QEMU 10.0 is now available as the latest major update to the popular open-source emulation and virtualization software. This release represents a significant step forward for those who need to emulate recent hardware and manage virtual machines in an advanced way, incorporating a host of new features ranging from improved performance to support for new architectures and devices.
The user and developer community has welcomed this new iteration of QEMU, as it introduces numerous optimizations and functionalities Designed for both development and production environments. The project leaders have opted to expand their horizons, including improved support for next-generation CPUs, more advanced graphics devices, and expanded storage and memory management capabilities.
New features and key improvements in QEMU 10.0
One of the most notable aspects of QEMU 10.0 is the Faster emulation of string instructions on x86 architecturesThis allows host systems to execute complex memory operations significantly more efficiently, resulting in a more responsive user experience for both developers and end users.
New CPU models such as ClearwaterForest and SierraForest-v2 have been added, allowing virtualization of systems requiring modern Intel processors.This is especially useful for those testing software that needs to be prepared for the latest generations of hardware, facilitating realistic testing and deployment without the need for physical equipment.
The virtio-scsi device has received full multiqueue support (true multiqueue), which contributes to better management and scalability in input/output (I/O) operations, especially in servers and environments where the volume of data is high.
QEMU 10.0 adds graphics and support for Apple devices
QEMU 10.0 introduce Two new graphics devices: apple-gfx-pci and apple-gfx-mmio, specifically aimed at providing graphics acceleration to macOS virtual machines. While the first is geared toward x86_64 guests, the second addresses the needs of AArch64 environments.
This allows for a much smoother graphical experience that is closer to real hardware.For professional users and developers working with macOS in virtualized environments, this feature can be crucial.
Extended compatibility on ARM architectures
The new version adds Support for FEAT_AFP, FEAT_RPRES, and FEAT_XS architectural features on ARM CPUsEmulation of Secure EL2 physical and virtual timers is also incorporated, in addition to the ability to model both I2C controllers on Stellaris boards.
Added support for NPCM845 Evaluation and i.MX 8M Plus EVK boards, as well as a new highmem-mmio-size property for the generic 'virt' board, which allows configuring larger PCIe MMIO regions.
Substantial improvements in RISC-V architecture
QEMU 10.0 is no slouch when it comes to RISC-V system emulation. In this release Support for Tenstorrent Ascalon and Xiangshan Nanhu CPUs is added, as well as a generic Microblaze V plate.
Among the specific extensions and improvements, this version Adds support for AIA userspace irqchip_split, the V bit in GDB priv reg, and support for 64-bit addresses in initrdIn addition, features such as sriscv-iommu-sys, support for ssstateen, and new ISA extensions such as svukte are integrated, among other enhancements aimed at more advanced and detailed support for this architecture.
What's new in HPPA and support for large amounts of memory
For HPPA, QEMU architecture introduces the ability to emulate up to 256GB of RAM on 64-bit guest systems, along with support for space record hashing using diagnostic logs, required for 64-bit HP-UX.
Furthermore, Emulation of PCI Guardian Service Processor (Diva GSP/BMC) and Astro LLMIO cards is implemented., and the Artist graphics card can be disabled from the command line. Translation times have also been sped up, and support for SeaBIOS-hppa 18 has been added.
Improvements on s390x, LongArch and PowerPC
Support for S390X is strengthened with the definition of new features and CPU models targeting the 17th generation of mainframes.QEMU 10.0 also enables virtio-mem on this architecture, the option to bypass the IOMMU for PCI devices (improving performance), and full emulation of instructions like PPNO and MCV.
On the LoongArch side, KVM integration brings new features such as virtual extioi, KVM steal time, paravirtualized IPI and CPU hotplug. In addition, a "cpr-transfer" migration mode is introduced for live updates, the ability to manage node status, and emulation of the /proc/cpuinfo file on PowerPC. For a more in-depth look at the latest hardware architectures, see improvements in virtualization platforms.
VFIO, migration and documentation improvements
The VFIO framework receives several updates, such as support for multi-fd migration and compatibility with older ATI GPUs (e.g., X550).. Additionally, a foundation for PCI power management capabilities, improvements to Intel IGD graphics device streaming (for Gen 11 and 12 hardware), more comprehensive property documentation, and a revamped dirty memory tracking engine that now includes VFIO status in dirty-rate calculations are implemented.
The general QEMU documentation has also been revised and expanded., making it easier for users and administrators to adopt the new features.
Other features and download of QEMU 10.0
QEMU 10.0 Adds a new optional parameter handshake-max-seconds to the nbd-server-start command in QMP, thus expanding the control options for those managing network block devices through this interface. Additionally, in error handling, the accuracy of fault reporting has been improved when mapping MMIO regions, aiding in problem identification in virtualized environments.
Those interested can access the complete list of new features and download the source code from the official QEMU websiteFor users who prefer not to compile manually, it's best to wait for the update to become available in the stable repositories of their usual GNU/Linux distribution.
This advancement in virtualization and emulation significantly expands the possibilities for modern architectures, advanced graphics devices, and demanding work environments, enabling more comprehensive, versatile software that is ready for the current and future needs of the open-source and professional ecosystem.
