What hypervisor does TrueNAS use?

TrueNAS utilizes different hypervisors depending on the specific version of the software. TrueNAS SCALE employs KVM, while TrueNAS CORE uses bhyve. This allows both versions of TrueNAS to host virtual machines directly within their respective environments.

TrueNAS offers two primary editions, each leveraging a hypervisor best suited for its underlying operating system:

• TrueNAS CORE: This version is built on FreeBSD. As such, it leverages bhyve, a native hypervisor developed for FreeBSD, to provide virtualization capabilities.
• TrueNAS SCALE: This edition is based on Debian Linux. Consequently, it uses KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine), a well-established and widely adopted virtualization solution for Linux systems.

This distinction is crucial for users to understand which hypervisor is active based on their chosen TrueNAS platform, as each version offers the ability to run its own virtual machines.

Hypervisor Usage in TrueNAS Versions