This guide will cover the how to install KVM on Linux systems. We will install KVM and its management tools on CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian, SLES, Rocky, AlmaLinux, and Arch-based systems. This list of Linux systems should cover mostly used Linux servers in an enterprise setup.
KVM (for Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware containing virtualization extensions (Intel VT or AMD-V).
It consists of a loadable kernel module, kvm.ko, that provides the core virtualization infrastructure and a processor specific module, kvm-intel.ko or kvm-amd.ko. It has received huge adoption on enterprise over the last few years.
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Before installing KVM, it is important to validate whether your CPU supports hardware virtualization.
### For Intel-based processors ###
grep -E --color 'vmx' /proc/cpuinfo
### For AMD-based processors ###
grep -E --color 'svm' /proc/cpuinfoIf the output contains “vmx” or “svm,” it means your CPU supports hardware virtualization.
Install KVM on CentOS Stream / Rocky / Alma 8+
Run the following commands to install KVM hypervisor on these systems.
sudo dnf install -y libvirt qemu-kvm virt-install virt-top libguestfs-tools
sudo dnf -y install epel-release && sudo dnf -y install bridge-utils
sudo dnf -y install virt-viewer virt-managerStart and enable the service.
sudo systemctl enable --now libvirtdInstall KVM on CentOS 7 / RHEL 7
We’ll install KVM and QEMU plus some tools like libguestfs-tools and virt-top which comes in handy when administering KVM. Install them as below:
sudo yum -y install epel-release
sudo yum -y install gcc libvirt libvirt-devel qemu-kvm virt-install virt-top libguestfs-tools bridge-utilsConfirm that the kernel modules are loaded:
$ sudo lsmod | grep kvm
kvm_intel 147785 0
kvm 464964 1 kvm_intelStart and enable libvirtd service:
sudo systemctl start libvirtd
sudo systemctl enable libvirtdInstall KVM on Fedora
For KVM check out the guide below:
Install KVM on Ubuntu
For the Ubuntu system, all packages required to run KVM are available on official upstream repositories. Install them using the commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt -y install qemu-kvm libvirt-dev bridge-utils libvirt-daemon-system \
libvirt-daemon virtinst bridge-utils libosinfo-bin libguestfs-tools virt-topLoad and enable the modulevhost-net.
sudo modprobe vhost_net
sudo lsmod | grep vhost
echo "vhost_net" | sudo tee -a /etc/modulesInstall KVM on Debian
Install libvirt daemon, qemu and other KVM related tools using the commands.
sudo apt -y install libvirt-daemon libvirt-dev libosinfo-bin libguestfs-tools libvirt-daemon-system qemu-kvm virtinst bridge-utils virt-topLoad KVM kernel module
$ sudo modprobe vhost_net
$ sudo lsmod | grep vhost
vhost_net 20480 0
tun 28672 1 vhost_net
vhost 45056 1 vhost_net
macvtap 24576 1 vhost_net
$ echo "vhost_net" | sudo tee -a /etc/modulesInstall KVM on Arch Linux / Manjaro
For Arch Linux and its derivatives, I already wrote an article which is available on the link below.
Install KVM on SLES / openSUSE
The CPU on the system you’re using should have Intel VT or AMD-V function. The install required packages using:
sudo zypper -n install qemu-kvm guestfs-tools virt-top libvirt virt-install libguestfs0 bridge-utilsEnsure the kernel module required to virtualize is on:
$ sudo lsmod | grep kvm kvm_intel 147785 0 kvm 464964 1 kvm_intel
Start and enable kvm service:
sudo systemctl start libvirtd && sudo systemctl enable libvirtdInstall KVM on RHEL 8 / RHEL 9
Ensure your system is registered:
sudo subscription-manager register --auto-attachInstall KVM and all required tools.
sudo dnf install -y libvirt qemu-kvm virt-install \
virt-top libguestfs-toolsIf you are on a Desktop Environment, install virt-manager
sudo dnf -y install virt-manager virt-viewerFor bridge-utils utility installation run the commands below.
# RHEL 9
sudo subscription-manager repos \
--enable codeready-builder-for-rhel-9-$(arch)-rpms
sudo dnf install \
https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-9.noarch.rpm
sudo dnf -y install bridge-utils
# RHEL 8
sudo subscription-manager repos \
--enable codeready-builder-for-rhel-8-$(arch)-rpms
sudo dnf install \
https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-8.noarch.rpm
sudo dnf -y install bridge-utilsHow To Manage KVM hypervisor
Now that you have KVM installed with basic tools you need to get started, so what next?. I have a virsh cheat sheet which you can start with:
Bridge configuration on Linux is also a crucial part when working on KVM, an article for this is also available.
If you want to generate KVM VM templates, refer to:
To Automate deployment of VMs on KVM, check:
Further reading:
Hi there, there is a typo in installation in Debian: smod –> lsmod
Cheers and thanks,
A.
Thanks for the comment.. We’ve updated the article.