Booting a Linux Kernel Under Bhyve on ARMv7

ARM processors are more energy efficient when compared to their older and more powerful x86 counterparts. As such, more complex systems (e.g., servers) would greatly benefit from using them should they become powerful enough to be able to handle complex tasks. One such task, that is an essential tool for system administrators, is the ability to run virtual machines in order to provide secure and isolated environments for certain applications. With ARM-powered servers being under development for years already, anticipating the needs of system administrators and adding relevant features to the operating system may prove critical to increase the user base. Linux is by far the most successful free operating system, so any virtualization mechanism will need to be able to run a virtual machine with Linux before it may be considered viable for use in large-scale deployments. Consequently, bhyve, FreeBSD’s virtual machine manager requires a proof of concept that runs a Linux-based operating system.