AWS Nested Virtualization Expands to More Intel Instances and GovCloud
AWS nested virtualization now supports more Intel instance types and US GovCloud regions.
Editorial summary and commentary based on the original from AWS What's New. Read the original
What's new
AWS has broadened support for nested virtualization. This feature, which allows running hypervisors like KVM or Hyper-V within EC2 instances, is now available on a wider range of Intel-based EC2 instances, including the C7i, R7i, M7i, C8id, R8id, M8id, C7i-flex, M7i-flex, I7i, C8i-flex, R8i-flex, M8i-flex, and X8i families. Previously, support was limited to C8i, M8i, and R8i instances. Additionally, nested virtualization is now accessible in the US GovCloud (US-East) and US GovCloud (US-West) regions, in addition to all commercial AWS regions.
Why it matters
This expansion is significant for several reasons. For engineers working with specialized environments, the increased instance availability means more options for performance and cost optimization when building nested setups. The addition of GovCloud regions is crucial for government contractors and agencies needing to run sensitive workloads that require isolated, compliant environments. Use cases like mobile app emulation, automotive simulation, or running WSL on Windows instances become more accessible and performant for a broader set of AWS users, particularly those in regulated sectors.
Source (AWS What's New): Nested virtualization is now available on additional Intel platforms and US Gov Cloud regions