KVM (Kernel Virtual Machine) is a free and open-source virtualization technology that allows you to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a Linux machine. In this tutorial, you will learn how to install KVM on the latest version of Linux Mint.
Before you begin, make sure that your Linux Mint system meets the following prerequisites:
To install KVM and QEMU on Linux Mint, the first step is to update the package list by running the following command:
$ sudo apt-get update
Once the update is complete, you can install KVM and QEMU by running the following command:
$ sudo apt-get install qemu-kvm libvirt-daemon-system libvirt-clients bridge-utils
After the installation is complete, you can verify that KVM is working by running the following command:
$ kvm-ok
If everything is working correctly, you should see the following output:
INFO: /dev/kvm exists
KVM acceleration can be used
By default, KVM creates a virtual network called virbr0. You can use this network to connect your virtual machines to the Internet.
To configure networking, you need to create a bridge between your physical network interface and the virtual network. To do this, you need to edit the /etc/network/interfaces file by running the following command:
$ sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces
Add the following lines at the end of the file:
# Bridge setup
auto br0
iface br0 inet dhcp
bridge_ports eno1 # Replace eno1 with your physical network interface name
Save and close the file.
Next, restart the networking service by running the following command:
$ sudo service networking restart
Now that KVM is installed and configured, you can create your first virtual machine.
You can use virt-manager, a graphical user interface tool, to create and manage virtual machines. To install virt-manager, run the following command:
$ sudo apt-get install virt-manager
Once installed, open virt-manager by running the following command:
$ sudo virt-manager
Click on "File" and then "New Virtual Machine" to create a new virtual machine.
Follow the wizard to configure the virtual machine. You will need to provide the installation media (an ISO image file) and configure the virtual machine’s hardware settings.
Click "Finish" to create the virtual machine.
In this tutorial, you learned how to install KVM on the latest version of Linux Mint. You also learned how to configure networking and create a new virtual machine using virt-manager.
If you want to self-host in an easy, hands free way, need an external IP address, or simply want your data in your own hands, give IPv6.rs a try!
