alexey.E.
Crux Linux 2.5	32	kvm-82	Intel	32	Works	Boots Automatically at 'Guest Install' stage. Installs without issue. by Chris P

UNIX Family: BSD

Guest	Guest bitness	Host version	Host cpu	Host bitness	Status	Comments
OpenBSD 4.6	32	kvm-84-7.6	AMD	32	Works	Use the e1000 driver [-net nic,model=e1000]. Does not find the network after the installation (during install is fine) but disabling mpbios as suggested in 4.5 workaround fixes it.
OpenBSD 4.5	32	kvm-85	Intel	32	Crashes	Use the e1000 driver [-net nic,model=e1000] to avoid lockups and slow network speeds. Crashes after "setting tty flags" - Jaco van der Schyff 4.0 would hang on me at the same place if i booted /bsd.mp but not if i boot /bsd (uniprocessor kernel) - Buck 4.5 can be made to boot by disabling mpbios as described here; this is a workaround though, not a fix - Maxim
OpenBSD 4.5	64	kvm-84	Intel	64	Works	Use e1000 drivers. Install from CD works, but then you must do the following at the next boot prompt: "bsd -c", "disable mpbios", then "quit" Make this permanent by using "config -ef /bsd" as root, once everything has booted. -- Garry Dolley
OpenBSD 4.4	64	kvm-78	AMD	64	Works
OpenBSD 4.2	32	kvm-58	Intel	32	Works
OpenBSD 4.1	32	kvm-72	Intel, AMD	64	Works	by Alexey.E.
OpenBSD 4.0	64	kvm-12	Intel	64	Works
OpenBSD 4.0	32	kvm-16 + CVS	Intel	64	Works
FreeBSD 6.1	32	kvm-17/18	Intel	32	Works
FreeBSD 6.2	64	kvm-12	AMD	64	Works
FreeBSD 6.2	32	kvm-16 + CVS	AMD	64	Works
FreeBSD 6.3	32	Fedora 8 - kvm-37-7.fc8	Intel	64	works
FreeBSD 6.3	32	Debian Lenny, kvm-60	AMD	64	Works	No issues in several weeks of testing. Freddie
FreeBSD 6.3	64	Debian Lenny, kvm-60	AMD	64	Works	No issues in several weeks of testing. Freddie
FreeBSD 7.0	32	Debian Lenny, kvm-60	AMD	64	Works	No issues in several weeks of testing. Tested with 1 and 2 virtual CPUs. Freddie
FreeBSD 7.0	64	Debian Lenny, kvm-60	AMD	64	Works	No issues in several weeks of testing. Tested with 1 and 2 virtual CPUs. Freddie
FreeBSD 7.0	32	OpenSUSE 10.3 kvm-63	AMD	64	works	disk i/o issues? "ad0: TIMEOUT - WRITE_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=XXXXXXX"
FreeBSD 7.0	64	OpenSUSE 10.3 kvm-63	AMD	64	crashes after boot loader
FreeBSD 7.1	64	kvm-84	Intel	64	Works	sdl graphics mess up if using kvm, setup with -nokvm then use ssh or -nographics and serial console
FreeBSD 7.2	64	kvm-86-3	Intel	64	Works, need to install from the DVD or CD image	Damon Chesser, Jadase Staff
GNU/kFreeBSD	32	kvm-84	Intel	32	Works	kvm module must be loaded with oos_shadow=0
GNU/kFreeBSD	64	kvm-15	AMD	64	Works
GNU/kFreeBSD	32	kvm-16 + CVS	AMD	64	Works
NetBSD 3.1	32	kvm-17/18	Intel	32	Works
NetBSD 3.1	32	kvm-21	AMD	64	Works
NetBSD 4.0	32	kvm-60	Intel	64	Works	avoid hangup on boot with --no-acpi and network card timeout by trying out a different card, e.g. -net nic,model=ne2k_pci
NetBSD 5.0	64	kvm-88	Intel	64	Crashes/hangs	Install CD image will crash or hang, depending on if ACPI is enabled or not. NetBSD 4.0 workarounds ineffective.
MirBSD 2009/10	32	kvm_1:84+dfsg-0ubuntu12.4~hardy1	Intel	Works	Use of nic,model=e1000 is strongly recommended, ne2k variants work too, emulated Realtek are crappier than metal ones and do not work.
PC-BSD 1.4	32	kvm-56	Intel	64	Works	By Alexey.E.
DragonflyBSD 1.10.1	32	kvm-58	Intel	64	Works	avoid kvm-[64-67] which require -no-kvm-pit to work; use -net nic,model=e1000 to avoid network timeouts
DragonflyBSD 2.2.1	32	kvm-85	Intel	64	Works	not tried X

