Chapter 5 Supported Guest Operating Systems
The guest virtual machines you create must be one of the supported configurations listed in this section. The supported guest operating systems differ virtual machines created in x86-based server pools, and SPARC-based server pools.
5.1 Oracle VM Server for x86 Supported Guest Operating Systems
On Oracle VM Server for x86, guest virtual machines based on Linux and Solaris can be either Hardware Virtualized (HVM) or Hardware Virtualized with PV Drivers (PVHVM).
The following table lists support for virtual machines with an HVM domain type and a Linux operating system. Refer to the notes that follow the table for additional support information.
|
Guest Operating System |
HVM 32-bit |
HVM 64-bit |
|---|---|---|
|
Oracle Linux Release 8.x |
N/A |
Yes |
|
Oracle Linux Release 7.x |
N/A |
Yes |
|
Oracle Linux Release 6.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Oracle Linux Release 5.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Oracle Linux Release 4.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.x |
N/A |
Yes |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.x |
N/A |
Yes |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
CentOS 8.x |
N/A |
Yes |
|
CentOS 7.x |
N/A |
Yes |
|
CentOS 6.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
CentOS 5.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11.x |
No |
Yes |
|
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2 or later |
No |
Yes |
Additional support information for HVM-supported Linux guest operating systems is as follows:
-
You can create HVM guest virtual machines for Oracle Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and CentOS. However, the Xen PV drivers are included by default with the kernels. Creating PVHVM guest virtual machines is recommended for hardware virtualization to improve performance.
-
The minimum required kernel version for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 11 is
3.0.31-0.9.
The following table lists support for virtual machines with a PVHVM domain type and a Linux operating system. Refer to the notes that follow the table for additional support information.
|
Guest Operating System |
PVHVM 32-bit |
PVHVM 64-bit |
|---|---|---|
|
Oracle Linux Release 8.x |
N/A | Yes |
|
Oracle Linux Release 7.x |
N/A |
Yes |
|
Oracle Linux Release 6.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Oracle Linux Release 5.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Oracle Linux Release 4.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.x |
N/A |
Yes |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.x |
N/A |
Yes |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
CentOS 8.x |
N/A |
Yes |
|
CentOS 7.x |
N/A |
Yes |
|
CentOS 6.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
CentOS 5.x |
Yes |
Yes |
|
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11.x |
No |
Yes |
|
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2 or later |
No |
Yes |
Additional support information for PVHVM-supported Linux guest operating systems is as follows:
-
Oracle Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and CentOS 5.x include the Xen PV drivers in the
kernel-xenvariant of the kernel. Oracle Linux 5.x also includes the PV drivers inkernel-uek, the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK). Creating PVHVM guest virtual machines is recommended for hardware virtualization with these kernels. -
Oracle Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server require the
kernel-xenUvariant of the kernel to use the PV drivers mode. -
The minimum required kernel version for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 11 is
3.0.31-0.9. -
To start a PVHVM guest on SLES 11, you must perform the following steps:
-
Install the operating system and upgrade to the
3.0.31-0.9kernel version. -
Shutdown the virtual machine.
-
In Oracle VM Manager, set the domain type for the virtual machine to
Xen PVM. -
Restart the virtual machine.
-
The following table lists support for virtual machines with either an HVM or a PVHVM domain type and a Solaris operating system. Refer to the notes that follow the table for additional support information.
|
Guest Operating System |
PVHVM 32-bit |
HVM 32-bit |
PVHVM 64-bit |
HVM 64-bit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Oracle Solaris 11 |
N/A |
N/A |
Yes | N/A |
|
Oracle Solaris 10 |
Yes |
N/A |
Yes | N/A |
Additional support information for HVM and PVHVM-supported Solaris guest operating systems is as follows:
-
Oracle Solaris support begins with Solaris 10 1/13 (update 11). The Solaris 10 or Solaris 11 OS runs as a hardware virtual machine (HVM), which requires HVM support (Intel VT or AMD-V) on the underlying hardware platform. By default, Solaris 10 or Solaris 11 OS has the required PV drivers installed as part of the OS. Oracle Solaris 10 supports x86 32-bit and 64-bit architecture. 32-bit or 64-bit mode is selected at OS boot time by examining the hypervisor and the underlying hardware. Oracle Solaris 11 supports x86 64-bit architecture only.
