Ubuntu 17.04 KVM Installation

April 5, 2018 | By the+gnu+linux+evangelist.

Ubuntu 17.04 KVM Install

Hi! The Tutorial shows you Step-by-Step How to Install KVM on Ubuntu 17.04 Zesty GNU/Linux Desktop/Server.

And KVM for Ubuntu Zesty is a full Virtualization Solution for Linux on x86 Hardware containing Virtualization Extensions (Intel VT or AMD-V).

Moreover, KVM consists of a Loadable Kernel Module, kvm.ko, that provides the Core Virtualization Infrastructure and a Processor Specific Module, kvm-intel.ko or kvm-amd.ko.

Using KVM, one can Run Multiple Virtual Machines Running Unmodified Linux or Windows Images. Each Virtual Machine has private Virtualized Hardware: a Network Card, Disk, Graphics Adapter, etc.

Especially relevant: a 64-bit System it’s not required but strongly Recommended.

Finally, the guide includes instructions on How to Getting-Started with QEMU KVM Virtualization on Ubuntu.

Ubuntu 17.04 KVM Installation Guide - Featured
  1. 1. Accessing Shell

    Open a Shell session
    Ctrl+Alt+t on Desktop
    Or Login into Server Shell
    (Press “Enter” to Execute Commands)

    Ubuntu 17.04 KVM Installation Guide - Open Terminal Shell Emulator
  2. 2. Pre-Installation Checks

    Then Check if KVM Can be Installed
    With:

    egrep -c '(vmx|svm)' /proc/cpuinfo

    If in Output > 0 then your Processor support Hardware Virtualization!
    (But on a PC you may have still to enable it on BIOS…)
    Now again, first Install needed Tool with:

    sudo apt install cpu-checker

    And then Verify it:

    kvm-ok

    If it’s Good you will see:

    INFO: /dev/kvm exists
    KVM acceleration can be used
    

    Finally, if the answer is negative you can still use KVM but only in a Slow mode…

  3. 3. Installing KVM

    Now you are Ready to Install KVM on Ubuntu System

    sudo apt update
    sudo apt install qemu qemu-system qemu-kvm libvirt-bin ubuntu-vm-builder bridge-utils

    Following Ubuntu Documentation about KVM related Packages:

    • libvirt-bin provides libvirtd which you need to administer qemu and kvm instances using libvirt
    • qemu & qemu-kvm (kvm in Karmic and earlier) are the backend
    • ubuntu-vm-builder powerful command line tool for building virtual machines
    • bridge-utils provides a bridge from your network to the virtual machines
  4. 4. Adding User to Group

    Next Add User to libvirt Group
    First, you need to Make the Group:

    sudo addgroup libvirtd

    And then Add User with:

    sudo adduser `id -un` libvirtd

    This because only the Users of this Group can Run Virtual Machines.
    Then Relogin to Enable this Setup!

  5. 5. Verifing KVM Installation

    Finally, Test Installation.

    Simply performing:

    virsh list --all

    And in the Output you should find:

    Id    Name                           State
    ----------------------------------------------------

    This because still no VMs has been made.

  6. 6. Starting Libvirt Daemon

    Again to Start Libvirtd Daemon.

    sudo service libvirtd start

    And to Enable it on Boot:

    sudo update-rc.d libvirtd enable
  7. 7. Creating and Running KVM VMs

    KVM Virtualization Getting-Started Guide

    KVM+QEMU+VirtManager VM Quick Start

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