1. Install Packages

Check system is capable of running KVM by running kvm-ok

$ apt-get install qemu-kvm qemu-system libvirt-bin bridge-utils virt-manager -y

Create KVM/Qemu Hard Disk File

$ qemu-img create -f raw <name>.img <Size>

## Example
$ qemu-img create -f raw ubuntu14-HD.img 10G
  • Then copy the HD file to /var/lib/libvirt/images/

Launch VM with virt-install

virt-install --name spinnaker \
--ram 11096 \
--vcpus=4 \
--os-type linux \
--os-variant=ubuntutrusty \
--accelerate \
--nographics -v  \
--disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/ubuntu14-HD.img,size=8 \
--extra-args "console=ttyS0" \
--location /opt/ubuntu14.iso --force \
--network bridge:virbr0

Explanation

  • Create bridge virbr0 if it is necessary
  • To know what are --os-variant available, run virt-install --os-variant list
  • Specify --location and --disk locations
  • Specify --ram (By default in MBs)
  • Other Options
    • --boot hd Boot from HD file
    • --force Force to use existing HD that is used by another VM
    • --debug verbose
    • --description Description of VM

Connect to console

  • virsh list --all - : List VMs
  • virsh console <name> - : Connect to tty of the VM

    • Note down the IP of the VM once you connect to tty. we can ssh

      NOTE: If console/tty is already being used or active, you can reconnect to that tty by using --extra-args='console=ttyS0' option

Export VM as .qcow2

$ qemu-img convert -f raw -O qcow2 <source .img file> <destination .qcow2 file>

## Example
$ qemu-img convert -f raw -O qcow2 /var/lib/libvirt/images/ubuntu14-HD.img /home/opsmx/spinnaker.qcow2

Commands CheatSheet

CommandDescription
virsh list --allShows all VMs
virsh console <VM name>Connect to tty of the VM (If tty is enables)
virsh shutdown <VM name>Shutdown the VM
vish destroy <VM name>Destroys VM (Won’t deletes the VM/ Similar to shutdown)
vish undefine <VM name>Deletes the VM (Run after destroy)
virsh net-listList the available networks
virsh net-edit <net name>Edit the network
virt-install --os-variant listLists OS variants