For details about Oracle software certification, refer to My Oracle Support Document 464754.1, titled Certified Software on Oracle VM at https://support.oracle.com/oip/faces/secure/km/DocumentDisplay.jspx?id=464754.1.
Also visit the Oracle VM resource page at https://www.oracle.com/us/technologies/virtualization/oraclevm/resources/index.html to learn about the support plans for available for Oracle VM, Oracle Linux and Oracle Solaris.
|
Guest Operating System |
Paravirtualized 32-bit (3.4.5) |
Paravirtualized 64-bit (3.4.5) |
Paravirtualized 32-bit and 64-bit (3.4.6) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Oracle Linux Release 8.x |
No |
No |
No |
|
Oracle Linux Release 7.x |
No |
No |
No [a] |
|
Oracle Linux Release 6.x |
Yes |
Yes |
No [a] |
|
Oracle Linux Release 5.x |
Yes |
Yes |
No [a] |
|
Oracle Linux Release 4.x |
Yes |
Yes |
No [a] |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.x |
No |
No |
No |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.x |
No |
No |
No [a] |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.x |
Yes |
Yes |
No [a] |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.x |
Yes |
Yes |
No [a] |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.x |
Yes |
Yes |
No [a] |
|
CentOS 8.x |
No |
No |
No |
|
CentOS 7.x |
No |
No |
No [a] |
|
CentOS 6.x |
Yes |
Yes |
No [a] |
|
CentOS 5.x |
Yes |
Yes |
No [a] |
|
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11.x |
No |
Yes |
No [a] |
|
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2 or later |
No |
No |
No [a] |
[a] PVM guests continue to operate when upgraded to 3.4.6, but should be converted to PVHVM.
|
Guest Operating Systems |
64-bit |
32-bit |
HVM |
HVM with Oracle VM Paravirtual Drivers for Microsoft Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Microsoft Windows Server 2019 |
Yes |
N/A |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 |
Yes |
N/A |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 |
Yes |
N/A |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 |
Yes |
N/A |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 |
Yes |
N/A |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Microsoft Windows 10 |
Yes |
Yes |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Microsoft Windows 8.1 |
Yes |
Yes |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Microsoft Windows 8 |
Yes |
Yes |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 |
Yes |
Yes |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Supported |
Supported |
To run Microsoft Windows guests as PVHVM-supported operating systems, install the Oracle VM Paravirtual Drivers for Microsoft Windows. For a full list of Microsoft Windows guest operating systems that are PVHVM-supported, see Oracle VM Paravirtual Drivers for Microsoft Windows.
|
Oracle VM Releases |
Oracle VM PV Drivers for Microsoft Windows Release 3.0.1 |
Oracle VM PV Drivers for Microsoft Windows Release 3.2.2 and above |
|---|---|---|
| Oracle VM 3.0 |
Yes |
No |
| Oracle VM 3.1 |
Yes |
No |
| Oracle VM 3.2 |
Yes |
Yes |
| Oracle VM 3.3 |
No |
Yes |
| Oracle VM 3.4 |
No |
Yes |
5.2 Oracle VM Server for SPARC Supported Guest Operating Systems
Guest virtual machines in an Oracle VM Server for SPARC-based server pool must run at:
-
Oracle Solaris 10 11/06 as a minimum.
-
Oracle Solaris 11 or later as a recommended guest OS.
See Creating and Starting a Guest Domain in the Oracle VM Server for SPARC Administration Guide.
For detailed information about supported firmware and operating systems, see System Firmware Versions and Oracle Solaris OS Versions in the Oracle VM Server for SPARC Installation Guide.
For information about specific patches and additional information about supported guest operating systems, see the Oracle VM Server for SPARC Release Notes and Oracle VM Server for SPARC Installation Guide.
Access the Oracle VM Server for SPARC documentation at https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/documentation/vm-sparc-194287.html. To determine the version of the Oracle VM Server for SPARC documentation to reference, run the pkg list ldomsmanager command.