Ubuntu 17.10 KVM Installation

Ubuntu 17.10 KVM Install

Hi! The Tutorial shows you Step-by-Step How to Install KVM on Ubuntu 17.10 Artful GNU/Linux Desktop/Server.

And KVM for Ubuntu Artful 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.

1. 1. Accessing Shell

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

   

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

   Getting-Started with KVM Virtualization