Difference between revisions of "LinuxVirtualization"

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KVM & QEMU are built into the Linux kernel, making it the most efficient method of virtualization on a Linux host machine!  Usage of KVM & QEMU are for more advanced users, as unlike VirtualBox, which has a user-friendly Graphical User Interface(GUI), KVM & QEMU don't automatically come with a graphical interface, and instead is used from the command line, most of the time, to create and manage virtual machines.  There are numerous add-on software tools available for free to make it easier to create and manage VM's using KVM & QEMU, most notably "Virt-Manager", which provides a nice graphical interface to the KVM & QEMU tools.  These tools require advanced knowledge of Linux networking in order to create and manage "bridged networks" and "NAT'd Networking".
 
KVM & QEMU are built into the Linux kernel, making it the most efficient method of virtualization on a Linux host machine!  Usage of KVM & QEMU are for more advanced users, as unlike VirtualBox, which has a user-friendly Graphical User Interface(GUI), KVM & QEMU don't automatically come with a graphical interface, and instead is used from the command line, most of the time, to create and manage virtual machines.  There are numerous add-on software tools available for free to make it easier to create and manage VM's using KVM & QEMU, most notably "Virt-Manager", which provides a nice graphical interface to the KVM & QEMU tools.  These tools require advanced knowledge of Linux networking in order to create and manage "bridged networks" and "NAT'd Networking".
 
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=== '''Before installing virtualization software, or any software on any Linux distribution, it's best practice to first '''ALWAYS''' update the local cache of available software packages from the configured software repositories.  In the case of Fedora Linux, here is an example of the command, using the current "DNF" software package management tools, instead of the previous old RPM tools we used to use on RPM packages.''' ===
 +
<pre style="color:blue">
 +
[jamie@server.dawgland.com:~]$ sudo dnf check-update --refresh
 +
Copr repo for PyCharm owned by phracek          3.0 kB/s | 2.1 kB    00:00   
 +
Fedora 40 - x86_64                              57 kB/s |  29 kB    00:00   
 +
Fedora 40 openh264 (From Cisco) - x86_64        3.3 kB/s | 989  B    00:00   
 +
Fedora 40 - x86_64 - Updates                    81 kB/s |  28 kB    00:00   
 +
google-chrome                                  4.8 kB/s | 1.3 kB    00:00   
 +
RPM Fusion for Fedora 40 - Nonfree - NVIDIA Dri 9.1 kB/s | 6.6 kB    00:00   
 +
RPM Fusion for Fedora 40 - Nonfree - Steam      12 kB/s | 6.4 kB    00:00   
 +
 +
ImageMagick.x86_64                                1:7.1.1.47-1.fc40    updates
 +
ImageMagick-libs.x86_64                            1:7.1.1.47-1.fc40    updates
 +
LibRaw.x86_64                                      0.21.4-1.fc40        updates
 +
NetworkManager.x86_64                              1:1.46.6-1.fc40      updates
 +
 +
.
 +
.
 +
.
 +
</pre>
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<br /><br />
 +
 
The easiest way to install all of the required software tools, including the optional ones, which I recommend, is a one-liner command line command, as shown here:
 
The easiest way to install all of the required software tools, including the optional ones, which I recommend, is a one-liner command line command, as shown here:
 
<pre style="color:blue">
 
<pre style="color:blue">
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Often times, some of the virtualization software tools are already installed by default on your system, which the above command will find and not re-install if already installed.  In my case, some of the tools were installed, but many were not, as seen in this scroll-back of my most recent installation of the entire virtualization tools package.   
+
Often times, some of the virtualization software tools are already installed by default on your system, which the above command will find and not re-install if already installed.  In my case, in which I was already starting with a new fresh installation of Fedora Linux 42 Desktop edition on my new Dell Laptop, some of the tools were installed, but many were not, as seen in this scroll-back of my most recent installation of the entire virtualization tools package.   
 
<pre style="color:blue">
 
<pre style="color:blue">
 
jamie@dell16fc42:~$ sudo dnf group install --with-optional virtualization
 
jamie@dell16fc42:~$ sudo dnf group install --with-optional virtualization

Latest revision as of 21:22, 15 August 2025

Linux Virtualization - Using Linux to Host Other Operating Systems on Top of Linux!



