How to Setup KVM: A Step-by-Step Guide
Are you interested in setting up KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) on your system? KVM is a popular open-source virtualization technology that allows you to run multiple virtual machines on a single physical server. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to set up KVM on your Linux system.
Step 1: Check Hardware Virtualization Support
Before you begin the installation process, make sure that your system supports hardware virtualization. You can check this by running the following command in the terminal:
egrep -c '(svm|vmx)' /proc/cpuinfo
If the output is greater than 0, it means that your CPU supports hardware virtualization.
Step 2: Install KVM Packages
Next, you need to install the KVM packages on your system. To do this, run the following command in the terminal:
sudo apt-get install qemu-kvm libvirt-bin ubuntu-vm-builder bridge-utils
This command will install the necessary packages for KVM virtualization on your system.
Step 3: Configure Networking
After installing the KVM packages, you need to configure the networking for your virtual machines. You can do this by creating a bridge interface and adding your physical network interface to it. To set up the bridge interface, run the following command:
sudo brctl addbr br0
Then, add your physical network interface to the bridge:
sudo brctl addif br0 eth0
Make sure to replace eth0 with your actual network interface name. After configuring the bridge interface, you can assign IP addresses to your virtual machines using DHCP or static configurations.
Step 4: Create Virtual Machines
Once the networking is set up, you can start creating virtual machines using KVM. You can use tools like virsh or virt-manager to manage your virtual machines. To create a new virtual machine, you can use the following command:
virt-install --name=myvm --ram=2048 --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/myvm.img,size=20 --vcpus=2 --os-variant=ubuntu18.04 --graphics vnc --network bridge:br0
Make sure to adjust the parameters according to your requirements, such as the RAM size, disk size, number of virtual CPUs, OS variant, and network bridge.
Step 5: Start and Manage Virtual Machines
After creating the virtual machines, you can start and manage them using the virsh command-line tool or the virt-manager graphical user interface. You can start a virtual machine by running the following command:
virsh start myvm
You can also stop, restart, or delete virtual machines using the virsh tool. Make sure to save your work before stopping or deleting a virtual machine to avoid data loss.
Conclusion
Setting up KVM on your system can open up a world of possibilities for virtualization and server management. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create and manage virtual machines efficiently and effectively. Remember to regularly update your KVM packages and keep your virtual machines secure to ensure smooth operation.