# How to run Firecracker without KVM on cloud VMs

DevFeed: [How to run Firecracker without KVM on cloud VMs](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/how-to-run-firecracker-without-kvm-on-cloud-vms-26643.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.alexellis.io/how-to-run-firecracker-without-kvm-on-regular-cloud-vms/>)

Author: Alex Ellis

Published: 2025-02-12T09:05:21Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Alex Ellis' Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/alex-ellis-blog.md>)

Topics: [Firecracker](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/firecracker.md>), [virtualization](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/virtualization.md>), [virtual machines](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/virtual-machines.md>), [Cloud](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cloud.md>), [Amazon Web Services](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/aws.md>), [Amazon EC2](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/amazon-ec2.md>)

Tags: [aws](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/aws.md>), [bare-metal](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/bare-metal.md>), [cloud](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cloud.md>), [ec2](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ec2.md>), [firecracker](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/firecracker.md>), [github-actions](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/github-actions.md>), [kvm](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/kvm.md>), [qemu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/qemu.md>), [virtual-machines](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/virtual-machines.md>), [virtualization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/virtualization.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial introduces a way to run microVMs on cloud virtual machines without KVM, using the PVM virtualization framework. It explains the limitations of nested virtualization and compares the cost of AWS bare-metal EC2 with alternatives.

## Source excerpt

MicroVMs need bare-metal or nested virtualisation with /dev/kvm. But what if that's not available? The PVM virtualisation framework may be the answer.