Linux is such a powerful operating system that is already has virtualization built into the Linux Kernel! This makes setting up virtualization on a Linux machine very simple, and easy to setup. Even the commercial virtualization softare often is based on the Linux Kernel, even VMware ESXi and vSphere is based on a heavily modified Linux kernel.

VirtualBox - Oracle's Totally FREE Virtualization Software Tools

There are many options when using Linux to host virtual machines. For beginners, I find that the easiest route is by using the FREE virtualization software tools by Oracle, called VirtualBox. I LOVE VirtualBox, and used it for many years to quickly and easily create virtual macines, not only an a Linux host, but also on Windows and MAC host machines! And yes, it's TOTALLY FREE for all versionks of VirtualBox. I have created hundreds of custom shell command-line scripts over the years to manage over 100 virtusla machines running on top of VirtualBox

Here's an example of a very basic, simple shell script that starts up a Linux VM(Virtual Machine) from the command line, in headless mode: 

#!/usr/bin/bash

# Jamie - 10-03-2020
# FreeIPA_Server1-startvm - Start FreeIPA Server #1 on CentOS 8 in Headless mode
# Now starts the RockyLinux I now have from migrating the original CentOS 8

echo ""
vboxheadless --startvm FreeIPA_Server-1 &
echo "Please stand by while the VM starts up..."
sleep 20
echo ""
echo "The FreeIPA Server takes a LONG time to start up..."
echo ""
echo "Please be patient and stand by..."
echo ""
sleep 90
echo ""
echo "Almost there..."
echo ""
sleep 20
echo ""
echo "The FreeIPA Server VM is now running!"
echo ""



This, like all shell scripts, must have executable permissions in order to run from the command-line. The easiest way to ensure and/or change the permissions of the script file is to use the chmod command, like this: 

[jamie@server.dawgland.com:~$ sudo chmod 755 ansctrl8-StartVM
[jamie@server.dawgland.com:~$



KVM & QEMU - The "Built-In" Virtualization Tools Which are Built Into the Linux Kernel by Default!

KVM & QEMU are built into the Linux kernel, making it the most efficient method of virtualization on a Linux host machine! Usage of KVM & QEMU are for more advanced users, as unlike VirtualBox, which has a user-friendly Graphical User Interface(GUI), KVM & QEMU don't automatically come with a graphical interface, and instead is used from the command line, most of the time, to create and manage virtual machines. There are numerous add-on software tools available for free to make it easier to create and manage VM's using KVM & QEMU, most notably "Virt-Manager", which provides a nice graphical interface to the KVM & QEMU tools. These tools require advanced knowledge of Linux networking in order to create and manage "bridged networks" and "NAT'd Networking".

Before installing virtualization software, or any software on any Linux distribution, it's best practice to first ALWAYS update the local cache of available software packages from the configured software repositories. In the case of Fedora Linux, here is an example of the command, using the current "DNF" software package management tools, instead of the previous old RPM tools we used to use on RPM packages.

[jamie@server.dawgland.com:~]$ sudo dnf check-update --refresh
Copr repo for PyCharm owned by phracek          3.0 kB/s | 2.1 kB     00:00    
Fedora 40 - x86_64                               57 kB/s |  29 kB     00:00    
Fedora 40 openh264 (From Cisco) - x86_64        3.3 kB/s | 989  B     00:00    
Fedora 40 - x86_64 - Updates                     81 kB/s |  28 kB     00:00    
google-chrome                                   4.8 kB/s | 1.3 kB     00:00    
RPM Fusion for Fedora 40 - Nonfree - NVIDIA Dri 9.1 kB/s | 6.6 kB     00:00    
RPM Fusion for Fedora 40 - Nonfree - Steam       12 kB/s | 6.4 kB     00:00    

ImageMagick.x86_64                                 1:7.1.1.47-1.fc40    updates 
ImageMagick-libs.x86_64                            1:7.1.1.47-1.fc40    updates 
LibRaw.x86_64                                      0.21.4-1.fc40        updates 
NetworkManager.x86_64                              1:1.46.6-1.fc40      updates

.
.
.



