KubeVirt Implementation: Who Needs It and Why?

The adoption of cloud-native architectures and containerization has revolutionized the way applications are developed, deployed, and managed. Containers offer unparalleled speed, agility, and scalability, making them a cornerstone of modern IT strategies. However, many organizations still rely on virtual machines (VMs) for legacy or stateful applications, creating a divide between traditional and modern infrastructure.

KubeVirt bridges this gap by extending Kubernetes’ capabilities to manage both containers and VMs, providing a unified platform for hybrid infrastructure. In this article, we’ll explore why KubeVirt is a game-changer for organizations looking to streamline operations, reduce costs, and modernize their infrastructure.

At ZippyOPS, we specialize in consulting, implementation, and management services for DevOps, DevSecOps, DataOps, Cloud, Automated Ops, AI Ops, ML Ops, Microservices, Infrastructure, and Security. If you’re looking to optimize your infrastructure or need expert guidance, explore our services or check out our YouTube playlist for demos and tutorials.

What is KubeVirt?

KubeVirt is an open-source project that transforms Kubernetes into a powerful platform capable of managing both containers and virtual machines. By introducing custom resource definitions (CRDs), KubeVirt allows Kubernetes to treat VMs as first-class citizens, enabling seamless management of hybrid workloads.

Key Features of KubeVirt:

• Unified Control Plane: Manage VMs and containers using the same Kubernetes tools (kubectl and Kubernetes API).

• VM as Pods: Each VM runs within a specialized pod, integrating VMs into the Kubernetes ecosystem.

• Simplified Operations: Leverage Kubernetes’ best practices for creating, starting, stopping, migrating, and monitoring VMs.

Why Should Your Organization Care?

KubeVirt delivers tangible benefits for organizations navigating the complexities of hybrid infrastructure. Here’s why it matters:

1. Seamless Workload Management

KubeVirt eliminates the need to manage separate environments for VMs and containers. By unifying infrastructure under a single platform, it simplifies operations and reduces complexity.

2. Enhanced Resource Efficiency

Running VMs and containers on the same Kubernetes cluster optimizes resource utilization, improves infrastructure density, and reduces costs.

3. Accelerated Modernization

KubeVirt provides a gradual pathway for modernizing legacy applications. You can containerize and migrate components over time, minimizing disruption while leveraging existing investments.

4. Future-Proof Infrastructure

By aligning with cloud-native principles, KubeVirt positions Kubernetes as the backbone of your technology stack, fostering flexibility and agility for evolving business needs.

Who Benefits from KubeVirt?

KubeVirt is particularly valuable for:

• IT Teams and DevOps: Simplify workflows, reduce tooling overhead, and improve team efficiency with a unified control plane.

• Executives: Achieve cost reductions, operational flexibility, and a streamlined path to infrastructure modernization.

• Organizations with Mixed Workloads: Avoid vendor lock-in, minimize complexity, and maintain control over infrastructure choices.

Getting Started with KubeVirt

Deploying KubeVirt requires a well-prepared Kubernetes environment. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Prerequisites

1. Kubernetes Cluster: Ensure you have a Kubernetes cluster based on one of the latest three releases.

2. Kubernetes API Server Configuration: Configure the API server with --allow-privileged=true to run KubeVirt’s privileged DaemonSet.

3. kubectl Utility: Install and configure kubectl to interact with your cluster.

4. Container Runtime Support: KubeVirt is supported on runtimes like Containerd and CRI-O.

5. Hardware Virtualization: Ensure your hosts support hardware virtualization using virt-host-validate qemu.

KubeVirt Installation

1. Install the KubeVirt Operator:
   The KubeVirt operator simplifies the installation and management of KubeVirt components. Run the following commands:

export RELEASE=(curlhttps://storage.googleapis.com/kubevirt−prow/release/kubevirt/kubevirt/stable.txt)kubectlapply−fhttps://github.com/kubevirt/kubevirt/releases/download/(curlhttps://storage.googleapis.com/kubevirt−prow/release/kubevirt/kubevirt/stable.txt)kubectlapply−fhttps://github.com/kubevirt/kubevirt/releases/download/{RELEASE}/kubevirt-operator.yaml
kubectl apply -f https://github.com/kubevirt/kubevirt/releases/download/${RELEASE}/kubevirt-cr.yaml
kubectl -n kubevirt wait kv kubevirt --for condition=Available

2. Enable Software Emulation (if needed):
   If hardware virtualization is unavailable, enable software emulation by editing the KubeVirt CR:

kubectl edit -n kubevirt kubevirt kubevirt

Add the following to the kubevirt.yaml file

spec:
configuration:
developerConfiguration:
useEmulation: true

Implementation Best Practices

1. Conduct a Workload Assessment: Prioritize VMs suitable for containerization, starting with less mission-critical applications.

2. Assess Networking and Storage: Plan VM networking integration and use Container Storage Interface (CSI) plugins for persistent data.

3. Enable Live Migration: Configure live migration to move running VMs without downtime:

apiVersion: kubevirt.io/v1
kind: KubeVirt
metadata:
name: kubevirt
namespace: kubevirt
spec:
configuration:
developerConfiguration:
featureGates:
- LiveMigration
migrations:
parallelMigrationsPerCluster: 5
parallelOutboundMigrationsPerNode: 2
bandwidthPerMigration: 64Mi
completionTimeoutPerGiB: 800
progressTimeout: 150

Conclusion

KubeVirt offers a compelling solution for organizations seeking to unify their infrastructure and modernize at their own pace. By bridging the gap between VMs and containers, KubeVirt enhances operational efficiency, fosters flexibility, and accelerates the journey to cloud-native technologies.

At ZippyOPS, we specialize in helping organizations optimize their infrastructure and streamline operations. If you’re interested in exploring KubeVirt or need expert guidance, explore our services, check out our products, or view our solutions. For a demo, visit our YouTube playlist.

If this seems interesting, please email us at [email protected] for a call. Let’s build scalable, efficient, and secure systems together!