{
  "id": 4552471,
  "title": "Multikernel Linux Tree Released: Runs Multiple Kernels On Bare Metal Without a Hypervisor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/multikernel-linux-tree-released-runs-multiple-kernels-on-bare-metal",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-31T02:26:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Slashdot",
    "slug": "slashdot",
    "url": "https://linux.slashdot.org/story/26/08/31/0222236/multikernel-linux-tree-released-runs-multiple-kernels-on-bare-metal-without-a-hypervisor"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Multikernel Technologies has unveiled mklinux v7.0-mk2, the initial public release of their innovative multikernel Linux tree. This advanced technology enables a single physical server to operate multiple independent Linux kernels simultaneously, each with its own set of dedicated CPUs and memory. Consequently, a single server could run a database on one kernel while simultaneously executing a GPU training job on another kernel, without any interference between the two. The host kernel, responsible for managing the machine's resources, spins up new kernel instances using Linux's kexec mechanism, granting each instance direct access to hardware resources without the need for a hypervisor. The host kernel manages this system through device tree overlays located in /sys/fs/multikernel/. Moreover, it possesses the capability to redistribute hardware resources among running instances while maintaining system stability. This setup differs significantly from virtual machines (VMs) and containers. While VMs maintain a hypervisor and host kernel between the application and hardware, containers operate without a hypervisor but share a single kernel for all tenants. Multikernel Technologies has only validated support for x86_64 hardware for this release, although they assert that the architecture-specific code is sufficiently modular to facilitate future expansions to other architectures. Currently, the company is offering several products built on this kernel tree, including one tailored for running AI agents in their own kernel with direct GPU access, and another aimed at patching running kernels without disrupting system operation.",
  "summary": "\"Multikernel Technologies has put out mklinux v7.0-mk2, the first public release of the multikernel Linux tree it's been building since last year,\" reports the blog It's FOSS: The basic premise of the project is that one physical server can run several independent Linux kernels side by side, each with its own dedicated CPUs and memory. So, the same box could run a database on one kernel and a GPU…",
  "key_points": [
    "Multikernel Technologies releases mklinux v7.0-mk2, first public multikernel Linux tree.",
    "Host kernel uses kexec to spin up new kernel instances with direct hardware access.",
    "Differentiates from VMs and containers by running multiple independent Linux kernels on bare metal."
  ],
  "editors_take": "This development allows a single physical server to run multiple independent Linux kernels, enabling isolated and interference-free execution of diverse workloads, and potentially changing the way resources are managed and allocated.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}