UNIX Family: Solaris/OpenSolaris

Guest	Guest bitness	Host version	Host cpu	Host bitness	Status	Comments
Solaris 10 U1	32	kvm-12	Intel	64	Works	later releases will detect the CPU is 64 bit capable and try to default to run a 64 bit kernel and fail, for those you have to override Solaris autodetection by adding "kernel/unix" to the kernel multiboot entry in GRUB
Solaris 10 U3	64	kvm-58 + patch	Intel	64	Works	needs additional patch to kvm for kvm kernel longmode
Nexenta Core 1.0	64	kvm-61	Intel	64	Works	needs additional patch to kvm for kvm kernel longmode. Use -m 512 -net nic,model=e1000
OpenSolaris 2008.05	64	kvm-69	Intel	64	Works	Use -m 512 -net nic,model=e1000
Milax 0.3.2	32	kvm-62	Intel	64	Works	Use the kvm option -net nic,model=rtl8139 and add atapi-cd-dma-enabled=0,atapi-other-dma-enabled=0 to the kernel line in the grub menu for older releases of Milax http://www.milax.org/ in version 0.3.2 choose the Qemu grub menu entry ; tested on Ubuntu 8.04.1 by BerndSchemmer
Belenix 0.7.1	64	kvm-62	Intel	64	Works	Note: older releases of Belenix only work in text mode; tested on Ubuntu 8.04.1 by BerndSchemmer
Solaris 10 U6	32 & 64	kvm-62	Intel	64	Mostly Works (see note)	Note: the grub menu entry for Solaris 10 created by the installer is wrong, to make it work add kernel/unix to the line beginning with kernel ; tested on Ubuntu 8.04.1 by BerndSchemmer
OpenSolaris 2008.11	64	kvm-62	Intel	64	Works	tested on Ubuntu 8.04.1 by BerndSchemmer

Other UNIX systems

Guest	Guest bitness	Host version	Host cpu	Host bitness	Status	Comments
Darwin 8.0.1	32	kvm-29	Intel	64	Crashes	by Alexey.E.
MINIX 3.1.2a	32	kvm-71	Intel	64	Works
GNU hurd live CD (20051117)	32	kvm-28	Intel	32	Works	Seems to have networking problems.
GNU/Hurd (Debian K14)	32	kvm-33	Intel	32	Works	screenshot
GNU/Hurd (Debian K16)	32	kvm-69	AMD	64	Works	avoid kvm-[64-67] which require -no-kvm-pit to work
QNX 6.3.2	32	qemu-kvm 88, host kernel: 2.6.30	Intel	64	Works	Use "-net nic,model=ne2k_pci" for network. See also [1]
QNX 6.4.1	32	qemu-kvm-0.11.0, 2.6.31.5	Intel	64	Works	-

Others

Guest	Guest bitness	Host version	Host cpu	Host bitness	Status	Comments
Haiku OS	32	kvm-12	AMD	64	Works	screenshot
Amiga Research OS (AROS)	32	kvm-12	AMD	64	Works	LiveCD tested. screenshot
Amiga Research OS (AROS)	32	kvm-58	Intel	32	Works	LiveCD tested.
ReactOS 0.3.0	32	kvm-14	AMD	64	Works	screenshot
FreeDOS 1.0	32	kvm-71	Intel	64	Works
MS DOS 6.22	32	kvm-88	Intel	64	Works	Works with "-cpu qemu32". Do not load emm386.exe inside config.sys screenshot
MS DOS 5.0	32	kvm-62	Intel	64	Works	Installs and boots. Tested by Alan J.
Syllable 0.61	32	kvm-29	Intel	64	Crashes	by Alexey.E.
Visopsys 0.62	32	kvm-29	Intel	64	Crashes	by Alexey.E.
Plan 9	32	kvm-68	Intel	64	Works	needs -no-kvm-irqchip
FreeDOS 7 + Novell Netware 4.1	32	kvm-83	AMD	64	Works	tested by Ruediger G. Biernat / screenshot