Host virtual machines on a linux desktop

• Host
  • Fedora
  • Ubuntu
• Guest
  • Fedora
  • Ubuntu
  • Windows
• Reference

Host

Install virt-manager and cockpit machines. Either can be used to manage and create virtual machines.

Fedora

sudo dnf install @virtualization cockpit cockpit-machines cockpit-pcp
sudo systemctl enable --now cockpit.socket

Ubuntu

sudo apt-get install virt-manager cockpit cockpit-machines cockpit-pcp

Add your user to the libvirt and kvm groups to avoid being asked to enter your password every time you open the management app.

sudo usermod -a -G libvirt $(whoami)
sudo usermod -a -G kvm $(whoami)

Guest

Note: the spice-vdagent is only for virtual machines with GUIs. For text only servers ssh into them directly from your host terminal.

Retrieve the IP address to remote into from the show virtual hardware details or by running ip addr show from within the virt manager terminal window.

Fedora

sudo dnf install spice-vdagent
sudo systemctl start spice-vdagent

Ubuntu

sudo apt install spice-agent
sudo systemctl start spice-vdagent

Windows

Download windows guest binaries from https://www.spice-space.org/download.html.

Reference

• https://fedoramagazine.org/full-virtualization-system-on-fedora-workstation-30/
• https://superuser.com/questions/548433/how-do-i-prevent-virt-manager-from-asking-for-the-root-password
• https://help.ubuntu.com/community/KVM/VirtManager