The easiest way to install all of the required software tools, including the optional ones, which I recommend, is a one-liner command line command, as shown here: 

jamie@dell16fc42:~$ sudo dnf group install --with-optional virtualization



Often times, some of the virtualization software tools are already installed by default on your system, which the above command will find and not re-install if already installed. In my case, in which I was already starting with a new fresh installation of Fedora Linux 42 Desktop edition on my new Dell Laptop, some of the tools were installed, but many were not, as seen in this scroll-back of my most recent installation of the entire virtualization tools package. 

jamie@dell16fc42:~$ sudo dnf group install --with-optional virtualization
Updating and loading repositories:
Repositories loaded.
Package "libvirt-daemon-config-network-11.0.0-2.fc42.x86_64" is already installed.
Package "libvirt-daemon-kvm-11.0.0-2.fc42.x86_64" is already installed.
Package "qemu-kvm-2:9.2.3-1.fc42.x86_64" is already installed.

Package                       Arch     Version                      Repository          Size
Installing group/module packages:
 guestfs-tools                x86_64   1.53.9-1.fc42                updates         31.8 MiB
 python3-libguestfs           x86_64   1:1.55.7-1.fc42              fedora           1.3 MiB
 virt-install                 noarch   5.0.0-2.fc42                 fedora          34.7 KiB
 virt-manager                 noarch   5.0.0-2.fc42                 fedora           3.5 MiB
 virt-top                     x86_64   1.1.2-1.fc42                 fedora           3.6 MiB
 virt-viewer                  x86_64   11.0-15.fc42                 fedora           1.2 MiB
Installing dependencies:
 dhcpcd                       x86_64   10.1.0-2.fc42                fedora         492.1 KiB
 hexedit                      x86_64   1.6-8.fc42                   fedora          77.9 KiB
 hivex-libs                   x86_64   1.3.24-3.fc42                fedora          87.3 KiB
 libburn                      x86_64   1.5.6-6.fc42                 fedora         357.5 KiB
 libconfig                    x86_64   1.7.3-11.fc42                fedora         225.4 KiB
 libguestfs                   x86_64   1:1.55.7-1.fc42              fedora           3.8 MiB
 libguestfs-appliance         x86_64   1:1.55.7-1.fc42              fedora           2.5 MiB
 libisoburn                   x86_64   1.5.6-7.fc42                 fedora           1.1 MiB
 libisofs                     x86_64   1.5.6-6.fc42                 fedora         508.3 KiB
 libldm                       x86_64   0.2.4-16.fc41                fedora         140.7 KiB
 lsscsi                       x86_64   0.32-13.fc42                 fedora         124.8 KiB
 python3-libxml2              x86_64   2.12.10-1.fc42               fedora           1.2 MiB
 supermin                     x86_64   5.3.5-4.fc42                 fedora           2.1 MiB
 syslinux                     x86_64   6.04-0.30.fc42               fedora           1.0 MiB
 syslinux-extlinux            x86_64   6.04-0.30.fc42               fedora         206.1 KiB
 syslinux-extlinux-nonlinux   noarch   6.04-0.30.fc42               fedora         976.7 KiB
 syslinux-nonlinux            noarch   6.04-0.30.fc42               fedora           1.8 MiB
 virt-manager-common          noarch   5.0.0-2.fc42                 fedora           6.2 MiB
 xorriso                      x86_64   1.5.6-7.fc42                 fedora         341.6 KiB
 zerofree                     x86_64   1.1.1-15.fc42                fedora          49.9 KiB
Installing weak dependencies:
 libguestfs-xfs               x86_64   1:1.55.7-1.fc42              fedora           9.0   B
Installing groups:
 Virtualization                                                                             

