Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) is an open-source virtualization solution that allows you to run multiple guest operating systems on a single host machine. In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through the process of how to install KVM virtualization on openSUSE system.
How to Install KVM Virtualization on openSUSE
Prerequisites
Before we begin, ensure you have the following:
- An openSUSE machine with root access
- A processor that supports hardware virtualization (Intel VT or AMD-V)
To check if your processor supports hardware virtualization, run the following command:
egrep -c '(vmx|svm)' /proc/cpuinfoIf the output is greater than 0, your processor supports hardware virtualization.
Update the System
First, let’s update your openSUSE system to the latest packages:
sudo zypper updateInstall KVM and Related Packages
Now, we will install KVM and its required packages. Run the following command to install KVM, libvirt, and virt-install:
sudo zypper install kvm libvirt virt-installStart and Enable the libvirtd Service
Once the installation is complete, start and enable the libvirtd service by running the following commands:
sudo systemctl start libvirtd
sudo systemctl enable libvirtdConfigure KVM Bridge (Optional)
A network bridge allows your virtual machines to communicate with the host machine and other devices on the network. If you want to set up a network bridge, follow these steps:
- Install the bridge-utils package:
sudo zypper install bridge-utils
- Edit the
/etc/sysconfig/network/ifcfg-br0file and add the following lines:
BOOTPROTO='dhcp'
BRIDGE='yes'
BRIDGE_FORWARDDELAY='0'
BRIDGE_PORTS='eth0'
BRIDGE_STP='off'
STARTMODE='auto'Replace ‘eth0’ with your network interface name.
- Restart the network service:
sudo systemctl restart networkFor more information on network configuration, check out our tutorial on how to set up IP aliasing on openSUSE.
Create and Manage Virtual Machines on KVM
Now that KVM is installed and configured, you can create and manage virtual machines using the virt-install command or a graphical tool like Virt-Manager. To install Virt-Manager, run the following command:
sudo zypper install virt-managerFor more information on managing virtual machines, refer to the official KVM documentation.
Additional Resources
Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed KVM virtualization on your openSUSE machine. Now, you can create and manage your virtual machines with ease. If you’re interested in learning more about openSUSE and its features, check out our other tutorials:
