Live Updates for KVM Hosts: Minimizing Downtime in Cloud Computing

Explore a 27-minute conference talk from KVM Forum on Live Updates in cloud computing, presented by Michael Galaxy from Akamai. Dive into the innovative approach of updating host kernels and userland on KVM hosts with minimal downtime, eliminating the need for Live Migration. Discover how this technique works by preserving VM state in memory and switching to a new kernel via kexec without a full power cycle. Learn about the game-changing impact of Live Updates on Akamai's cloud computing business, particularly in addressing capacity constraints at the edge. Gain insights into the challenges faced and solutions implemented while productionizing Live Updates, including the integration of the recently merged CPR (Checkpoint Restart) feature. Understand the motivations behind Akamai's adoption of this technology and how it could potentially revolutionize routine operations in cloud environments. Access accompanying slides for visual reference and deeper understanding of the concepts presented.