DataPower Gateway for KVM

In this blog, we will learn about DataPower Gateway for KVM.

IBM DataPower Gets a Flexibility Boost with KVM Hypervisor Support

IBM has expanded the deployment flexibility of IBM DataPower Gateway 10.6.5 by adding support for the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) hypervisor on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
This enhancement provides a streamlined, open-source virtualization option that allows enterprises to efficiently deploy and manage secure gateway workloads on Linux infrastructure.

What’s New in DataPower 10.6.5?

With version 10.6.5, IBM introduced DataPower Gateway for KVM, allowing users to run the appliance as a Kernel-based Virtual Machine on supported 64-bit Linux systems.

The deployment process leverages a prebuilt archive image file (.img.gz), making setup fast and repeatable.

Deployment Methods

DataPower for KVM can be deployed using either:

• Cockpit Web Console:
  A GUI-based approach for system administrators using Red Hat’s web interface. It simplifies setup with visual configuration and monitoring tools.
• Virt-install Command:
  A CLI-based method is ideal for automation and scripting. Provides flexibility for advanced users integrating DataPower into automated Linux environments.

Regardless of method, administrators must decompress the KVM package before deployment.

Why This Matters?

This move reinforces IBM’s commitment to open infrastructure integration and cost-efficient virtualization.
By embracing, IBM gives organizations the freedom to deploy DataPower Gateways in environments that align with Red Hat and Linux-native ecosystems — enabling hybrid, edge, or on-prem strategies without relying on proprietary hypervisors.

Use Cases

• Enterprises are modernizing integration gateways on Linux-based infrastructure.
• Developers and testers running lightweight DataPower instances in isolated KVM environments.
• Organizations are reducing costs by replacing proprietary hypervisors with native Linux virtualization.

Final Thoughts

IBM’s addition of KVM-based deployment marks a pivotal step toward open, flexible virtualization strategies.
For organizations seeking Linux-native efficiency, DataPower on KVM offers a blend of performance, scalability, and cost savings, backed by IBM’s enterprise-grade reliability.

Whether through Cockpit GUI or virt-install CLI, this feature empowers teams to deploy secure gateways faster, maintain consistency across environments, and align with open hybrid cloud architectures.