Step by Step Guide to Installing a Hypervisor

Step by Step Guide to Installing a Hypervisor post thumbnail image

This guide will be based on installing a Hypervisor on Debian / Ubuntu distro.

First update your system with the following command before the installation:

Update

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Start Installing a Hypervisor

Next you need to install the required packages:

 sudo apt install qemu-kvm libvirt-daemon-system libvirt-clients bridge-utils

Required services for Installing a Hypervisor

Next enable start libvirtd services:

sudo systemctl enable --now libvirtd
sudo systemctl start libvirtd

Add user

Then you need to add your user to the libvirt group:

sudo usermod -aG libvirt $USER

After Installing a Hypervisor, Install Virt-Manager

Install Virt-Manager because you’ll use for a graphical interface create VM’s:

sudo apt install virt-manager

Install Spice

Use SPICE so your VM’s have better performance on your Linux virtual machines:

sudo apt install spice-vdagent spice-client-gtk

Reboot after Installing a Hypervisor and Virt-Manager

Restart your computer to apply the group changes and service setups.

  • Launch Virt-Manager.
  • Click “New VM” in Virt-Manager to begin setting up a virtual machine using KVM and QEMU.

To create virtual machines (VMs) with Virt-Manager after the above installation, start by launching Virt-Manager from your applications menu. Ensure that your hypervisor, such as QEMU with KVM, is already installed and configured correctly. Click on the “Create a new virtual machine” button to begin. You’ll be prompted to select the installation media for your guest operating system, which can be an ISO file, physical media, or a network install.

Next, specify the operating system type and version for optimal configuration. Assign the desired amount of memory (RAM) and CPU cores to the VM based on your system’s resources. Set up the virtual storage, choosing between creating a new disk image or using an existing one.

Configure SPICE for better performance of your Hypervisor

When you are setting up a Virtual Machine, enable SPICE in display settings for smoother graphics and input sharing.

After that, configure network settings by selecting a network interface, usually bridged or NAT, to provide internet access to the VM. Once all parameters are set, click “Finish” to create the VM. You can now start the virtual machine and proceed with the operating system installation, just as you would on a physical machine.

You should now have a working Hypervisor to create Virtual Machines.

Refer to my earlier post for basic info.

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