--- 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?format=md --- 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. By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/dataprivacy). 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 [### Arduino® VENTUNO™ Q is available for pre-order with Ubuntu pre-installed](https://canonical.com/blog/arduino-ventuno-q-is-available-for-pre-order-with-ubuntu-pre-installed) London, UK – August 25, 2026 – Following our initial collaboration announcement in March 2026, Canonical and Arduino (a subsidiary of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.) are excited... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 25 August 2026 [### Canonical becomes Gold Sponsor of Trifecta Tech Foundation](https://canonical.com/blog/canonical-becomes-gold-sponsor-of-trifecta-tech-foundation) Canonical is pleased to announce it is now a Gold Sponsor of the Trifecta Tech Foundation, a non-profit that creates open source building blocks for critical infrastructure... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 30 June 2026 [### Ubuntu Summit 26.04: connected by open source](https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-summit-26-04-connected-by-open-source) What an incredible experience! Ubuntu Summit 26.04 has officially drawn to a close, but the energy from our global community is still buzzing – in the comments section, on... [ilvipero](https://canonical.com/blog/author/ilvipero) 22 June 2026