Transaction Summary:
 Installing:        27 packages

Total size of inbound packages is 16 MiB. Need to download 16 MiB.
After this operation, 65 MiB extra will be used (install 65 MiB, remove 0 B).
Is this ok [y/N]: y
[ 1/27] virt-install-0:5.0.0-2.fc42.noarch          100% |  66.6 KiB/s |  41.3 KiB |  00m01s
[ 2/27] virt-viewer-0:11.0-15.fc42.x86_64           100% | 269.5 KiB/s | 302.1 KiB |  00m01s
[ 3/27] python3-libguestfs-1:1.55.7-1.fc42.x86_64   100% | 474.3 KiB/s | 238.1 KiB |  00m01s
[ 4/27] virt-manager-0:5.0.0-2.fc42.noarch          100% | 426.6 KiB/s | 709.4 KiB |  00m02s
[ 5/27] virt-top-0:1.1.2-1.fc42.x86_64              100% | 669.1 KiB/s |   1.1 MiB |  00m02s
[ 6/27] virt-manager-common-0:5.0.0-2.fc42.noarch   100% | 654.3 KiB/s |   1.2 MiB |  00m02s
[ 7/27] python3-libxml2-0:2.12.10-1.fc42.x86_64     100% | 492.8 KiB/s | 224.7 KiB |  00m00s
[ 8/27] hexedit-0:1.6-8.fc42.x86_64                 100% | 442.9 KiB/s |  42.5 KiB |  00m00s
[ 9/27] hivex-libs-0:1.3.24-3.fc42.x86_64           100% | 360.1 KiB/s |  42.8 KiB |  00m00s
[10/27] libguestfs-1:1.55.7-1.fc42.x86_64           100% | 631.4 KiB/s |   1.1 MiB |  00m02s
[11/27] libconfig-0:1.7.3-11.fc42.x86_64            100% | 344.8 KiB/s |  71.7 KiB |  00m00s
[12/27] xorriso-0:1.5.6-7.fc42.x86_64               100% | 574.5 KiB/s | 321.7 KiB |  00m01s
[13/27] dhcpcd-0:10.1.0-2.fc42.x86_64               100% | 659.3 KiB/s | 236.0 KiB |  00m00s
[14/27] lsscsi-0:0.32-13.fc42.x86_64                100% | 720.8 KiB/s |  65.6 KiB |  00m00s
[15/27] libisoburn-0:1.5.6-7.fc42.x86_64            100% | 684.8 KiB/s | 429.3 KiB |  00m01s
[16/27] supermin-0:5.3.5-4.fc42.x86_64              100% | 733.9 KiB/s | 702.3 KiB |  00m01s
[17/27] syslinux-0:6.04-0.30.fc42.x86_64            100% | 663.6 KiB/s | 568.0 KiB |  00m01s
[18/27] zerofree-0:1.1.1-15.fc42.x86_64             100% | 298.0 KiB/s |  27.7 KiB |  00m00s
[19/27] syslinux-extlinux-0:6.04-0.30.fc42.x86_64   100% | 768.0 KiB/s | 131.3 KiB |  00m00s
[20/27] libburn-0:1.5.6-6.fc42.x86_64               100% | 661.1 KiB/s | 170.6 KiB |  00m00s
[21/27] libisofs-0:1.5.6-6.fc42.x86_64              100% | 641.7 KiB/s | 234.9 KiB |  00m00s
[22/27] syslinux-extlinux-nonlinux-0:6.04-0.30.fc42 100% | 732.6 KiB/s | 394.2 KiB |  00m01s
[23/27] syslinux-nonlinux-0:6.04-0.30.fc42.noarch   100% | 686.0 KiB/s | 597.5 KiB |  00m01s
[24/27] libldm-0:0.2.4-16.fc41.x86_64               100% | 478.7 KiB/s |  56.0 KiB |  00m00s
[25/27] libguestfs-xfs-1:1.55.7-1.fc42.x86_64       100% | 127.7 KiB/s |  14.4 KiB |  00m00s
[26/27] libguestfs-appliance-1:1.55.7-1.fc42.x86_64 100% | 759.8 KiB/s |   2.5 MiB |  00m03s
[27/27] guestfs-tools-0:1.53.9-1.fc42.x86_64        100% |   5.4 MiB/s |   4.5 MiB |  00m01s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[27/27] Total                                       100% |   1.9 MiB/s |  15.9 MiB |  00m08s
