How to install kvm hypervisor

How to Install KVM Hypervisor

KVM, or Kernel-based Virtual Machine, is an open-source virtualization technology that allows users to run multiple virtual machines on a single physical server. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing KVM hypervisor on your system.

Step 1: Check Hardware and Software Requirements

Before you begin the installation process, make sure your system meets the following requirements:

64-bit CPU with hardware virtualization support
Linux operating system (such as Ubuntu, CentOS, or Debian)
Minimum 2 GB of RAM
At least 10 GB of free disk space

Step 2: Install KVM Packages

First, update the package index on your system by running the following command:

sudo apt update

Once the package index is updated, install the KVM packages by running the following command:

sudo apt install qemu-kvm libvirt-bin bridge-utils

After the installation is complete, start the libvirt service by running the following command:

sudo systemctl start libvirtd

Enable the libvirt service to start on boot by running the following command:

sudo systemctl enable libvirtd

Step 3: Configure Networking for KVM

To configure networking for KVM, create a bridge interface for virtual machines to connect to the network. Edit the network configuration file by running the following command:

sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces

Add the following lines to the configuration file:

auto br0
iface br0 inet dhcp
  bridge_ports enp0s3
  bridge_stp off
  bridge_fd 0
  bridge_maxwait 0

Replace enp0s3 with the name of your physical network interface. Save and exit the file.

Step 4: Create a Virtual Machine

Now that KVM is installed and configured, you can create a virtual machine. Use the following command to create a new virtual machine:

virt-install --name=myVM --memory=2048 --vcpus=2 --disk size=10 --cdrom=/path/to/iso --os-variant=ubuntu18.04 --network bridge=br0

Replace myVM with the name of your virtual machine, /path/to/iso with the path to your ISO file, and ubuntu18.04 with the appropriate OS variant. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should now have a working KVM hypervisor on your system. You can create and manage virtual machines easily using the KVM technology. Enjoy virtualizing!

How to install kvm hypervisor