How to Enable Nested Virtualization Manually
If you’re a virtualization enthusiast or a developer looking to experiment with virtual machines inside other virtual machines, you’ll need to enable nested virtualization. Nested virtualization allows you to run a hypervisor inside a virtual machine, giving you more flexibility and control over your virtual environment.
Enabling nested virtualization manually can be a bit tricky, but with the right steps, you’ll be up and running in no time. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of enabling nested virtualization on your system.
Check If Your Processor Supports Nested Virtualization
Before you can enable nested virtualization, you’ll need to make sure that your processor supports this feature. Not all processors do, so it’s important to check before proceeding.
You can check if your processor supports nested virtualization by running a simple command in the terminal. Open a terminal window and type the following command:
cat /sys/module/kvm_intel/parameters/nested
If the output is “Y,” then your processor supports nested virtualization. If the output is “N,” then unfortunately, your processor does not support this feature.
Enable Nested Virtualization in KVM
Assuming your processor supports nested virtualization, the next step is to enable it in KVM. To do this, you’ll need to edit the KVM configuration file.
Open the KVM configuration file in a text editor by running the following command:
sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/qemu-system-x86.conf
Add the following line to the configuration file:
options kvm_intel nested=1
Save and close the file, then reload the KVM module by running the command:
sudo modprobe kvm_intel
Once you’ve completed these steps, nested virtualization should be enabled in KVM.
Enable Nested Virtualization in VirtualBox
If you’re using VirtualBox for your virtualization needs, you can also enable nested virtualization in this software.
First, shut down any running virtual machines in VirtualBox.
Next, open a terminal window and run the following command:
VBoxManage modifyvm --nested-hw-virt on
Replace
Conclusion
Enabling nested virtualization manually can open up a world of possibilities for your virtual environment. Whether you’re testing new software or experimenting with different configurations, nested virtualization gives you the flexibility you need.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily enable nested virtualization on your system and start exploring all that this feature has to offer.