Running transaction
[ 1/29] Verify package files                        100% | 341.0   B/s |  27.0   B |  00m00s
[ 2/29] Prepare transaction                         100% |  54.0   B/s |  27.0   B |  00m00s
[ 3/29] Installing syslinux-nonlinux-0:6.04-0.30.fc 100% |  81.4 MiB/s |   1.8 MiB |  00m00s
[ 4/29] Installing syslinux-0:6.04-0.30.fc42.x86_64 100% |  32.7 MiB/s |   1.0 MiB |  00m00s
[ 5/29] Installing hivex-libs-0:1.3.24-3.fc42.x86_6 100% |  21.7 MiB/s |  88.7 KiB |  00m00s
[ 6/29] Installing syslinux-extlinux-nonlinux-0:6.0 100% |  96.2 MiB/s | 985.2 KiB |  00m00s
[ 7/29] Installing syslinux-extlinux-0:6.04-0.30.fc 100% |   7.2 MiB/s | 207.0 KiB |  00m00s
[ 8/29] Installing libldm-0:0.2.4-16.fc41.x86_64    100% |   4.1 MiB/s | 142.5 KiB |  00m00s
[ 9/29] Installing libisofs-0:1.5.6-6.fc42.x86_64   100% |  71.2 MiB/s | 510.0 KiB |  00m00s
[10/29] Installing libburn-0:1.5.6-6.fc42.x86_64    100% |  70.1 MiB/s | 359.1 KiB |  00m00s
[11/29] Installing libisoburn-0:1.5.6-7.fc42.x86_64 100% | 108.4 MiB/s |   1.1 MiB |  00m00s
[12/29] Installing xorriso-0:1.5.6-7.fc42.x86_64    100% |   6.9 MiB/s | 344.3 KiB |  00m00s
[13/29] Installing zerofree-0:1.1.1-15.fc42.x86_64  100% |   1.7 MiB/s |  51.7 KiB |  00m00s
[14/29] Installing supermin-0:5.3.5-4.fc42.x86_64   100% |  61.4 MiB/s |   2.1 MiB |  00m00s
[15/29] Installing lsscsi-0:0.32-13.fc42.x86_64     100% |   1.4 MiB/s | 126.6 KiB |  00m00s
[16/29] Installing dhcpcd-0:10.1.0-2.fc42.x86_64    100% |   6.6 MiB/s | 496.4 KiB |  00m00s
[17/29] Installing libguestfs-appliance-1:1.55.7-1. 100% | 204.6 MiB/s |   2.5 MiB |  00m00s
[18/29] Installing libconfig-0:1.7.3-11.fc42.x86_64 100% |  37.1 MiB/s | 227.6 KiB |  00m00s
[19/29] Installing hexedit-0:1.6-8.fc42.x86_64      100% |   2.6 MiB/s |  79.3 KiB |  00m00s
[20/29] Installing libguestfs-1:1.55.7-1.fc42.x86_6 100% |  63.6 MiB/s |   3.8 MiB |  00m00s
[21/29] Installing python3-libxml2-0:2.12.10-1.fc42 100% | 133.4 MiB/s |   1.2 MiB |  00m00s
[22/29] Installing virt-manager-common-0:5.0.0-2.fc 100% |  88.7 MiB/s |   6.3 MiB |  00m00s
[23/29] Installing virt-install-0:5.0.0-2.fc42.noar 100% |   1.6 MiB/s |  36.1 KiB |  00m00s
[24/29] Installing virt-manager-0:5.0.0-2.fc42.noar 100% |  63.5 MiB/s |   3.6 MiB |  00m00s
[25/29] Installing python3-libguestfs-1:1.55.7-1.fc 100% |  98.6 MiB/s |   1.3 MiB |  00m00s
[26/29] Installing guestfs-tools-0:1.53.9-1.fc42.x8 100% | 241.2 MiB/s |  31.8 MiB |  00m00s
[27/29] Installing libguestfs-xfs-1:1.55.7-1.fc42.x 100% | 144.5 KiB/s | 296.0   B |  00m00s
[28/29] Installing virt-top-0:1.1.2-1.fc42.x86_64   100% |  91.0 MiB/s |   3.6 MiB |  00m00s
[29/29] Installing virt-viewer-0:11.0-15.fc42.x86_6 100% | 424.4 KiB/s |   1.2 MiB |  00m03s
Complete!
jamie@dell16fc42:~$



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