
Citrix XenServer
6.1#8 in server virtualization softwareLinuxSelf-hostedWindows
Visit
| Fact | Citrix XenServer | KVM |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| GPU acceleration | Yes | Yes |
| Guest architecture | x86_64 | both |
| Host platforms | XenServer OS on 64-bit x86 bare-metal servers | Linux |
| Live migration | Virtual machines can be live migrated between XenServer hosts to support maintenance with minimal or no downtime. | The FAQ states that KVM supports moving running virtual machines between hosts without downtime. |
XenServer is intended for organizations prioritizing Citrix alignment, operational simplicity, predictable lifecycle management, and security. It suits teams with dedicated 64-bit x86 server-class hardware meeting the CPU requirement.
KVM suits Linux users who need to run Linux or Windows virtual machines on compatible x86 hosts. It may also suit teams using QEMU, libvirt, OpenStack, or oVirt as an upper layer.