Virtualisation API libvirt hits 0.9.0

The open source libvirt virtualisation API, backed by Red Hat, has reached version 0.9.0. The developers say this is a "large release" with reference to the number of changes, and brings the project closer to a 1.0.0 release.

The changes include a number of features such as audit support, new public APIs and cpu usage tuning. The new release also includes many bug fixes, corrections to documentation and enhancements to the portability of the software. The last time the version number was "bumped" was to version 0.8.0, released a year ago. The announcement contains the changes made since the last minor release 0.8.8 in February this year, and a detailed listing of all changes since 0.8.0 is available on the libvirt news page.

Libvirt does not implement virtualisation itself; it is an API, daemon and management tool for managing other virtualisation technologies and works with KVM, Xen and VMWare ESX, among others. It also includes a command line utility (virsh) to access and control virtual machines. The technology provides a common API allowing graphical tools such as Virtual Machine Manager or higher level tools such as oVirt to address a wider range of virtualisation platforms.

Libvirt is available to download from the project's site and is licensed under the LGPL.

(djwm)