The Cisco IOS XE Software is a modular software image built on a Linux kernel which uses KVM to run multiple virtual images of the IOS so that maintenance can be done without shutting down the router. Cisco is reluctant to use the term "virtualization" but this is evidence of KVM's growth in the embedded space.

Why is this big news? The network is one of the most critical part of IT infrastructure and cisco is the biggest player in the market. The fact that cisco chose KVM, the newest competitor in the hypervisor market, over the more mature and established hypervisors such as VMware and Xen speaks volumes. Add to that, the fact that cisco is implementing kvm in their carrier class routers, the class of routers that are highly critical and can afford the least amount of downtime.