--- title: Virtualization solutions | Infrastructure description: Canonical's open source virtualization solutions scale from a single laptop to multi-region data centers – all without licensing fees or lock. url: https://canonical.com/solutions/infrastructure/virtualization-solutions?format=md keywords: Virtualization solutions --- # Virtualization solutions High performance, lightweight, and supported open source virtualization. Generative AI, rapid software cycles, and evolving security requirements mean that modern organizations need software stacks that can match the pace of rapid development, without the burden of restrictive contracts, or costly licensing fees. Canonical's robust suite of enterprise-grade, open source virtualization solutions offer up to 15 years of security maintenance, so you can build on a foundation you can trust while remaining agile – all within a single, unified ecosystem. [Get in touch](https://canonical.com/contact-us) [Access the datasheet](https://assets.ubuntu.com/v1/855af1ef-infrastructure_modernization_and_sovereignty_datasheet.pdf) --- ## Why choose open source virtualization? 7 in 10 organizations indicate open source is extremely important to run mission-critical workloads, [according to research conducted by the IDC and Canonical](https://ubuntu.com/engage/2025-state-of-software-supply-chain). Open source virtualization provides a level of autonomy and transparency that proprietary hypervisors can't match. By moving away from proprietary virtualization, you gain the freedom to evolve your software-defined data center on your own terms, without the threat of sudden licensing changes or mandatory hardware refreshes. --- ## Trusted by Canonical's open source virtualization solutions are trusted by organizations across the public sector, financial services, telecommunications, manufacturing, and beyond. --- ## Canonical's open source virtualization solutions ### Tried and tested Our solutions are powered by leading open source virtualization technologies: QEMU/KVM-based VMs, as well as system containers based on LXC. QEMU and KVM deliver enterprise-grade performance and straightforward scalability. KVM installs natively on all Linux distributions and transforms physical servers into hypervisors that can host multiple, isolated VMs that aren't trapped in a proprietary ecosystem. LXC containers can run a full Linux OS. They are lightweight and offer near-bare-metal performance with minimal overhead. --- ### Optimized TCO, security assurance Canonical's virtualization solutions [can result in a significant reduction in TCO](https://pages.ubuntu.com/rs/066-EOV-335/images/Cloud+Pricing+Report+2022.pdf). They are available on a wide variety of hardware, meaning no expensive proprietary hardware or forced upgrades. Likewise, with [Ubuntu Pro](https://ubuntu.com/pro), Canonical's enterprise grade subscription service for security maintenance and support, you can ensure your virtualization stacks meet enterprise security standards with minimal operational overhead. --- ### Built for the future Canonical's open source virtualization software components are modular, so you construct a stack to suit your organization's needs. Try [MicroCloud](https://canonical.com/microcloud) for low touch, highly automated clouds; [LXD](https://canonical.com/lxd) for managing VMs; or [Canonical OpenStack](https://canonical.com/openstack) for large data centers. Likewise, because our solutions are open source, you can evolve your business and infrastructure without being tied to a proprietary vendor. --- ## Canonical's open source virtualization software LXD Multipass MicroCloud OpenStack LXD is Canonical's comprehensive open source virtualization platform. It operates through a user-friendly web interface, helping you to manage KVM-based VMs and LXC-based system containers with ease. [Learn more about LXD ›](https://canonical.com/lxd) Multipass is a tool to generate cloud-style Ubuntu VMs quickly on Linux, macOS and Windows. It provides a simple but powerful CLI that enables you to quickly access an Ubuntu command line or create your own local mini-cloud. [Learn more about Multipass ›](https://canonical.com/multipass) MicroCloud is Canonical's low entry barrier, open source cloud platform. You can build a MicroCloud in minutes, and manage its operations easily – no more navigating cloud complexity. [Learn more about MicroCloud ›](https://canonical.com/microcloud) Canonical OpenStack is our highly customizable cloud platform. With Canonical OpenStack based on Sunbeam, getting to grips with Canonical OpenStack will be significantly easier – helping you to operate and scale your OpenStack control plane with kubernetes. [Learn more about OpenStack ›](https://canonical.com/openstack) --- ## What our customers say --- --- *“Now we can create clusters on demand and make more efficient use of resources, we’ve increased the number of parallel jobs by over 400%.”* **André Hamerski** Infrastructure Coordinator, Sicredi --- --- *“We can scale up more efficiently and we plan to introduce a lot more features and services… it's possible to bring cost-efficiency to a multi-petabyte environment.”* **SMD Jeelani** Director (Operations), UIDAI --- ## Further resources ### Case studies [#### UIDAI and HPE modernize citizen services through cloud transformation](https://ubuntu.com/engage/uidai-hpe-microservice-architecture) UIDAI and HPE collaborated with Canonical to modernize citizen services, migrating legacy monoliths to a microservices architecture. With Ubuntu Pro for robust long-term support, they successfully scaled critical infrastructure to serve over one billion people. Learn more in the case study. [#### BT Group brings 5G to the UK with the power of open source infrastructure](https://pages.ubuntu.com/rs/066-EOV-335/images/BT_Open%20Source%20Infrastructure_Case%20Study.pdf) BT Group partnered with Canonical, helping to build its award-winning 5G mobile network across the UK. With network functions virtualized on Canonical OpenStack, BT Group can build new services in weeks and deploy in days. Learn more in the case study. [#### Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) keeps drivers safe and informed by pivoting from hypervisors to LXD](https://ubuntu.com/engage/hypervisor-to-lxd-case-study) Cloud-native software development is about more than Docker and Kubernetes. In this case study, learn how WYDOT cut costs and boosted performance by switching from Hyper-V VMs to LXD system containers on Ubuntu. This move provided full OS manageability with the efficiency of containers. [#### Sicredi embraces the cloud with Canonical OpenStack](https://ubuntu.com/engage/sicredi-openstack-case-study) Sicredi, a leading Brazilian financial institution, chose OpenStack as the foundation for its new infrastructure-as-code strategy. They found it was 2-3x more cost-efficient than public clouds, and provided the agility that traditional virtualization platforms lack. Learn why in the case study. --- ## Whitepapers, webinars, and blogs [### Solution brief: Take back control of your infrastructure with Canonical](https://assets.ubuntu.com/v1/96bb251e-print_internal_promotions_infrastructure_modernization_solutions_brief_datasheet.pdf) Future-proof your data center. This solution brief explains how Canonical can help to support you through your migration to open source software. Learn why, and how, to migrate your critical workloads to a trusted open source stack with up to 15 years of security maintenance. [### Containerization vs. virtualization: understand the differences](https://ubuntu.com/blog/containerization-vs-virtualization) Regardless of where you're running your workloads – on-premises or in the cloud – the way you run them makes a difference. Learn the difference between virtualization and containerization technologies, and the benefits and drawbacks of each, in this blog. [### Rethinking virtualization: open source alternatives for resellers](https://ubuntu.com/blog/virtualization-alternatives-guide) Are your customers struggling with the cost of virtualization? This blog dives into how open source alternatives like MicroCloud and OpenStack can slash TCO by up to 40%. Explore scalable, vendor-neutral paths to help your customers secure their infrastructure's future. --- ## Find the right virtualization solution for you [Get in touch ›](https://canonical.com/contact-us) Close ### Talk to Canonical experts --- Contact the team with your virtualization needs