--- title: QEMU and libvirt enhancements in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS description: QEMU 4.2 and libvirt 6.0 available in Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS bring a number of key updates to the entire virtualization stack. url: https://canonical.com/blog/qemu-and-libvirt --- 1. [Blog](https://canonical.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Joshua Powers](https://canonical.com/blog/author/powersj "More about Joshua Powers") 7 May 2020 # QEMU and libvirt enhancements in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS [#Libvirt](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/libvirt) [QEMU](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/qemu) [Server](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/server) [Ubuntu](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/ubuntu) [Virtualisation](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/virtualisation) --- Share the article *This article originally appeared on [Joshua Powers’ blog](https://powersj.io/post/ubuntu-focal-qemu-enhancements/)* Ubuntu is the industry-leading operating system for cloud hosts and guests. Every day millions of Ubuntu instances are launched in private and public clouds around the world. Many launched right on top of Ubuntu itself. Canonical takes pride in offering the latest virtualization stack with each Ubuntu release. In [Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa)](https://ubuntu.com/download/server), users can find the recently released [QEMU](https://www.qemu.org/) version 4.2 and [libvirt](https://libvirt.org/) version 6.0 available on day one. These new versions have brought a number of key updates to the virtualization stack. Here are the most notable ones: * Included in QEMU are the [qboot](https://github.com/bonzini/qboot) ROM, the [microvm](https://github.com/bonzini/qemu/blob/master/docs/microvm.rst) machine type, and a minimized QEMU build. This combination allows for a much faster boot of Linux on x86 platforms. * Support for nested virtualization * As systems grow larger and larger QEMU guests can now create x86 guests with [memory footprints as large as 8TB](https://cpaelzer.github.io/blogs/005-guests-bigger-than-1tb/). * Migration from SDL to GTK based UI backend to improve scaling and speed * Increased speed of migrations via free page hinting through virtio-balloon * [PMEM](https://docs.pmem.io/persistent-memory/getting-started-guide/creating-development-environments/virtualization/qemu) and [virtual nvdimms](https://github.com/qemu/qemu/blob/master/docs/nvdimm.txt) are available for general usage Each release the Canonical team takes great care in considering what versions of QEMU and libvirt to include. The versions are determined through a careful process where the team weighs new upstream release features, schedules, and bug fixes. For more details on this process refer to the following [blog](https://cpaelzer.github.io/blogs/008-virt-stack-crystal-ball/). Download [Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa)](https://ubuntu.com/download/server). ## Sign up for our newsletter Get the latest Canonical news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. In submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Notice](https://canonical.com/legal/data-privacy/contact) and [Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/data-privacy). Sign up ## Share on --- ## Related posts [### A decade of Ubuntu on IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE](https://canonical.com/blog/a-decade-of-ubuntu-on-ibm-z-and-ibm-linuxone) This year we celebrate a decade of Ubuntu Server support on the s390x architecture: marking a long-standing collaboration between Canonical and IBM that began at LinuxCon 2015.... [Pedro Lazzarotto](https://canonical.com/blog/author/pedro-lazzarotto) 12 June 2026 [### Canonical named a Challenger in the 2026 GartnerⓇ Magic Quadrant™ for Server Virtualization Platforms](https://canonical.com/blog/canonical-a-challenger-in-2026-gartner-magic-quadrant-for-server-virtualization-platforms) Canonical has been recognized as a Challenger in the 2026 GartnerⓇ Magic Quadrant™ for Server Virtualization Platforms. The inaugural edition of the report provides an... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 1 October 2026 [### Canonical announces the alpha release of Charmed OpenShell to help secure autonomous AI agent fleets](https://canonical.com/blog/charmed-openshell-alpha-release) To streamline enterprise deployment and lifecycle management, Canonical is announcing the alpha release of Charmed OpenShell. [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 28 September 2026 [### Ubuntu coming soon to Snapdragon X2 Series platforms, unlocking more Linux PCs for the agentic world](https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-coming-soon-to-qualcomm-snapdragon-x2-series-platforms) Canonical and Qualcomm Technologies announce upcoming native Ubuntu support for Qualcomm’s flagship laptop silicon, delivering multi-day battery life, 80 TOPS NPU acceleration,... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 23 September 2026