We moved from Xen to KVM years ago for all new VPS hosting deployments. KVM is built into the Linux kernel, performs better, and is where the hosting industry has standardized. All new Linux VPS and Windows VPS instances have been on KVM for a while.
We kept the old Xen platform running for existing customers who hadn’t migrated yet, but we’re now closing it out so we can focus on one virtualization stack.
Why KVM is better than Xen
Kernel integration: KVM is part of the Linux kernel. Every kernel update brings performance improvements and security patches to the hypervisor automatically. Xen runs as a separate hypervisor below the kernel, which adds complexity and creates a separate update cycle.
Hardware support: KVM leverages Intel VT-x and VT-d directly, and supports modern CPU features like nested virtualization, PCIe passthrough, and hardware-assisted I/O virtualization. Xen supports some of these, but KVM’s integration is more mature.
Performance: KVM with VirtIO paravirtualized drivers delivers near-native I/O performance for both disk and network. Benchmarks consistently show KVM matching or exceeding Xen for most workloads.
Industry adoption: KVM is used by most major cloud and hosting providers. This means better tooling, more community support, and a larger pool of engineers who know how to work with it.
OS flexibility: KVM runs any x86 operating system well. We offer Linux VPS (Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux) and Windows VPS (Windows 7, 10, Server 2016/2019/2022) on the same KVM platform without compromise.
How to migrate from Xen to KVM
There’s no in-place migration from Xen to KVM. The process involves deploying a new server and moving your data:
- Deploy a new VPS on KVM from the Client Portal. Choose the same OS and a plan with equal or greater resources.
- Install your applications and services on the new server.
- Copy your data from the old Xen VPS to the new KVM VPS (rsync, SCP, or database dump/restore).
- Test everything on the new server.
- Update DNS to point to the new server’s IP address.
- Once DNS has propagated and everything is working, decommission the old Xen VPS.
Do you need to migrate?
If you’ve deployed a VPS in the last few years, you’re already on KVM. You don’t need to do anything. Only customers who have been running the same VPS instance since before our KVM transition are still on Xen.
If you’re unsure which platform your VPS runs on, log into the Client Portal and open a ticket. Our team will check and help you plan the move if needed.