How to install KVM on NetBSD

KVM is a virtualization technology that allows users to run multiple virtual machines on top of a host operating system. In this tutorial, we will go through the steps to install KVM on NetBSD.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure your system meets the following prerequisites:

• You have root access or sudo privileges on your NetBSD installation.
• You have a 64-bit processor that supports virtualization.
• You have at least 4GB of RAM on your system.

Installation

Step 1: Install prerequisites

First, we need to install the required packages:

pkg_add bash wget nano bison gawk gcc pkgconf glib2 zlib libvirt qemu

Step 2: Load kernel modules

Next, we need to load some kernel modules:

modload vmm
modload nmdm
modload if_bridge

You may want to add these to your /etc/rc.conf to have them load automatically on reboot.

Step 3: Configure network

We will now set up a network bridge that will allow our virtual machines to communicate with the outside world. Edit the /etc/ifconfig.bridge0 file and add the following configuration:

create
up

Next, edit the /etc/ifconfig.em0 file and add the following configuration:

up
bridgestp on

Finally, restart the networking service:

rcctl restart netstart

Step 4: Configure libvirt

We need to configure libvirt to use the network bridge we just set up. Edit the /usr/pkg/etc/libvirt/qemu/networks/default.xml file and replace the <bridge name="virbr0"/> line with the following:

<bridge name="bridge0"/>

Also, edit /usr/pkg/etc/libvirt/libvirtd.conf and uncomment the following line:

unix_sock_group = "wheel"

Restart the libvirt service:

rcctl restart libvirtd

Step 5: Test KVM

We are now ready to test KVM. Download a NetBSD installation ISO from the official website and save it to your home directory. Then, run the following command to create a new virtual machine:

virt-install --name netbsd-demo --ram 2048 --vcpus 2 \
--disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/netbsd-demo.qcow2,size=10 \
--network bridge=bridge0 --graphics vnc,listen=0.0.0.0,port=5900 \
--console pty,target_type=serial

Replace netbsd-demo with a name of your choice, and adjust the RAM, CPU, and disk size to your liking.

Once the virtual machine is created, you can connect to it using a VNC client on your host machine. The VNC port is 5900, and the default password is admin.

Congratulations, you have successfully installed KVM on NetBSD! You can now create and run virtual machines on your system.

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!

Alternatively, for the best virtual desktop, try Shells!