Re: kvm/qemu

[George at Clug <Clug@goproject.info>]

On Wednesday, 08-01-2025 at 07:15 Roy J. Tellason, Sr. wrote:
> These packages were pointed out to me a while back as a possible alternative to virtualbox.  While doing a bit of work on the new machine, I did a quick search using both of those terms in Synaptic Package Manager,  also updating a couple of files and installing one other package. These searches each returned a nonntrivial list of packages,  but none of them was named kvm or qemu,  so I must be missing something here.  Can any of you guys help me out?  I'm not averse to other tools,  like apt,  etc. if that's preferable...
> 
> A pointer to any documentation on these so I can get a good idea of how to set it up would also be helpful.

https://wiki.debian.org/KVM

For a basic installation that also includes virt-manager in the installation, I do the following:
(these packages can be installed from Synaptic or from a terminal using apt, since I will be in a terminal for adding my UserID to the libvirt group, I may as well use apt) :

# export PATH=$PATH:/usr/sbin
# apt install qemu-system libvirt-daemon-system virt-manager
# adduser <youruser> libvirt
# adduser <youruser> kvm

The above installation does not add nested vitalisation (i.e. running a hypervisor in a VM), which is something I have fun playing with from time to time, but is not normally something most people want to do)
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/quick-docs/using-nested-virtualization-in-kvm/

I recommend the use of Virtio Drivers for network and for storage, QXL or virtio drivers for video.

If you want to install Windows in a VM, virtio drivers can be useful:
https://www.linux-kvm.org/page/WindowsGuestDrivers/Download_Drivers


I have never implement VGAPassthrough, to me seems like it could make your system a bit unstable.

https://wiki.debian.org/VGAPassthrough

George.


https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_virtualization/4.3/html/virtual_machine_management_guide/sect-other_virtual_machine_tasks#Configuring_qxl_drivers_on_virtual_machines

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/QEMU/Guest_graphics_acceleration

https://phoenixnap.com/kb/ubuntu-install-kvm

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